That Darkness

Maggie Gardner, the heroine of this uneven suspense novel from bestseller Black (Evidence of Murder), works with the Cleveland PD as a civilian criminologist. When the bodies of four men are found away from where they were killed, each shot with .22 caliber bullets, Maggie joins the homicide team delving into possible links among the victims. The four all have traces of granite, asbestos, lead paint flakes, and cat hair—and have committed such serious crimes as rape, murder, and human trafficking. Since their criminal records are available only to the police, Maggie suspects that the killer is someone in law enforcement. If she knows who it is, she could face an agonizing decision about whether to turn that person in. She hopes she’s wrong. The intriguing forensic details help drive the plot to its satisfying conclusion, but the sketchy portrayal of the characters, particularly Maggie, will disappoint readers expecting more depth. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Agency. (May)