A capable but jaded NYPD detective questions whether a dangerous killer is picking off his romantic partners one by oneor whether someone else is getting away with murder.When Alex Traynor's fiancee, Emily, goes missing, Detective Sheryn Sterling feels partly responsible. After all, when another woman connected to Alex died the previous year after falling off a roof, she was sure he was guiltybut she could never find enough evidence to put him away. Alex might be an award-winning photojournalist, but his years spent bearing witness to the horrors of war have given him PTSD, and Sheryn knows from personal experience that this demon can make rational people do terrible, violent things. As the investigation into Emily's disappearance deepens, Sheryn and her new partner find themselves going back over the previous case as well. It's possible that there's a darker story there and that Alex isn't the only one with secrets. The novel changes third-person perspectives in each chapter, giving insight and development to a handful of different characters, which allows for several characters to become multifaceted throughout the novel. There is an immediate relevance to Alex's struggles with PTSD as well as to Sheryn's concern that her beloved former (retired) partner's casual bigotry might have had some effect on how they approached their job. An additional plot thread involving both opioid addiction and illegal prescriptions also rings sadly current. Overall, Davidson's (Blood Always Tells, 2014, etc.) plot doesn't offer anything groundbreakingly new or unfamiliar, but it's easy to get drawn deeply into the various motives and secrets of each character because it's so perfectly human for all of us to keep things hidden, even from those we love.A thoughtfully plotted and skillfully characterized procedural mysteryand, it appears, the first in a new series. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Det. Sheryn Sterling has a bad feeling about war photographer Alex Traynor. A year ago, his friend Cori fell to her death in front of him, and now his fiancée, Emily, is missing. Sheryn believes that Alex is involved in both cases, and this time she's going to prove it. Once she looks closer, though, it's obvious that no one is as they seem, even the flawed Alex. Through intricate plot lines and several alternating points of view, Davidson unspools a tale of guilt, misdirection, and redemption. Readers will not only follow Sheryn and her partner with interest but will also get insight into Alex's mind, including his battles with post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. The plot is fast paced and cast of characters believable and well developed. VERDICT Fans of Karin Slaughter, Tana French, and Lisa Gardner will devour this new police procedural, which boasts a strong female detective and an intriguing antagonist. Sheryn will draw in readers, and Davidson's (Blood Always Tells) complex storytelling will keep them wanting more.-Natalie Browning, -Longwood Univ. Lib., Farmville, VA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

New York photo journalist Alex Traynor, the suspect at the center of this taut series launch from Anthony Award winner Davidson (the Lily Moore series), suffers from PTSD due to his harrowing work in war zones around the world. Traynor's fiancée, surgeon Emily Teare, who has had her share of battlefield experience, has disappeared, and Det. Sheryn Sterling of the NYPD is convinced that Traynor is responsible. Sterling arrested Traynor the year before for the murder of Cori Stanton, a young woman who died as the result of a fall from the roof of the photographer's apartment building. Though Traynor was later released, Sterling clings to the idea that he's guilty. Traynor is menaced by Cori's grieving father, harassed by the police, and uncertain about his relationship with Emily. His PTSD symptoms, which include occasional blackouts and anxiety, make him vulnerable to self-doubt, and there are moments when he and the reader are not certain of his innocence in either crime. Davidson's ability to maintain the suspense bodes well for future installments. Agent: Mitch Hoffman, Aaron M. Priest Literary. (June) Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated a plot point and incorrectly identified Alex Traynor as the book's hero. © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.