by Dell Shannon
Part of Lieutenant Luis Mendoza, book 32
First published 1981
Detective Luis Mendoza walks into another day at the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery and Homicide Division, where the city's most disturbing cases land on his desk. A charming rapist and killer uses his good looks to trap victims. A double homicide and suicide reveals a twisted motive that defies explanation. A string of perfectly executed robberies leaves no witnesses and fewer clues. A young woman vanishes without explanation, her disappearance baffling everyone who knew her. A senator dies under circumstances that appear natural but feel wrong to experienced investigators. Mendoza and his team work methodically through each case, following thin leads and building evidence piece by piece. The veteran detective knows that in a city like Los Angeles, violence wears many faces and the most shocking crimes often hide behind ordinary appearances. Each solved case brings justice, but also reminds Mendoza why his work matters in a place where predators blend seamlessly into the crowd.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, police-procedural
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 20th-century
228 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow
Content warnings: violence