The Hidden: A Monika Paniatowski Mystery

Spencer’s absorbing 12th mystery set in 1970s Lancashire and featuring Det. Chief Insp. Monika Paniatowski (after 2016’s Death in Disguise) opens with the discovery of Paniatowski—unconscious, a pool of blood around her head—in the woods near a country house. The resourceful members of her team—Colin Beresford, Jack Crane, and Kate Meadows—vow to find out who is responsible. The case, however, is assigned to Det. Chief Insp. William “Rhino” Dixon, who sees this case as his chance to grab the headlines and grudgingly allows the three to participate on a very limited basis. A few hours later, the strangled body of a teenage girl turns up in the same woods. Dixon steamrolls ahead, pursuing the case as a straightforward domestic murder. Pushed to the sidelines, Paniatowski’s team members decide to investigate on their own, and soon discover a much more sinister and complex motive for the attacks. Will Paniatowski come out of her coma? If she does, will she be physically and mentally able to resume her job? Readers will eagerly await the next installment. (July)