For fans of Patricia Cornwell, Jefferson Bass, and Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black draws from her real-life scientific expertise as a crime scene analyst and her skill in crafting complex and dynamic female characters, as Washington DC forensic scientists Dr. Ellie Carr and Dr. Rachael Davies team up to solve the deadliest and most devious crimes. This suspense-driven installment in the Locard Institute Thriller series poses a chilling question: What happens when a serial killer goes to CSI school? The Locard Institute is a state-of-the-art forensic research center where experts from around the world come together to confront and solve the world's most challenging and perplexing crimes. When Dr. Ellie Carr arrives for her first day as an instructor at the prestigious facility, the buildings glimmer amid the brilliant fall foliage on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. But within hours a colleague, Dr. Barbara Wright, is found dead on the floor of a supply closet. Her death appears to be an accident--but Ellie and her new supervisor, Dr. Rachael Davies, suspect a more sinister explanation. A young woman attending a professional training program then disappears, only to be found in a gruesome tableau. Other than their link to the Institute, there seems to be no connection between the student and Dr. Wright. Although forensic traces are elusive, Ellie and Rachael are determined to find the bizarre link between the violent and diverse deaths. As reporters shatter the privacy of Ellie's new workplace, she searches old files and finds evidence of a crime that feels much too personal. But who, among those dedicated to justice, could be the threat? No matter how skilled she and Rachael may be in uncovering the truth, they may not be able to prevent a well-schooled killer from striking again. "Black, who writes elegantly from personal experience as a criminologist herself, has fashioned a wondrously structured tale with the pace and energy of a great crime film." --BookTrib on Red Flags
Featured Series
2 primary booksLocard Institute Thriller is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2022 with contributions by Lisa Black.
Reviews with the most likes.
I really enjoyed the setting for What Harms You as it takes place inside a forensic research center. This time around Rachael and Ellie have a situation that hits a lot closer to home than they would like. It made for an interesting read.
While overall I enjoyed the story I will say that there were times I had to push through all of the technical explanations. I also knew the killer early on so towards the end I felt myself skimming a bit.
Despite that, I would still recommend this one to police procedural and crime fiction fans. The writing is good and I absolutely love Rachael and Ellie. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series. I sincerely appreciate Kensington Publishing for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.