Roxie Baez is the only one in her family who survives a mass shooting, and then she disappears. Is she a survivor or a suspect? The characters in this D.D. Warren series are strong, and with D.D. on the case we know the truth will come out eventually. Flora Dane, herself a survivor of violence, is after her own form of justice, and as the story progressed, following both points of view kept me flipping pages.
One can not read this book without being immersed in the highly topical social issues that face society in the twenty-first century. As a former teacher, the bullying aspect rang true to me. The foster system is exposed, and we see how the justice system itself failed Roxie. While the mystery is compelling, I was equally drawn into these social aspects and believe they are lessons to be learned.
There is no doubt that Lisa Gardner is a talented author with a devoted fan base. I have not read many of her previous novels and am looking forward to catching up on D. D. Warren’s backstory. This is not an emotionally easy read, but it is one that is worth your time.
-Beverly
Publisher - Dutton
Date of Publication - February 6, 2018