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D. D. Warren is back for her second adventure, and second time being overshadowed by supporting character, Bobby Dodge. They're reunited by a crime scene that's decades old and contains multiple bodies of little girls – the chamber they're found in is worthy of Thomas Harris or Val McDermid, and will immediately grab the reader's attention (or turn them off to the book straightaway).

Soon after the news hits the press, a young woman comes forward claiming that they've misidentified one of the girls, as she's the actual Annabelle Granger. The tale she tells convinces the detectives (mostly), and provides fuel for their investigation. I won't get into Annabelle's story – it's worth checking out the novel just for it – but it's at once totally believable and preposterous.

Dodge and Warren face many obstacles along their way – both from the past and present. And following the crooked path to the killer – and Annabelle's real history – is more complicated and dangerous than anyone would expect. Including crossing paths with Catherine Rose Gagnon (from the previous volume, [b:Alone|32527|Alone (Detective D.D. Warren, #1)|Lisa Gardner|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388261074s/32527.jpg|235306]). The last couple of chapters will keep you turning the pages as quickly as you can.

This is twisted, creepy, disturbing, suspenseful, and not very predictable (although I realized who the bad guy was a long time before the Warren or Dodge did). While I don't know that it excels in any of these areas, it delivers what it promises. A good read. I'll be back, and not just to see if Warren ever gets the prime narrative spot in her eponymous series.