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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
A murder of a young teenager — investigated with procedural care
Language
Barely any
Contemporary dialogue; mild language
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
The psychological weight of being a Black female detective in a predominantly white institution; grief over a dead spouse; the exploitation of vulnerable young people
What this book is about
Marti MacAlister, a Black widowed detective and mother working in Lincoln Prairie, Illinois, investigates when a young runaway is found dead and another teenager leads her to a web of crime and exploitation. The first Marti MacAlister novel broke ground as one of the first procedural series featuring a Black female protagonist — a woman managing grief, motherhood, and a career in a system not designed for her.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
The murder of a vulnerable teenager — handled with care
A Black female detective navigating institutional resistance
Reader Verification
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