Part of Mario Balzic Detective Mystery, book 12
First published 1997
Mario Balzic has been gone for months, but Rocksburg still waits for his replacement. The acting chief thought he knew what the job required until a local businesswoman becomes the victim of a savage sexual assault. The case forces him into decisions that will define not just his career but who he is as a man. In a small Pennsylvania town where everyone knows everyone, the investigation becomes a crucible. The acting chief must navigate department politics, community pressure, and his own doubts while hunting for a rapist. Every choice he makes carries weight beyond the case itself. His handling of the investigation will determine whether he earns the permanent appointment he wants or loses his chance forever. The brutal crime strips away pretense and forces him to confront the gap between the officer he thought he was and the leader the town needs.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Pennsylvania, Rocksburg
Period: 20th-century
304 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Mysterious Press
Content warnings: sexual-assault, violence