Solitude Creek: A Kathryn Dance Novel

Numerous surprises are in store for Kathryn Dance (and the reader) in bestseller Deaver’s stellar fourth novel featuring the California Bureau of Investigation kinesics expert (after 2012’s XO). As part of Operation Pipeline, which is aimed at stopping the drug and gun transportation network headed by gangbanger Rodrigo Guzman, Dance lets a suspect escape during an interview and winds up assigned to the CBI’s Civil Division. Working with Civ-Div, she discovers that a false fire alarm at a Monterey Bay area club, Solitude Creek, where three patrons died in the rush toward blocked exits, was the work of elusive killer Antioch March. March has other panic-inducing attacks planned, and Dance leads an investigative effort while continuing to pursue the Guzman connection without the knowledge of her boss, Charles Overby. In addition, Dance and her colleagues continue to fight a frustrating battle against contraband crossing the porous Mexico-U.S. border. Deaver’s meaty thrillers are as good as they come. Agent: Deborah Schneider, Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents. (May)