by J. A. Jance
Part of Ali Reynolds, book 6
First published 2011
Ali Reynolds faces a demanding summer juggling police academy training and early morning shifts at her family restaurant. Her plans derail when Brenda Riley arrives from California with a drinking problem and a wild tale about her missing fiancé. Ali reluctantly agrees to help her former broadcasting colleague investigate. The supposed fiancé turns out to be Richard Lowensdale, a manipulative online predator who has destroyed multiple women's lives through digital deception. When someone murders Lowensdale brutally, police target his former victims as suspects. Brenda becomes the prime suspect after breaking into his house and computer system, then disappearing completely. Ali must navigate dangerous online networks and real world threats to prove her friend's innocence. Her investigation pulls her deeper into a digital maze where virtual crimes lead to deadly consequences.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, dangerous-investigation
Setting: California
Period: Summer
368 pages · Hardcover · Touchstone
Content warnings: violence