No One Knows You're Here

by Rachel Howzell Hall

A reporter’s obsession with an elusive serial killer gets personal in a terrifying novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of the Anthony Award–nominated These Toxic Things.

For crime reporter Syeeda McKay, obsession is part of the job—and no story has ever consumed her like that of the Phantom Slayer. This serial killer has targeted sex workers in South Los Angeles for nearly twenty years. She named him. She’s tracked him. And only she can bring justice to these victims the city has ignored.

The a minister’s daughter—a far cry from the usual pattern and impossible to ignore. Overnight, the case explodes, and so does Sy’s life. Someone’s watching her. Following her. Anticipating her every move. And then come the emails from someone claiming to be the Slayer himself, offering details only the killer could know. She’s made him famous—and this is the Slayer’s way of saying thank you.

But he’s not done.

As her investigation gets closer to exposing the truth, Sy realizes that she’s more connected to the Slayer than she knew—and that he’s been waiting for her all along.

Revised This edition of No One Knows You're Here includes editorial revisions.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Serial Killer, Audiobook

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2026

About the author

RACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’

Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com

Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.

Reviews

[suspenseisthrillingme]

A gritty serial killer thriller perfect for Hall’s later novels such as And Now She’s Gone and These Toxic Things, No One Knows You’re Here was an impressive noir-like read that I couldn’t put down. Brimming with palpable tension, emotional depth, and an escalating sense of paranoia, the race-against-time feel balanced out the ample amount of social commentary perfectly by the end. You see, while this book had an addictive game of cat-and-mouse and a stalker who creeped me out but good, the thought-provoking themes were what made it all impossible to forget. Diving into how marginalized victims are often overlooked alongside of the emotional toll of violence, the meaning behind this story was second to none. Add that to the fact that it was loosely inspired by the real-life Grim Sleeper case, and I know this book is going to live rent-free in my head for a very long time.

I do have to say, though, that in spite of the powerful themes and realistic feel, the best piece of this novel was Sy herself. A strong, determined, and emotionally complex character, she also somehow felt believably flawed and wonderfully nuanced. Honestly? In many respects, she carried this novel. You see, between the insanely slow start and the many side plots, it was hard to stay immersed in the story at times. And don’t get me started on that abrupt—almost rushed—ending. At the same time, the ratcheting sense of unease, rich character development, and multiple mysteries made it into a quick, easy read that I utterly inhaled once I reached the second half. After all, with a root-for-able amateur sleuth, an atmospheric vibe, and a hard look at justice, obsession, and trauma, it was yet another a smart and chilling tale from this insanely talent author. Rating of 3.5 stars (upgraded).

Read if you love:
- Rachel Howzell Hall’s later novels
- Atmospheric settings
- Psychological suspense
- Stalker vibes
- Sharp social commentary
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Emotional depth
- Gritty crime thrillers
- An investigative journalism angle
- Serial killer stories
- Thought-provoking themes

SYNOPSIS:

For crime reporter Syeeda McKay, obsession is part of the job―and no story has ever consumed her like that of the Phantom Slayer. This serial killer has targeted sex workers in South Los Angeles for nearly twenty years. She named him. She’s tracked him. And only she can bring justice to these victims the city has ignored.

The latest: a minister’s daughter―a far cry from the usual pattern and impossible to ignore. Overnight, the case explodes, and so does Sy’s life. Someone’s watching her. Following her. Anticipating her every move. And then come the emails from someone claiming to be the Slayer himself, offering details only the killer could know. She’s made him famous―and this is the Slayer’s way of saying thank you.

But he’s not done.

As her investigation gets closer to exposing the truth, Sy realizes that she’s more connected to the Slayer than she knew―and that he’s been waiting for her all along.

Thank you Rachel Howzell Hall, Thomas & Mercer, and BookSparks for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: June 30, 2026 (re-release)

Content warning: murder, cancer, sexual assault, violence, stalking, sexism, racism, grief, toxic relationship

[Monica **can't read fast enough**]

3 1/2 stars

I enjoyed this one and I hope that there will eventually be more stories featuring Syeeda in the future. I had to read this in stops and starts because of traveling and real life and I'll probably reread this at some point down the line. I'm glad to be working my way through Howzell Hall's back list.

Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase

[Ashly Kent]

i binged this book on the beach in one day. it was an absolutely phenomenal read and i felt like i could see through the main characters eyes the entire time.

i do wish the chapters listed who the POV was but since this is an ARC copy, i suspect that probably will be in the final copy in stores. i also wished the ending was longer. it’s finished but still feels slightly unfinished. i think this could turn into a series easily. the next book could give a glimpse into more crimes solved between the main characters or even a entire book about the serial killers life and what made him this way.

either way, i loved the book and want more from this story line!! please turn this into a series.

[Kristi]

I was irritated while reading No One Knows You're Here by Rachel Howzell, not with the book, but with my family. This was one of those high demand family weeks where there are lots of needs that have to be met, and none of them include being left alone to read a good book and then write its glowing review. Every time I had to set it down I could feel my inner tiger growling just a little louder, until finally this morning it just about ate my husband whole.

With that note, let's take a look at another violent tale of a serial killer stalking the streets of Los Angeles. Syeeda McKay is a crime reporter who has been investigating said serial killer. Syeeda has a little help along the way from Detective Adam Sherwood, Medical Examiner Spencer, her friend Lena, and her sister and FBI profiler Eva.What Syeeda doesn't know is that because of her investigation she's been brought to the attention of the very person she's hunting.

This story was extremely entertaining, but also so realistically done that it was an absolute joy to read. There's no over-dramatization with the serial killer, he was well researched and fabulously profiled. (In case you didn't know I have a degree in Criminology, and a little unknown fact, it's because I'm fascinated with the kind of mind that's this twisted.) But the psychological accuracy doesn't stop there, her characters reactions and subsequent actions were also extremely real. Howzell does a fantastic job of showing how not black and white most relationships are, how we have certain blinders for some people, our own insecurities regardless of our status in the world, and how easy it is to judge standing outside of it all.

Howzell also does her job to keep your mind inside the story, keeping you guess as to who the bad person really is, throwing plot twists that you never see coming. Oh you may get a whiff of something, but the way she twists it on you is mind blowing. There was one moment where the thought was, "No, she is not trying to pull that off as the bad person. That doesn't even make any sense." (Reading more, because I have to know) Oooooh, I seeeeeee! Wow!" I wish I could explain what really happened, but no spoilers!

She also balances quite nicely on that tightrope of calm scenes with intent scenes and background story with character history. As for pace, think of this as a steady jog. It's the perfect pace to keep you going, won't leave you gasping for air, and definitely won't make you feel as if you're asleep with your eyes open.

Then the ending? What do you mean "a weird thing happened a few days ago"? What??? You're not going to explain that? Fishhook! Howzell just reeled you in baby! It was great!

*Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for a review*

[Marleen]

Nah, this was not it.

Turns out this books a republication from 2011 and it shows. But what I don’t understand is why; when you have a chance to republish, why not rewrite it so doesn’t read dated?

The judgement and sexism is rampant and while the hard core sexism is called out, the casual sexism is still there. Sy, our main character, is unlikeable, which I don’t mind if she’s meant to be. But I don’t think she was. She was quick to judge, a pick me, and pretty stupid for an investigative journalist. All of that was even more prevalent because the author decided to put a whole bunch of Sy’s private life in there. (Which was so messy and convoluted, I could barely keep track of everyone. I still feel like I missed a whole bunch of backstory. Did I miss other books in a series or something?) I think I would’ve minded less if the story centered the case more.

Speaking of the case. While the author explains her inspiration in the author’s note, I feel like she tried to combine serial killer’s motivations, which made for a pretty wishy-washy motive for our Phantom Slayer. Also, I don’t believe introducing his perspective early on was a good idea. That definitely took away the tension. And for a serial killer that gets his own perspective, this Phantom Slayer character has no depth.

This book has a lot of (mostly random) build up until it just fizzles out. The title references an event that happens in the final 20 to 40 pages…

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter]

I struggled with this one. Had I been reading the eARC, I might have chalked some of it up to being an early draft and excused the choppy format, but alas, this was the audiobook, meaning it was the final product.

