by Karen Rose
First published 2009
Susannah Vartanian carries secrets from a dark past that connects her to something sinister. When five teenage girls turn up dead and one survives to tell about a kidnapping and trafficking operation, Susannah knows she must act. Luke Papadopoulos, an investigative agent and computer specialist, has his own reasons for hunting child predators. He refuses to let another one escape justice. The sole survivor can expose the criminals who buy and sell teenagers, but the killers will do anything to silence her permanently. Susannah and Luke feel an immediate attraction, yet their damaged histories make them hesitant to trust. Their investigation pulls them into the shadowy world of online chat rooms where identities disappear behind false names. As they close in on their targets, they uncover layers of lies so complex that allies and enemies become impossible to distinguish. The murderers grow more desperate and violent as their secret business faces exposure.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: damaged-heroes, enemies-to-lovers
417 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: child-abuse, trafficking, violence