by Dell Shannon
Part of Lieutenant Luis Mendoza, book 20
First published 1972
Lieutenant Luis Mendoza faces two troubling cases that threaten to shake his Los Angeles police department. A serial killer stalks the city, murdering women with brutal beatings but leaving behind no clear motive. The victims show no signs of sexual assault or robbery, making the crimes particularly baffling. Each death follows the same pattern, yet Mendoza can find no connection between the women or reason for their selection. Meanwhile, corruption allegations surface within his own ranks when one of his officers becomes the prime suspect in a stolen car operation. The accusation forces Mendoza to question the integrity of his team while pursuing a murderer who seems to strike without reason. As bodies accumulate and the internal investigation intensifies, Mendoza must solve both mysteries before his department crumbles and more innocent women die.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: internal-affairs, police-investigation
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 20th-century
256 pages · Hardcover · Littlehampton Book Services Ltd
Content warnings: violence