I’m sure this will find its fan base, but for me, it just didn’t work. I kept checking out while reading, and that’s never a good sign.

That said, the narrators, Tamika Katon-Donegal and Adam Lazarre-White, did a great job. If it weren’t for their performances, I likely would have struggled even more to finish it.

There was so much happening that had little to do with the central plot. While some of it helped deepen the characters, it often felt like the story was pulling in too many directions. And then there was that ending. It was so abrupt that I genuinely thought my audiobook had cut out. With so many threads left unresolved, I was left more confused than satisfied.

Apparently, this is a reissue of a book from 15 years ago. I’m not sure if it was edited, rewritten, or simply recorded for audio, but in my opinion, it needed more work before being brought back out.

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley to give me the opportunity to read it ahead of publication, as the description really intrigued me. Unfortunately, the execution just wasn’t for me.

[Rary ⏾ ⛧]

ARC: NetGallery & Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date Jun 30 2026

This was a good read as you follow Sy the reporter but more like a rebel detective on the hunt for the serial killer known as the Slayer for her book.
She has a messy relationship with detective Adam for help. Sy as well is dealing with a stalker who is a bit delusional with their obsession of her.
Halfway through the plot twists twice throws Sy into situations that is similar to the movie Misery.

[thebeespot72]

I’m so glad I was able to read another book by Rachel Howzell Hall. After I read The View From Here, I went down a rabbit hole to look up all her books—which, by the way, she has quite the backlist. And thanks to @Booksparks for gifting me No One Knows You’re Here, I was all in.

What a doozy of a Crime Thriller this was. One that I felt like I was the character, Sy, going through all of it. A big part of the story is Sy, as a reporter/writer, bringing justice to the Black s3x workers that were being targeted and unalived by a serial killer. Though the numbers were high, the city ignored them. Sy has her small circle of friends, and Adam, a police detective, plays a role in the story, which certainly threw me off about how it would end. However, reading the Author’s Note, it all made more sense.

No One Knows You’re Here was definitely a winning read for me. I enjoyed it.

[Karen]

It's hard not to admire the bravery of an author that opts to write a crime novel in a strong, first person voice. A lot of a reader's enjoyment of that novel may then be hanging on their like, or dislike, of the central character. In the case of crime reporter Syeeda McKay we have a very upfront woman, despite her recent breast cancer surgery; her on again, off again relationship with Detective Adam Sherwood; and odd friendships and encounters with old school friends.

Part of what works about McKay's voice is a hint of self-doubt, and humour. Which is particularly useful as she does seem to be prone to jumping off the deep end, straight into the mouths of sharks when it comes to her investigative technique. I suspect if her voice, and her personality is at all jarring to any reader, the number of times she seems to close her eyes, whack on the most inappropriate shoes (so to speak) and launch herself into the shark enclosure will drive you utterly bats. Somehow, luckily, for this reader, her voice worked, and whilst there were times when a good slap around the ears seemed warranted, at the same time it made sense that she'd be leading the charge of the well-intentioned but mildly daft.

Whilst elements of the plot revolve around another one of those "mad / bad / lunatic serial killer / targeting women / probably because he hates his mum or his aunt made him eat his sprouts or whatever" scenarios, NO ONE KNOWS YOU'RE HERE does manage to bring some new angles to that well raked patch. There's enough there to make you wonder whether it is the serial killer striking always, or whether there's a copycat, or even an opportunistic villain out there. And whilst we do have some concentration on the killer, there's nothing voyeuristic or uncomfortably intense about it. As McKay is the central figure, the action always comes back to her viewpoint, and she does a particularly good line in the poking a hornet's nest style of investigation, all the while dealing with her own personal issues in a rather matter-of-fact and refreshing manner. Although you do wonder what she did in a previous life as everything seems to happen to Syeeda McKay. Which leads us onto what appears to be the major downside of this book. The ending is just too unbelievable and yet somehow, sadly, very predictable.

