Part of Alex Delaware, book 39
First published 2024
A pool boy arrives at a secluded Bel Air estate and finds two corpses floating in the water. Gio Aggiunta, heir to an Italian shoe fortune, lies dead beside Meagin March, a wealthy married woman from the neighborhood. LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis sees the obvious motive in their illicit affair, but something feels wrong about this double murder. The mansion shows no signs of break-in or struggle. When cases develop that unsettling quality, Milo calls his friend Alex Delaware. The psychologist joins the investigation as they probe both victims' troubled histories. Meagin March's identity becomes increasingly murky the deeper they dig. Her glamorous exterior concealed serious conflicts, but did her past finally catch up with her? Or do Gio's family ties reach across continents with deadly consequences? Alex and Milo navigate Los Angeles's criminal underworld, confronting one of their most disturbing cases. They learn that some buried secrets carry lethal power when exposed.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation
Setting: Bel Air, LAPD, Los Angeles
Period: contemporary
304 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: death, murder