Part of Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus, book 6
First published 1998
Peter Decker should be celebrating. He and his wife Rina have just welcomed their newborn daughter into the world. Instead, the veteran detective finds himself surveying the chaotic Los Angeles hospital with growing alarm. Budget cuts have slashed security to dangerous levels. Staff shortages leave gaps everywhere. When an infant disappears from the maternity ward and a trusted nurse vanishes with the child, Peter's worst fears become reality. Working alongside his sharp-tongued partner Marge Dunn and his determined older daughter Cindy, Peter plunges into the hospital's murky internal politics. The investigation reveals twisted relationships among the medical staff and uncovers deep psychological wounds driving desperate actions. Each lead draws the team deeper into a web of misguided love, professional betrayal, and moral corruption. As they close in on the truth, Peter must confront how far someone will go when guilt and the need for redemption collide with opportunity.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: family-drama, moral-dilemma, professional-betrayal
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: Contemporary
400 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Fawcett
Content warnings: medical-trauma