Part of Alexandra Cooper, book 20
First published 2019
Alexandra Cooper returns to Manhattan's Sex Crimes Unit after her leave of absence. Her first case brings her Lucy, a woman who testified at a federal trial years ago and now reveals she was sexually assaulted by a prominent official during that period. Cooper discovers that Lucy's case connects to disturbing rumors about colleagues. One faces accusations of abusive behavior while another suffers a violent collapse under mysterious circumstances. Working alongside NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, Cooper investigates within the prestigious Rockefeller University. The research institute and hospital becomes the center of her probe as the three separate cases begin to merge in unexpected ways. Cooper must navigate the university's corridors and uncover buried secrets before they turn lethal. The investigation forces her into unfamiliar territory where academic prestige masks dangerous truths. As past sins surface and collide, Cooper races to expose the connections before the life saving medical facility becomes the site of her own demise.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, academic
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation, secrets
Setting: Manhattan, New York, Rockefeller University
Period: present-day
355 pages · Hardcover · Dutton
Content warnings: sexual-assault