by Dell Shannon
Part of Lieutenant Luis Mendoza, book 28
First published 1978
Lieutenant Luis Mendoza of the Los Angeles Police Department faces another complex case that tests his investigative skills. Working from his headquarters downtown, Mendoza must untangle the web of evidence and motives that surrounds what initially appears to be a straightforward death. The case proves more complicated as Mendoza and his team dig deeper into the circumstances. Each lead opens new questions about the victim's life and the people connected to them. Mendoza applies his methodical approach to police work, interviewing witnesses and following the evidence wherever it leads. The investigation forces him to confront the reality that death can deceive even experienced detectives. As the case develops, Mendoza discovers that solving crimes requires looking beyond surface appearances to find the truth underneath.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, police-procedural
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 20th-century
192 pages · Hardcover · Littlehampton Book Services Ltd