First published 2025
Flames tear through homeless encampments across Sacramento, leaving charred tents and destroyed lives in their wake. Detective Emily Hunter and partner Javier Medina work the arson cases, meeting the real people behind the statistics that city residents dismiss as eyesores. The investigation takes a sharp turn when victims include the former mayor who championed anti-homeless policies and a dedicated camp social worker. Political pressure mounts to clear the camps entirely rather than seek justice for the attacks. Emily discovers powerful interests profit from driving the homeless away from their makeshift shelters. She juggles the explosive case while caring for her mother, whose Alzheimer's advances rapidly. An unexpected suspect emerges alongside a witness reluctant to speak the truth Emily needs. She must push through official resistance and personal struggles to stop the deadly fires.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: corruption, investigative-journalism, social-commentary
Setting: Sacramento
Period: 21st-century
384 pages · Paperback · Oceanview Publishing
Content warnings: violence