by Lisa Gardner
First published 2025
Frankie Elkin arrives in Tucson to locate Sabera Ahmadi, an Afghan refugee who vanished three weeks ago after leaving work. The local police won't open a case. Sabera's husband shows no concern. Only her closest friend believes something terrible has happened. She insists Sabera would never abandon her three year old daughter Zahra. Frankie begins searching the desert city's sweltering streets. Then a video surfaces showing Sabera walking away from a brutal double murder scene. The Ahmadi family harbors dark secrets. Isaad, the father, works as a brilliant mathematician. Sabera speaks multiple languages fluently. Young Zahra possesses an extraordinary memory that captures everything she witnesses. When Isaad disappears and someone tries to kill Zahra, Frankie realizes their past has caught up with them. Violence stalks this family. Someone wants them dead. Frankie must decode their secrets before the killer strikes again.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: deception, secrets
Setting: Tucson
416 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: violence