by Ace Atkins
Part of Spenser, book 32
First published 2005
Hawk lies broken in a hospital bed after Ukrainian criminals nearly killed him while he protected bookie Luther Gillespie. Spenser watches his proud partner struggle with dependence for the first time. Hawk must accept medical help and lean on others to heal his body. The Ukrainian mob controls every corner of Marshport, from corner stores to cops to City Hall. Their grip on the town runs so deep that breaking in seems impossible. But their arrogance only fuels Hawk's hunger for payback. Spenser digs into their operations, knowing he needs a way inside their closed ranks. Bodies start dropping as the investigation turns violent. Spenser hires dangerous allies and uses methods that push his moral limits. The quest for vengeance forces both men to examine what their partnership really means when everything is on the line.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Marshport, Ukraine
Period: contemporary
305 pages · Hardcover · Putnam Adult
Content warnings: violence