I’ll start off by saying that I didn’t Add Pageknow this was the third book in a series when I picked it up (although it did feel like background was definitely missing,) and while that might have made the serial killer aspect of this book make more sense, the focal crime wasn’t compelling enough to stand on its own.
A teenager playing hooky from school hides on a construction site to sneak a cigarette and stumbles upon a baby’s arm sticking out from a block of concrete. The only baby reported missing in the area disappeared fifteen years earlier, and it’s up to DC Beth Chamberlain to inform the family and help support them through the new investigation.
Absolutely compelling on its surface — even as reading about the body of a dead baby is obviously quite uncomfortable — the outcome and the approach to discovering the outcome was a letdown. The conclusion itself wasn’t a big surprise. The why might have been unexpected, but not necessarily the who.
However, that being said, I really did like DC Beth Chamberlain’s character, and I liked the secret relationship she had with her superior on the police force, Nick. I think if I went back and read the first two books, that developing relationship story would be the best part.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Aria in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.