A wickedly entertaining ride with plenty of psychological bite.
Finlay’s compelling latest turns a decades-old double murder into a smart exploration of memory, art, and buried secrets. When artist Robin Underhill produces a disturbing painting of her parents’ Halloween murders, the cold case suddenly has new life. But Robin remembers neither witnessing the killings nor creating the painting. Former investigative reporter Jake Scott starts asking questions, while his homicide detective girlfriend, Dani Perez, fears the renewed attention may put Robin in danger.
Robin’s painting is the book’s strongest hook, particularly because Finlay leaves its origins uncertain. Is Robin remembering something buried since childhood, or has she absorbed details of the crime over the years? Jake’s reporter instincts serve the mystery well: he follows inconsistencies and keeps digging, while Dani brings a detective’s caution to his amateur investigation. Old resentments, criminal connections, and credible suspects keep the solution elusive. The middle occasionally takes its time, but the pace quickens as past and present begin to collide. Finlay gives the original crime lasting emotional weight, delivering an inventive, satisfying mystery with a likable investigative pair and a tense final stretch.
A treat for fans of twisty whodunits.
***
Coming soon
Keep On Climbing Publishing
ISBN 978-1-0688371-8-0
