Part of Virgil Flowers, book 9
First published 2016
Two rare Amur tigers disappear from the Minnesota Zoo, and investigator Virgil Flowers knows someone stole them for their body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine creates a black market for tiger bones and organs. People kill for these remedies. Some people kill very easily. Virgil tracks the thieves while his personal life explodes. His girlfriend Frankie's sister Sparkle moves in for the summer. Sparkle studies migrant workers, research that puts her in danger from violent people who refuse to be studied. Sparkle also finds Virgil attractive. Frankie warns him clearly about the consequences. "You mess around with Sparkle, you could get yourself stabbed." Virgil asks if Sparkle carries a knife. "No, but I do," Frankie replies. Two investigations collide as Virgil navigates stolen tigers, dangerous criminals, and a love triangle that could destroy his relationship or get him killed.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Minnesota, Minnesota Zoo
Period: 21st-century
392 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence