by Lisa Jackson
Part of Alvarez & Pescoli, book 1
First published 2008
Four bodies lie scattered in the forests near Grizzly Point, Montana. Detectives Selena Alvarez and Regan Pescoli face their most challenging case yet as they track a methodical killer who captures victims, torments them, then delivers slow death. The murderer leaves only cryptic messages and the promise of more carnage to come. Meanwhile, Jillian Rivers awakens trapped inside a wrecked car deep in the Montana wilderness. A man calling himself Zane McGregor pulls her from the wreckage, claiming to be a trail guide. Though she owes him her life, something about McGregor troubles her. Her instincts prove wise. Someone watches from the trees, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As the detectives struggle with limited evidence and FBI interference, Jillian becomes the next target in a deadly game. The killer's elaborate scheme nears completion, and the isolated Montana woods hold secrets that could claim more lives before Alvarez and Pescoli can stop the violence.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigative-journalism
Setting: Grizzly Point, Montana
Period: Contemporary
513 pages · Kindle Edition · Zebra Books
Content warnings: violence