First published 2023
A sniper opens fire in the Valley of the Sun, and Detective Nathan Parker catches the case. The victims share a troubling connection: each worked for an organization that helps undocumented migrants cross the treacherous border. The desert kills with scorching temperatures and deadly snakes, but this predator hunts people who protect the vulnerable. Parker digs deeper and discovers that everyone involved harbors secrets. The people he thought he understood reveal hidden sides. The criminals he pursues prove more complex than expected. As Parker closes in on the truth, he realizes the border between good and evil runs through every human heart. Two kinds of devils stalk this landscape: the obvious threats you can see coming, and the darkness that lives inside ordinary people. When these forces meet, nobody stays safe.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, complex-characters, moral-ambiguity, secrets-and-lies
Setting: Valley of the Sun
354 pages · Paperback · Level Best Books
Content warnings: violence