by Robert Crais
Part of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, book 15
First published 2012
Nita Morales believes her adult daughter ran off with her boyfriend to scam money from her. She hires private detective Elvis Cole to track them down, dismissing the ransom call as fake. Cole discovers the harsh truth. Bajadores have seized the young couple. These border bandits steal from other criminals, trafficking drugs, weapons, and people for profit. They execute victims who bring no price. Cole and his partner Joe Pike locate the kidnapping site. Tire marks, spent shells, and blood tell the story. The evidence points to the worst outcome, but reality proves even darker. Cole goes undercover to purchase the captives' freedom. The traffickers capture him too. Pike must now hunt through the savage network of human smugglers to rescue his partner. Time runs out as Pike follows Cole's trail deeper into a world where people become merchandise and death waits for those with no value.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, rescue-mission
Setting: Mexico
341 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Group
Content warnings: kidnapping, trafficking, violence