In December 2002, FBI Agent Shields had completed his mission in Santa Estela, Central America. He was on the docks, en route to the boat that would begin his journey back to the States, when he stumbled upon men and vehicles in the process of buying children. It was a child-slave trade obviously. As Shields pondered what he should do, his cousin (another agent) appeared and informed him that the child-slave ring would end that very night. Shields met his boat contact and went home, secure in the knowledge that his cousin's team would save the children. Dr. Anne McCall, FBI Profiler, had been engaged to Dylan Shields two years ago. But Dylan had been killed in an undercover drug deal gone bad. The Shields clan still considered Annie to be one of their own though. The entire clan was either in the FBI or retired from it. Annie knows she is lucky. Not only does she have the deep affection of the entire Shield family, but she also has found love a second time in the form of Homicide Detective Evan Crosby.
Annie and Evan attend the wedding of Mara, Annie's sister, to Aiden Shields. It is there that Evan realizes the relationship between Annie and himself could go no further until Dylan's death is put to rest. Evan offers to look into Dylan's case, as a fresh set of eyes, with Annie. It is something the couple plan to do together, as time permits. Evan's primary focus is on a serial killer. Pre-teen girls were being targeted. Some of the victims have a tattoo. Those with the tattoo have no ID and no one has filed missing reports on them. As Annie and Evan investigate the serial killer and Dylan's death, coincidences begin showing. Then people with possible leads begin to die. As both cases begin to make even a little bit of sense, Annie realizes that she may be walking around with a target on her back.
**** This is the fourth and last novel in the "Dead" series. Fans of the CSI television series will adore this book as the two main characters work through all the evidence. The plot is complex and will keep your mind working as you follow along. If you have read the other books of the series, you will see familiar names and faces. By using past characters in secondary roles this time around, the author has made the story seem more realistic. Excellent series that I highly recommend to all. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
