First published 2003
NYPD homicide detective John Corey recuperates from injuries in the quiet Long Island town of Southold. His recovery takes a deadly turn when Tom and Judy Gordon, a couple he knows, are discovered shot execution-style on their patio. Local police chief Sylvester Maxwell recruits Corey for his metropolitan experience with murder cases. What appears to be a robbery gone bad becomes far more complex when the victims' work as biologists at Plum Island surfaces. The offshore research facility studies animal diseases and faces rumors of biological weapons development. Media speculation suggests the Gordons may have stolen dangerous materials from the lab. Corey's investigation pulls him deep into Long Island's hidden history and closely guarded secrets. He encounters Detective Beth Penrose and Emma Whitestone, a woman with Mayflower ancestry, both of whom profoundly alter his perspective. As Corey unravels the mystery behind the murders, he discovers truths about the case that force him to confront fundamental questions about his own identity and future.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, investigation, small-town
Setting: Long Island, New York, Plum Island, Southold
Period: Contemporary
Kindle Edition · Grand Central Publishing