Let Justice Descend

The electrocution murder of Ohio senator Diane Cragin shortly before election day propels bestseller Black’s solid fifth thriller featuring Cleveland crime scene investigator Maggie Gardiner and homicide detective Jack Renner (after 2018’s Suffer the Children). Initially, Maggie and Jack’s prime suspect is Joe Green, Diane’s political rival, but after they discover almost a million dollars in cash in Cragin’s house, they’re forced to delve into the world of political corruption, bribes, and economic hit men. Meanwhile, Cleveland Herald reporter Lori Russo is working not only on a political corruption story but also on a vigilante case—a case that involves a murder Maggie helped Jack cover up. A second murder raises the ante. Maggie wonders if these murders are about politics or something more sinister. Black’s deep dive into forensics and crime scene investigation makes the book read at times more like a procedural than a thriller. This wealth of detail, combined with a complex plot, slows the pace of what is otherwise an intriguing tale of skullduggery. On the whole, though, genre fans will be satisfied. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Agency. (Nov.)