by Ace Atkins
Part of Spenser, book 6
First published 1987
Rachel Wallace makes enemies with her words. The outspoken feminist writer receives death threats that force her to hire protection. Spenser takes the job, but their partnership starts badly. She thinks his tough guy attitude belongs in the past. He finds her politics irritating. The clash grows until Rachel fires him outright. Days later, she disappears without a trace. Spenser ignores the dismissal and starts searching. He digs into wealthy Boston families and their buried secrets. He confronts Klan members who despise everything Rachel represents. The investigation pulls him deeper into a world where people kill to silence voices like hers. Spenser must decide how far he will go to bring back a woman who rejected his help. The case becomes personal as he fights for her right to speak her mind, even when her words make powerful people uncomfortable.
Genres: american-fiction, suspense, mystery, crime, political-thriller, activism
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, personal-stakes, social-commentary
Setting: Boston
224 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Dell
Content warnings: death, violence