Part of Kay Scarpetta, book 17
First published 2009
Dr Kay Scarpetta donates her forensic expertise to New York City during Christmas week. Her television appearance about Hannah Starr's disappearance triggers a cascade of dangers. A disturbing caller from Benton Wesley's psychiatric past contacts her live on air. She returns home to find a suspicious package that might be a bomb waiting at her building's front desk. The threats against Scarpetta's life pull her into a complex conspiracy. A prominent actor faces accusations of a horrific sex crime. The beautiful millionairess Hannah Starr has vanished under mysterious circumstances. Scarpetta discovers that her niece Lucy shares hidden connections to the missing woman. As the investigation deepens, Scarpetta must navigate between her professional obligations and personal safety. The case forces her to confront how her public profile makes her a target while she works to uncover the truth behind Hannah's disappearance and the actor's alleged crimes.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, public-figure
Setting: New York City
Period: Christmas
494 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence