Death by raging flames… Crisp autumn air sweeps through Motor City, marking the end of a long, hot summer that had all of Detroit clawing for relief. With the chill of the turning season, Maxine starts life anew, now married to her firefighting beau, Asa, and returning to the force to work beside her new partner.
Detective Janice Tolland is no spring chicken. A veteran and no stranger to the darker crimes this city is known for, Janice couldn't be more at odds with the vigilante attitude Max brings to every case. When it comes to her new partner, Max has met her match.
Having just returned from a prolonged honeymoon, Max's first case is a disturbing one. A limelight actress, Sophia Affini, renowned on stage and screen, is found burned to death in the trunk of her car. A glittering star, a seedy neighborhood, and a fire that devoured all evidence, the killer has covered his tracks.
With no leads and no evidence, Maxine delves into an unlikely friendship with the victim's sister, and the dark dynamic within the Affini family cracks the case wide open.
They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer, and Maxine must figure out if her new confidant is friend or foe. If she doesn't it could mean her life.