Part of Alex Delaware, book 40
First published 2025
An aspiring actress turns up dead in Los Angeles, drugged and murdered. Psychologist Alex Delaware and LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis focus on the obvious suspect: a brutish stunt double known for crossing lines with women. Before they can question him, someone shoots him dead. The same rifle killed victims in previous cases. More bodies drop as the weapon strikes again and again, always targeting men who abuse women. Delaware and Sturgis realize they're chasing a vigilante killer, someone executing their own twisted form of justice. The assassin operates with cold efficiency, staying invisible while making their message clear. As the investigation deepens, Delaware and Sturgis navigate the dark corners of Hollywood, where dreams die hard and monsters wear familiar faces. They race through Los Angeles's criminal underworld, following a trail of connected murders that reveals the killer's deadly pattern. The case forces them to confront a disturbing question: when the system fails victims, does vigilante justice fill the void?
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, enemies-to-lovers, vigilante-justice
Setting: Los Angeles
288 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: abuse, murder, violence