First published 2021
FBI Agent Corrie Swanson faces internal investigation after a shootout leaves her senior colleague critically injured. Her supervisor insists she bears no responsibility, but guilt weighs heavily on her mind. Seeking distraction, Corrie takes on a cold case involving a fifty-year-old mummified body found hidden in High Lonesome, a deserted New Mexico ghost town. The investigation quickly becomes too complex for her to handle alone. She turns to archaeologist Nora Kelly from the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute, despite their complicated history as former adversaries turned reluctant partners. Kelly's expertise reveals shocking evidence that the victim died from poisoning decades ago. Even more intriguing, the corpse was discovered gripping a valuable artifact that originated somewhere beyond High Lonesome's borders. As the two women dig deeper into the mystery, they must combine Swanson's investigative skills with Kelly's archaeological knowledge to uncover the truth behind a murder that has remained hidden for half a century.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, archaeology, thriller, action
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, reluctant-partners
Setting: High Lonesome, New Mexico, Santa Fe Archaeological Institute
Period: 50-year-old, Fifty-Year-Old
401 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing