Part of Alex Delaware, book 26
First published 2011
Psychologist Alex Delaware and his partner Robin Castagna attend a final gathering at the beloved Fauborg Hotel in Beverly Hills before it closes forever. Among the nostalgic patrons, Alex notices a striking young woman sitting alone in elegant clothes and dark glasses, clearly waiting for someone who never arrives. Her melancholy presence lingers in his mind, especially when he spots a silent bodyguard in a black suit watching from outside. Two days later, detective Milo Sturgis arrives with disturbing news. The same mysterious woman has been found brutally murdered, her body mutilated beyond easy identification. With no DNA match and few leads, she remains as enigmatic in death as she appeared in life. Alex joins Milo's investigation into the grisly crime, but their search for answers leads them into Los Angeles's shadowy underworld of fame and scandal. When a tipster finally provides a breakthrough, the revelation exposes dark secrets that put both men in mortal danger as they pursue justice for the nameless victim.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, police-procedural
Setting: Beverly Hills, Fauborg Hotel
320 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: murder, violence