Publisher's Weekly Review
Maggie Gardner, the heroine of this uneven suspense novel from bestseller Black (Evidence of Murder), works with the Cleveland PD as a civilian criminologist. When the bodies of four men are found away from where they were killed, each shot with .22 caliber bullets, Maggie joins the homicide team delving into possible links among the victims. The four all have traces of granite, asbestos, lead paint flakes, and cat hair-and have committed such serious crimes as rape, murder, and human trafficking. Since their criminal records are available only to the police, Maggie suspects that the killer is someone in law enforcement. If she knows who it is, she could face an agonizing decision about whether to turn that person in. She hopes she's wrong. The intriguing forensic details help drive the plot to its satisfying conclusion, but the sketchy portrayal of the characters, particularly Maggie, will disappoint readers expecting more depth. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Cleveland police forensic investigator -Maggie Gardiner must fingerprint and determine cause of death of an unidentified teenage girl's body. No one appears to be looking for the youth, so it seems likely that she's an orphan or a runaway. Soon after, the corpse of a street criminal with a history of violence turns up in Maggie's lab, and the investigation points to organized crime, human trafficking, and the possibility of vigilante justice. Verdict Black, a former forensics investigator, skillfully portrays the stark realities of homicide cases in her latest thriller (after Close to the Bone). In this series launch, she pairs Maggie with Jack Renner, a determined detective with secrets of his own who has no intention of allowing murderers to evade their punishment. A great choice for readers of psychological suspense, forensic investigations, and mystery.-Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.