But, even allowing for the odd wobble, if you'd like to read something which has a really strong, unique central female character then NO ONE KNOWS YOU'RE HERE has more than enough good to balance it all out. Certainly left me hoping that McKay makes another appearance.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...

[Bill Thibadeau]

I struggled with scoring this book a 4 or 5. I wish that Goodreads allowed me to split the difference.

This fine mystery novel with a message is set in the African American culture of Los Angeles. The author has obviously lived in the world of which she writes. She is articulate and easily bounces between the have and have-nots.

I found the storyline and characters to be engaging. I did not want to put the book down but I find life is better with occasional sleep. Give this indie author a chance. I, for one, am awaiting her next book.

[Novera]

Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 📚✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5 — No One Knows You’re Here by Rachel Howzell Hall

🚨 Book Club Review 🚨

Well… Rachel Howzell Hall, where have you been all my life?! 😮👏

This book had me hooked almost immediately. It’s one of those thrillers where you’re constantly questioning everyone’s motives, and every time you think you’ve got it figured out… nope. Back to square one. 😅

The atmosphere was deliciously tense. The isolated setting gave me that “something is very, very wrong here” feeling from the very beginning, and the suspense just kept building. I loved how the story slowly peeled back each layer instead of dumping all the answers at once.

The characters were flawed enough to feel believable, and I never quite knew who I could trust—which is exactly what I want from a mystery thriller. Every little clue had me playing detective. 🕵️‍♀️

The ending delivered some genuinely surprising twists, and I appreciated that they felt earned rather than thrown in for shock value.

The reason this isn’t a full five stars is because there was a lot happening, especially toward the end. There were so many moving pieces and reveals that it occasionally felt a little overwhelming to keep track of everything. Then, just as everything started coming together… the book ended very abruptly. I found myself wanting just one more chapter to let everything breathe and wrap up a little more naturally. It wasn’t enough to take away from how much I enjoyed the story, but it definitely kept it from earning that perfect five-star rating.

Overall, this was a tense, creepy, and cleverly plotted thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. If you love isolated settings, suspicious characters, and mysteries that keep you guessing, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

📖 Final Verdict: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Now excuse me while I add more Rachel Howzell Hall books to my ever-growing TBR… because clearly my bookshelf wasn’t already judging me enough. 😂📚

#netgalley #nooneknowsyourehere

[Kristen Bolding]

Syeeda McKay is a journalist who is writing a book on a serial killer in Los Angeles called the Phantom Slayer who has been killing sex workers for several years.

This book is full of suspense and tension and really pulled me in from the beginning. It had different POV’s and was sometimes confusing trying to figure out who’s POV it was.

I also feel like the story ended so abruptly though and would have loved more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the ARC

[Jennifer]

I had to put the book down on the first page. Miss ma'am said this lady was driving a NEON and I was like oh okay, this has to be a reprint. And yes, it is. But you know what? This is still a damn good book even almost 20 years later. I'm telling you guys, don't sleep on older books. Also... HOW DID. I NOT GUESS WHO THE GUY WAS?! Made me feel stupid as hell 🤣

[Teressa]

This book was the first ever giveaway in Goodreads that I have won & I was excited to read it. Even with 200 books in my TBR shelf. This is the first book I have read by Rachel Howzell Hall. I was interested from the beginning, couldn’t wait to pick it back up, reading at work, my son’s football practice, etc. There were many plot twists & the book kept you engaged. I highly recommend it & will be reading more books by her.

[Shayla]

I honestly loved this, maybe I’m in the minority but this was great. Getting to the authors note at the end really made this story land. The all too true story of crimes against black women being looked over.

[Becky]

I finished this book a few weeks ago but have been sitting with my thoughts because this is the most difficult book I have reviewed.

First, let's start with the good. The writing was amazing. I was immediately sucked into the world and finished this book in two days. Unlike many other reviewers, I actually enjoyed the balance of Sy's personal life with the thriller elements. If this were written by SA Cosby, everyone would love it, but since it's a woman who has a personal life in addition to her job trying to track down a serial killer, suddenly everyone is bored. Double standards abound, I swear. Also, the narration was CHEF'S KISS. I absolutely love Adam Lazarre-White and when I heard his voice I nearly swooned.

