First published 2009
Sam Simoneaux's regiment arrives in France just as the First World War ends, but he witnesses enough devastation to last a lifetime. Back in New Orleans, he wants nothing more than to leave violence behind and rebuild his marriage. Then disaster strikes at the department store where he works. A little girl vanishes while under his supervision, and Sam cannot escape the responsibility. He must track her down through the dangerous underworld of Prohibition-era Louisiana. The search pulls him into a world where brutality runs unchecked and criminals slip easily through legal loopholes. Sam faces a terrible choice between his desire for peace and his duty to an innocent child. Set against the sultry backdrop of 1920s New Orleans, with its distinctive music and unhurried pace, this story explores how far one man will go to make things right. The hunt for the missing girl becomes a journey into Sam's own soul, testing whether he can find justice without losing himself.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: redemption, search-for-missing-person
Setting: France, New Orleans
Period: World War I, 1920s
385 pages · Kindle Edition · Sceptre
Content warnings: violence