Part of V.I. Warshawski, book 17
First published 2015
V.I. Warshawski wants nothing to do with Chicago's political machine, but an old high school friend drags her into both. Frank Guzzo asks her to help clear his mother Stella, who served time for killing his younger sister years ago. Stella now seeks to prove her innocence. V.I. remembers the bad blood between the Guzzos and her own family, but Frank's desperation moves her to take the case. What starts as a simple favor quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. Her investigation uncovers connections to Illinois political bosses who play by their own brutal rules. The deeper V.I. digs into Stella's conviction, the more she realizes someone powerful wanted that case closed permanently. Soon she faces a choice between abandoning the investigation or risking her life to expose the truth. The question becomes whether she can survive long enough to deliver justice for Frank's family.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective, political-thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: Chicago, Illinois
459 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons