What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Mike Roth #1
Lambs to the Slaughter
The Bronx doesn’t forgive mistakes. Neither do its killers.The Bronx is full of places where people disappear.
Detectives Roth and Hersch have spent years working the 41st Precinct. They know the streets, the gangs, the addicts, the violence—and how quickly a death can become just another file on a desk.
Then a young woman’s body washes up at Hunts Point.
She has been beaten, raped, and strangled. At first, it appears to be another brutal killing in a borough that has learned to live with brutality.
But she is not the first.
Since January 2023, women have been turning up dead across the Bronx. Each was poor. Each was undocumented. Each had no identification, no family willing to come forward, and no one with the power to demand answers.
Until now.
This victim has fingerprints in the system.
Following her trail pulls Roth and Hersch into a world far beyond the shell companies, predatory property deals, a secretive religious organization, and Xin Yue—the beautiful, unreadable manager of the Church of the Rapture of Jehova.
At the center of it all is an address in Hunts
739 Coster Street.
A place with a secret worth killing for.
And if Roth and Hersch uncover it, they may be next.
Detectives Roth and Hersch have spent years working the 41st Precinct. They know the streets, the gangs, the addicts, the violence—and how quickly a death can become just another file on a desk.
Then a young woman’s body washes up at Hunts Point.
She has been beaten, raped, and strangled. At first, it appears to be another brutal killing in a borough that has learned to live with brutality.
But she is not the first.
Since January 2023, women have been turning up dead across the Bronx. Each was poor. Each was undocumented. Each had no identification, no family willing to come forward, and no one with the power to demand answers.
Until now.
This victim has fingerprints in the system.
Following her trail pulls Roth and Hersch into a world far beyond the shell companies, predatory property deals, a secretive religious organization, and Xin Yue—the beautiful, unreadable manager of the Church of the Rapture of Jehova.
At the center of it all is an address in Hunts
739 Coster Street.
A place with a secret worth killing for.
And if Roth and Hersch uncover it, they may be next.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2026
About the author
Blake Banner
230 books425 followersUSA TODAY and Amazon #1 bestselling author of the OMEGA and DEAD COLD MYSTERY series. Learn more about Blake Banner at his website: www.blakebanner.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 12, 2026
Lamb to the Slaughter by Blake Banner
Set in New York City, this is crime story that involves human trafficking, Russian Mafia, serial killing of immigrants brought illegally, and a Church professing and proclaiming humanitarian actions. NYPD Cops Roth and Hersch crack open the case. This is the first book of this author that I read.
Set in New York City, this is crime story that involves human trafficking, Russian Mafia, serial killing of immigrants brought illegally, and a Church professing and proclaiming humanitarian actions. NYPD Cops Roth and Hersch crack open the case. This is the first book of this author that I read.
September 22, 2026
great new series
I loved Blake banners cold case series and was sad when he ended it but with Detectives Roth and Hersch he has started another interesting series. Looking forward to the next book
I loved Blake banners cold case series and was sad when he ended it but with Detectives Roth and Hersch he has started another interesting series. Looking forward to the next book
August 15, 2026
Good read and likeable characters
Easy to read, nice plot that came together well and good dialogue and relationship between partners. Will read another of his.
Easy to read, nice plot that came together well and good dialogue and relationship between partners. Will read another of his.
August 29, 2026
A real who done it
well thought out and hard to predict the outcome. Great story, characters and plenty of action and suspense. couldn't put it down
well thought out and hard to predict the outcome. Great story, characters and plenty of action and suspense. couldn't put it down
September 1, 2026
Fast paced
Got to say this book was refreshing, no over the top descriptions, no pointless repeating of sentences and quite funny at times. Enjoyed it very much.
Got to say this book was refreshing, no over the top descriptions, no pointless repeating of sentences and quite funny at times. Enjoyed it very much.
September 6, 2026
Lambs to the Slaughter!
Detective Mike Roth and his partner Hirsch are tracking a possible serial killer. Time is not on there side! A fast paced thriller right to the end!!
Detective Mike Roth and his partner Hirsch are tracking a possible serial killer. Time is not on there side! A fast paced thriller right to the end!!
October 20, 2026
Well written, good characters, an excellent story, and a good ending.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews