by Sandra Brown
First published 2009
Derek Mitchell takes on an unusual case when millionaire Paul Wheeler turns up dead. The victim's family wants Derek to represent Wheeler's nephew Creighton, even though police haven't filed charges yet. Julie Rutledge, Wheeler's former mistress, becomes Derek's biggest problem. She's convinced Creighton killed Wheeler and will destroy Derek's reputation to prove it. Creighton has an airtight alibi, but Derek starts noticing disturbing patterns. The young man obsesses over murder scenes from classic films. As Derek digs deeper into Creighton's psychology, Julie's accusations begin making sense. The lawyer and the mistress form an unlikely partnership to uncover the truth. They race against time as Creighton's fixation turns dangerous. The case becomes personal when Derek realizes Creighton might be staging real murders based on cinema's bloodiest moments. Derek must figure out who will become the next victim before Creighton's twisted screenplay reaches its violent finale.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unlikely-partnership
367 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: violence