A Beautiful Corpse

In Daugherty’s gripping sequel to 2018’s The Echo Killing, Savannah Daily News reporter Harper McClain investigates the murder of law student and bartender Naomi Scott. The police focus on her boyfriend, but thanks to a tip from Naomi’s father, Harper learns the victim had a troubling relationship with the scion of a powerful local family—a young man with a history of stalking women but an alibi for the killing. As the newsroom buzzes with rumors of layoffs, Harper finds herself with a politically explosive story that could define or destroy her career. Meanwhile, she receives communications from a mysterious figure who seems to possess information about the unsolved murder of her mother 16 years earlier—and who can break into her house and car without a trace. A rushed climax mars the carefully built suspense, but Harper is an appealing character readers will want to see more of. The ongoing mystery about Harper’s mother provides ample fodder for future entries. [em]Agent: Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Literary (U.K.). (Mar.) [/em]