by Dell Shannon
Part of Lieutenant Luis Mendoza, book 34
First published 1990
Lieutenant Luis Mendoza of the Los Angeles Police Department faces a new investigation that tests his analytical skills. When a death occurs under suspicious circumstances, Mendoza must separate accident from murder while navigating the complexities of police work in a major city. The case draws him into examining motives, alibis, and evidence that don't align in obvious ways. Mendoza applies his methodical approach to uncover what really happened, but the investigation reveals layers of deception and hidden connections. As he works through the puzzle, Mendoza discovers that understanding human nature proves as important as following physical clues. The case challenges his assumptions about guilt and innocence while demanding the careful police work that has made him effective in previous investigations.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, methodical-investigation
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 20th-century
221 pages · Paperback · Harlequin Books