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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Murders; crime scenes described; violence against a child implied
Language
Some
Modern thriller language; some profanity
Sexual Content
Barely any
Child abuse themes; no explicit adult sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Prescription drug misuse mentioned
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Deep exploration of child trauma, psychological predation, and clinical psychology
What this book is about
Child psychologist Alex Delaware is asked by his friend Milo Sturgis—an LAPD detective—to help with the sole witness to a double murder: a traumatized seven-year-old girl. As Delaware gently works with the child, he begins to uncover a network of predators exploiting the most vulnerable. The debut novel in a long-running series, blending clinical psychology with police procedural.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Child abuse and exploitation are central to the plot
Traumatized child witness; disturbing subject matter throughout
Crime scenes involving murder victims
Reader Verification
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