First published 2009
Kim McDaniels disappears during a swimsuit photo shoot at a luxury Hawaiian hotel. Within hours, her frantic parents receive a chilling phone call that sends them racing to Maui to search for their daughter. Ex-cop turned L.A. Times reporter Ben Hawkins takes on the McDaniels case, but the local police prove utterly incompetent. Ben launches his own investigation, knowing this could be the career-defining story he's been waiting for. Meanwhile, the killer prepares his next move, planning another elaborate performance for an audience that demands perfection. As Ben digs deeper into Kim's disappearance, he uncovers a web of danger where stunning beauty masks deadly intentions. The investigation pulls him into a world where paradise conceals unspeakable violence and the next victim may already be chosen.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigative-journalism
Setting: Hawaii, Maui, Los Angeles
Period: Contemporary
391 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: violence