First published 2008
Detective Ali Barba attends her high school reunion while recovering from injuries. Her estranged friend Cate appears pregnant and desperate. "They want to take my baby," Cate whispers urgently. "You have to stop them." Before Ali can learn more, Cate and her husband die in what looks like a hit and run. The investigation takes a bizarre turn when Ali discovers Cate had faked her pregnancy with a pillow. Yet Cate's desk contains ultrasound images, fertility clinic correspondence, and documents suggesting a real baby exists somewhere. Ali follows the trail from London to Amsterdam, uncovering a brutal trafficking network that preys on young Southeast Asian refugees. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous her enemies become. People on both sides of the Channel will kill to protect their operation. Ali must navigate this criminal underworld while grappling with guilt over her fractured friendship with Cate and her determination to honor her final plea.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fractured-friendship
Setting: London, Amsterdam
528 pages · Kindle Edition · Vintage Books USA
Content warnings: trafficking, violence