The Devil you Know

Plausible characters and continually shifting potential motives and clues lift bestseller Tracy’s strong third police procedural featuring LAPD Det. Margaret Nolan (after 2022’s Desolation Canyon). When a scurrilous video pops up on the web showing beloved Disney actor Evan Hobbes having sex with a minor, the star’s career implodes, despite his fervent denials and claims that the video must be a deepfake. The following day, his battered body is found at the bottom of a cliff behind the home of Disney executive David Baum. Hobbes had been one of hundreds of well-heeled guests celebrating at a lavish party on the Baum estate. Was his death an accident, suicide, or murder? The displays of colossal Hollywood egos and Nolan’s reaction to them make her interviews with potential suspects and witnesses highly entertaining. Adding personal interest is Nolan’s ongoing friendship with Sam Easton, a troubled Afghan War vet who suffers from PTSD. Great atmosphere, vivid characters, and an intricate fair play plot that surprises as it twists its way to a satisfying resolution make this a winner. Fans and newcomers alike will have fun. Agent: Ellen Geiger, Frances Goldin Literary. (Jan.)