What I personally didn't like was a) the dated references throughout, and b) the rushed ending. Regarding a), this book could have used a further edit to modernize the references before republishing. For b), I really don't know why the ending was as rushed as it was. There was a big lead-up to a lackluster showdown, which really disappointed me because it had so much potential.

However, with all that being said, I still really enjoyed this book. Overall I would rate it 3.75 stars. I will be reading more of this author's series because I enjoy her writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive)]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

READ IN ENGLISH

I received a free copy from Beyond the page Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!



I've got mixed feelings about this book. There were moments I really enjoyed reading it, but at times I didn't like it at all. The writing is OK, and the story sounded really interesting, but it had its flaws. The story is based on (but not a description of) a real Los Angelos murder case, where Afro-American women (mostly prostitutes) have been murdered over a long time, without people paying a lot of attention to the case. Of course, it's very good that these things are brought to our attention.



My biggest problem was with the main character, and more specific with all the melodrama surrounding the main character. The list is almost endless, discovering bodies, stalkers, hate-mail, an it's-complicated boyfriend, breast cancer (and her sister has probably cancer as well). Oh, and she's a best-selling author/journalist, but actually she's just doing the job the police should do: investigating the murders. Her it's-complicated boyfriend, who's running the investigation (sleeping with the author who's going to write a book on your case seems a bit, uhmm, unprofessional?), even asks her to run some errands for him on the case; could he not ask his police-minions to do those kind of things for him? And besides, they keep her updated on every aspect of the case as well, even though the case is still open and she's a reporter! It's not just the it's-complicated boyfriend, the pathologist happily joins in and shares even more information with her.



There were a number of chapters with the POV of the serial killer, but I had some trouble understanding what they added to the story. It was obviously a way of creating more suspense by foreshadowing what was going to happen, I can see that. But it was an opportunity to give the serial killer character a body, and some character development other than him just being the big bad guy. (Not that serial killers aren't bad, of course they are). Unfortunately, the only things that becomes clear trough these chapters is that he's clearly mad and delusional. And that's the end of the explanation we get on why he does these things? (But why does he only murder one person a year if he is so mad and delusional?)



Overall, I really thought it has a good theme, but I've read a lot of detective stories, so obviously I've become more critical, especially when it comes to details like the ones I described above.

[Eliza Hall]

Check out my video for a full review: https://youtu.be/4SiQCPpA7uI
Monthly Reading Wrap-up: https://youtu.be/D9yMiWm5_n8

[Candy]

The author sent me this book asking for a review a little over a year ago. I recently was browsing through my kindle and came across it and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad that I did. It's a really good story and it's well written. It's also a fast read, but took long enough that I was able to escape into it, which frankly is half the battle some days. Especially during tax season. *twitch*

My problem with it was that it was really "busy". There was a LOT going on in this book and it took a few turns that it could have probably done without. I can forgive that, but for the genre and the story I think it was just too much at times. I know others have compared it to James Patterson and that's pretty fair, only it wasn't as easy of a read, if that makes sense.

I'm not dissing the book at all. I really did enjoy it. Just giving you fair warning. I still highly recommend this for Patterson and other light mystery/thriller readers. I'll be looking for other books by this author for sure. It was a great stress relief and "get away from it all" book.

[Lisachinnery]

It was a great fast engaging read. It definitely sends up the creepy red flag. It also made me wonder how much information I share and who I friend on certain social media platforms. I liked how you got inside both the head of the main character and the serial killer. The twists and turns were terrific. There was a lot going on but you never got dragged down by too many details, it was just right. I also liked the fact it was inspired by a real cold case serial killer and brought to life the injustice of nameless/faceless victims of horrific crimes that go unsolved because no seems to really care. All life should be valued and their killers should be pursued.

[Tamara Harris]

Awesome

I love a book written in my hometown. This book described the streets so well. I read the pages and thought of these streets and places I knew. There were twists and turns. I was reading and couldn't stop. When I read the author's inspiration for the story, it wrenched my heart because I went to school with one of the serial killer's victims. I had heard about it before, but never put a face to the victim or learned of the details. In the middle of the night, I looked the story up. That is what a great story does - it makes you think. I wish peace for the Grim Reeper's victims and their families.

