Part of Rizzoli & Isles, book 12
First published 2017
Detective Jane Rizzoli stares at two crime scenes that make no sense. The victims died at different locations with no apparent connection, yet both bodies show identical mysterious wounds. The cause of death remains unclear. Medical examiner Maura Isles joins the investigation while dealing with her own crisis. Her mother, serial killer Amalthea Lank, lies dying of cancer in prison. Despite her condition, Amalthea continues her lifelong manipulation of Maura, offering cryptic hints about the murders in exchange for attention. Jane battles her own family troubles as her mother's marriage falls apart. The investigation leads them to a young woman who escaped an abuse scandal and an independent horror film that may document real violence. The case connects to martyred saints who suffered brutal deaths. Rizzoli and Isles believe they have identified their killer, but buried secrets from the past surface to threaten new victims. The detective and medical examiner must solve the puzzle before the predator strikes again, possibly targeting them.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Prison
Period: Contemporary
10 pages · MP3 CD · Brilliance Audio
Content warnings: death, murder, violence