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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Drug trafficking; significant violence; Kate's partner faces false arrest
Language
Some
Some strong language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Mild content
Substance Use
A lot
Drug trafficking and use are central; the investigation involves the drug trade
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The specific danger of having personal stakes in an investigation you're conducting alone; Kate's ability to move through criminal networks that don't think she's a threat
What this book is about
Kate Brannigan's partner is arrested for drug importation — a setup that Kate quickly identifies as connected to a stolen car ring she has been investigating separately. With her partner in custody and the investigation closing in on her, Kate has to work fast and carefully through a criminal network that is more violent than the car theft operation suggested. Val McDermid's third Kate Brannigan novel is the darkest in the series — the drug trade brings a level of violence that the earlier books' frauds didn't — and Kate's personal stake gives it urgency.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
third Kate Brannigan novel by Val McDermid; darkest in the series
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