by Ace Atkins
Part of Spenser, book 11
First published 1984
Spenser has lost the woman who made everything worth living for. When a religious sect abducts a young dancer, the Boston private investigator takes the case despite his grief. Death threats won't make him back down. A professional killer has marked Spenser for elimination, but the detective no longer fears dying. Boston's criminal elite underestimate how far a man will go when he has nothing left to lose. Spenser becomes more dangerous than ever, willing to walk straight into deadly confrontations. The investigation puts him on a collision course with forces that want him dead. This case will test whether a man who has lost his reason for living can still find the will to fight. Spenser must navigate both his personal devastation and professional threats in a city where violence lurks behind every corner.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, nothing-left-to-lose
Setting: Boston
288 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Dell
Content warnings: death, violence