Part of Alex Delaware, book 38
First published 2023
Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis face a disturbing case when a personal assistant discovers her boss dead in his bed. The victim was a wealthy photographer who had gained media praise for his latest work featuring homeless people dressed up and photographed in their dream scenarios. Critics called the project exploitative, noting the small payments and the photographer's lack of genuine connection to his subjects. Delaware and Sturgis must determine whether anger over the controversial project led to murder, or if the killer comes from within the victim's own strange family. The photographer's father is an elusive billionaire who has produced an eccentric clan of relatives. As new murders surface, the investigation grows more complex. Delaware and Sturgis peel away layers of deception and find themselves confronting one of the most dangerous situations of their careers. The case forces them to navigate the stark contrasts of Los Angeles, where wealth and poverty exist side by side, and where good intentions can mask darker motivations.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary, detective, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, enemies-to-lovers, investigation, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 21st Century
320 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: death, murder, violence