by Jan Burke
Part of Irene Kelly, book 1
First published 2002
Irene Kelly works as a newspaper reporter when tragedy strikes her newsroom. A seasoned colleague dies while investigating a decades-old murder from 1955. The veteran journalist had been closing in on answers when someone killed him to protect buried secrets. Irene refuses to let her comrade's death go unanswered. She picks up where he left off, digging into the cold case that cost him his life. Her investigation attracts dangerous attention. The same person who silenced her fellow reporter now sets sights on Irene. She must solve both murders before becoming the next victim. The hunt forces Irene to navigate between her day job and amateur detective work, balancing professional duties with personal justice. As she gets closer to the truth, the killer grows more desperate to stop her.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation, secrets
Period: 1955
384 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Pocket Books