Charade (The Nick Cross Mysteries) by Ruth Bainbridge
Description
Everyone has secrets, but some can get you killed.
A horrific crime scene … an even worse death. While all murders are shocking, there is something decidedly different about this one. A sense of vindictiveness is present and poking Mt. Pleasant Police Detective Nick Cross in his gut.
The twenty-eight-year-old compliance officer was systematically tortured. It’s not Mt. Pleasant’s usual fare and it leaves Cross wondering why the need for such brutality when a bullet would have sufficed just fine. The trashed apartment hints at a robbery, but the wreckage strewn over the floor contains a few surprises. The synthetic wigs, provocative lingerie, and masks introduce an erotic element to the puzzling set of clues. So if not a robbery, could the death be attributable to a session of S&M gone wrong?
It’s up to the intrepid detective to unravel the tangle of who and what killed Dana Barnes. But to do so will lead him into the world of the dark web, dangerous games, and violent sex. The investigation will shine a light in places never meant to be exposed and reveal the most intimate areas of the victim’s life—all to find a killer.
CHARADE is the third in the popular Nick Cross Mysteries. Each entry is a standalone and may be read separately and not in chronological order. These mysteries offer a unique opportunity to match wits with Detective Nick Cross. All readers need do is follow the clues. After all, sex leads to obsession … and obsession to secrets … and secrets? Secrets can get you killed.
“If you love Richard North or James Patterson, you’ll love Nick Cross.”
My Review
A big thank you to Netgalley and Ruth Bainbridge for this ARC!
Shocking, gruesome and filled with secrets, this book definitely got my attention. I will be seeking more work from Ruth Bainbridge in the future and can't wait to read more!
This review is a hard one to write... I find myself starting to type and then pulling back when I've realized I've written a little too much and could spoil the book if I'm not careful.
So, I leave it you with this...if you're looking to dive into a book and only come up for air when you've turned the last page, this is the book for you!