by Robert Crais
Part of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, book 6
First published 2005
Private investigator Elvis Cole receives an unusual assignment from a high-powered defense attorney. Restaurant owner Teddy Martin stands accused of murdering his wife, and his legal team suspects Detective Angela Rossi fabricated evidence to strengthen the prosecution's case. Rossi carries baggage from a career-damaging internal affairs investigation that occurred five years earlier. She desperately needs a major conviction to restore her reputation within the department. Cole must determine whether Rossi's ambition drove her to frame Martin for his wife's death. Working alongside his partner Joe Pike, Cole navigates a maze of conflicting witness statements while dodging aggressive reporters covering the high-profile trial. Their investigation reveals that the real conspiracy may not involve the police at all. Cole faces a moral dilemma as he uncovers the truth about who actually orchestrated the frame-up and why.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
352 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books