[Coffee&Books]

I was intrigued by the story line of a black journalist breaking a serial killer case. I like my thrillers to move fast, though and this one was a slow read for me. Pages and pages about her former college friends and sorority issues that I am less interested in when I'm reading a serial killer book.

[Darcy]

I recently finished the Detective Elouise Norton series and wanted to check out the authors other books. I was looking forward to this one as Syeeda was a friend of Lou's. Sadly this one didn't work out for me. I didn't care for Syeeda, nor for Adam, although I did like that Adam was there for Syeeda when she needed him. In the end this one wasn't for me.

[Ben Small]

So glad I found her

I first read THESE TOXIC THINGS and found it so good, I downloaded all of Rachel's books. This was my second Rachel read. And I love her style, her humor, her vocabulary and her riveting plots. This ending caught me by surprise; I thought I'd reached the solution only to discover a new layer.

[Dawna]

I’ve read a lot of Howzell-Hall’s books. This is the first where I hated nearly every character. I wanted McKay to make just one good decision. Just one. I’d also prefer to have at least one character to like, but that’s not a deal breaker either. Anywhoo, it’s still a page turner. Still a gritty thriller that keeps you engaged. And I’m grateful for all authors who make chapters short. Worth it!

[Teresa Salisbury]

Kept me in suspense the whole time.

Very smooth and gripping story line, one that kept me guessing who the murder was the whole time. Tell the true I was glad that Adam was a good guy and not the bad guy, was starting to have a bad feeling about him.

[Jess]

Fast paced thriller

Enjoyed learning about the stories that inspired this thriller. I encourage other white readers to pick up a copy and think critically about the themes Rachel Howzell Hall is exploring here.

[Lee Ann Ann]

First, brilliant title.

Second, great, fast paced plot.

This is my first book by this author, but ready to search for more.

[Jennifer Peters]

Lots of twists and turns. Enjoyed reading this book ti the last page!

[Lori L (She Treads Softly)]

No One Knows You're Here by Rachel Howzell Hall is a recommended thriller. This novel was originally published on 11/21/11 and is being reissued.

Syeeda (Sy) McKay is a crime reporter in LA who is currently following the Phantom Slayer investigation. She is writing stories on the investigation and hopes to publish a book on the serial killer who has targeted sex workers in South Los Angeles for nearly twenty years. She was reached out by the latest victim to meet with her for more information. Instead Sy discovered her body at the meeting site. This latest victim, as a minister's daughter, didn't really seem to fit the profile of the victims. It helps that Sy's on/off boyfriend Adam is a police detective on the cases and can feed her more information along with other inside sources like Spencer, the medical examiner. There is also a delusional stalker who is following Sy.

There is a lot going on in this novel and not all of it relates to the current investigation or past cases. The reason I'm reading the novel is for the mystery and the investigation. While some personal life of the protagonist inserted into the plot is expected, it seemed that much of the drama inserted in this story follows events in Sy's personal life and these minor story lines sometimes overwhelm the actual investigative. The perpetrator was easily identified early on in the story which perhaps made the added personal drama more frustrating.

Ultimately, Syeeda became an unlikable character. While she is intelligent, it seems she often makes foolish choices and bad decisions which put her directly in the path of danger. Be prepared. If you have an alarm system, use it. Don't meet strangers anywhere by yourself. If you have that little feeling you are being watched, listen to it and get to a safe place. And, for a woman recovering from recent cancer surgery, she could allow herself to take some time off to recover rather than continually put herself in the path of danger. Or, alternately have her recovered now and don't include this in the plot.

The ending was very abrupt, which was a disappointment. In the author's end notes it was interesting to know she based the plot on the true story of the Grim Sleeper case, however, as a reader, I wasn't there for the additional lecture. It made some assumptions about the readers. This is a revised and reissued edition of the novel that you can tell it was originally published in 2011. 3.5 rounded down when required. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...