Part of Alex Delaware, book 5
First published 2003
Dr. Alex Delaware arrives at a California school playground after a teenage sniper opens fire on children. Police shoot the gunman before anyone gets hurt, but Alex must counsel the traumatized kids who witnessed the attack. The slight teenager with an oversized rifle haunts him. When the dead sniper's father asks Alex to perform a psychological autopsy on his son, the psychologist accepts. Alex digs into the boy's background, searching for answers about what drove him to violence. His investigation reveals a disturbing pattern of abandonment and abuse. The pattern becomes a bloody trail leading to a conspiracy that goes far beyond one troubled teenager. Alex discovers that the sniper was both perpetrator and victim in a larger scheme. As he follows the evidence deeper, Alex realizes he faces genuine human evil that threatens his own safety.
Genres: mystery, crime, action, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: investigation, perpetrator-victim, psychological-profile
Setting: California
Period: Contemporary
496 pages · Paperback · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: abuse, violence