The book starts 30 years ago with a young boy being abused by his mother, but is this the making of a monster?
The abuse is carried out in a specific way, a way I haven’t heard of before, and that’s not the only first in this book.
The setting for the place the first bodies are found when the story moves to the current day, is the second. Some houses which have been abandoned are being used by local youths to party. The houses are suffering from rising sea levels and costal erosion and could collapse at any time.
The first body appears to be a consequence of careless partying, or is it?
The second body, found in the upper floors has had its blood drained and is mummified in salt, and that is the link back to the abused boy thirty years previously.
Casey White is still convalescing but is keen to lead the investigation into both deaths.
As she looks at old crimes she realises that a similar murder had happened years ago, but that the man who committed it is still in prison. He’s old, he’s frail, he’s incarcerated, he can’t be responsible can he?
Another body, a note held in its hand.
Casey’s daughter s still missing, she still sees her, she still worries about her, the note sends her into paranoia, will her daughter be next.
Spangler writes as if he’s writing for me. He ticks all my boxes, original crimes, a great setting, a main character I can engage with, peripheral characters that hold my interest, and ongoing stories that run through the series, each book its own cracking story.
This is Book 4 in the Detective Casey White series, yes it can be read as a standalone, but it’s much better read in order.
Pages: 281. Publisher: Bookouture. Available now
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