by Ace Atkins
Part of Spenser, book 24
First published 1998
Ellis Alves sits in prison for murdering college student Melissa Henderson. His lawyer believes someone framed him and turns to private investigator Spenser for help. Spenser knows Alves has a criminal past, but the case feels wrong. He teams up with his partner Hawk to dig into the victim's life. Their investigation takes them from Boston's rough neighborhoods to New York's wealthy circles. They focus on Melissa's boyfriend, a privileged tennis player with money and connections. The deeper Spenser digs, the more dangerous the case becomes. Someone wants the truth buried badly enough to kill for it. When a gunman with a .22 caliber weapon puts Spenser in a coma, the investigation stalls. Justice for Ellis Alves hangs in the balance. Spenser must survive his injuries and return to finish what he started before an innocent man pays for someone else's crime.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Boston, New York
Period: contemporary
338 pages · Mass Market Paperback · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence