In this crime thriller series debut, a Sydney forensics expert uncovers a deadly connection between a young woman's overdose and a run of suicides. "Kathryn Fox has created a forensic physician whom readers of Patricial Cornwell will adore." —James Patterson A gripping and powerful thriller—the debut of a stunning voice in suspense fiction—and the first appearance of a tough and remarkable investigator, pathologist, and forensic physician, Dr. Anya Crichton . . . The only female freelancer in the male-dominated field, pathologist Dr. Anya Crichton will take any work she can find to pay child support and her mortgage, get her new business off the ground, and battle her ex-husband for custody of their three-year-old son. Things turn around rapidly, however, when her expert forensic evidence is instrumental in winning a high-profile case—and new work offers start pouring in. But Anya's investigation into the drug overdose of a young Lebanese girl is raising troubling questions. Startling coincidences between this sad and tragic death and a series of seemingly unrelated suicides that Anya is also examining at the urging of her friend and colleague, detective sergeant Kate Farrer, suggest that there's a monumental evil at work in the shadows. With each scalpel cut, Anya Crichton's forensic prowess and deductive brilliance are pulling her relentlessly toward a sinister plot and a devastating truth—and once she enters the lethal darkness, she may never again see the light of day. "Will keep you gripped from start to finish. . . . What a compelling new talent!"—Jeffrey Deaver "A delicious buildup of clues and plenty of gruesome details will please genre devotes, as will the satisfying outcome, which is likely to surprise even a few seasoned thriller fans. Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs—move over." — Booklist
