by Jan Burke
Part of Irene Kelly, book 7
First published 1999
Reporter Irene Kelly thought the Julia Sayre case was closed. The mother of two vanished four years ago, and despite Kelly's investigation, no trace surfaced until now. Nick Parrish, a convicted killer facing execution for torture-murder, offers the district attorney a deal. He will reveal Julia Sayre's mountain burial site in exchange for life imprisonment instead of death. The D.A. assembles a team of forensic experts and law enforcement to escort the chained Parrish to the remote grave. When the Sayre family and the newspaper demand Kelly's inclusion, she joins the expedition over official objections. Parrish immediately fixates on Kelly with calculating stares and unsettling smiles. Armed guards, chains, and a protective dog surround the prisoner, but Kelly senses deeper danger. Parrish has set a plan in motion to escape, and Kelly realizes she may become his next victim rather than the reporter covering tomorrow's story.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Mountain
Period: 4 Years Ago
384 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: murder, violence