by Ace Atkins
Part of Spenser, book 51
First published 2024
Boston is buried under snow when Spenser receives devastating news. Rita Fiore has been shot. Rita isn't just another lawyer in Spenser's world. She's been part of his inner circle for years, pushing him, challenging him, becoming something more than a friend. She's family, and Spenser protects family above all else. Rita made enemies as easily as she won cases. Her courtroom victories came at a cost, and her provocative nature outside the legal arena stirred up plenty of trouble. As one of Boston's most formidable attorneys, she accumulated a long list of people who might want payback. Now Rita fights for her life while Spenser fights to identify her attacker. The investigation forces him into uncomfortable territory as he digs through Rita's professional and personal conflicts. Each lead reveals another layer of secrets that someone wanted to keep buried. Spenser must navigate through Rita's complicated relationships and legal battles to find the truth, knowing that time is running out for someone who means everything to him.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, race-against-time
Setting: Boston
Period: Contemporary
341 pages · Kindle Edition · G.P. Putnam's Sons