Stock characters undermine an intriguing plot in Hunt's flat fifth novel, which features St. Louis police detective George Hastings, introduced in 2007's The Betrayers
. When two men shoot a young lawyer, Tom Myers, and abduct Myers's fiancée soon after the couple left a Christmas party in a posh suburb, the authorities have few leads into the murder and kidnapping. The appealing Hastings, a dedicated cop and divorced father with custody of his stepdaughter, must dig deep into the relationships of the victims to unearth clues that might lead him to the perpetrators. While the plot moves at a good clip and Hunt manages some effective scenes, including a brilliant ransom drop, most of the supporting characters—the charismatic con man, the manipulative trophy wife, the rich and oblivious nerd—come off as one-dimensional. Hopefully, Hunt will return to form in his next book. (Mar.)
