HER DARK GRAVE

In Arnold’s murder mystery, detectives must dig deep into victims’ lives to identify a bloodthirsty killer.

When Madison Knight sets out on a drive to shake off her disturbing nightmares, she doesn’t expect to find a corpse brutally disposed of in a ditch—but predictability isn’t a cornerstone of her profession. As a detective with the StilesPolice Department, Knight has spent years solving crimes. This most recent one, however, is particularly shocking due to the killer’s violent treatment of the body—which was stabbed and stuffed into luggage—and because the deceased, Tara Jackson, was well loved in the community. The 21-year-old daughter of a wealthy, renowned neurosurgeon spent most of her time and money giving back to society. Everyone who knew her speaks of her with admiration, often going out of their way to make sure that investigators know that she wasn’t a stereotypical, spoiled rich kid: “She wanted to earn her own way. I’m talking hard work,” says one interviewee. But as Knight and her partner, Terry Grant, follow the few clues they have, they begin to wonder if Tara was living a double life. After another body is found, the detectives are certain they have a serial killer on their hands. Knight is effectively shown to be a dedicated, occasionally overzealous protagonist who puts her personal life—and sometimes even the rules of her job—aside when there’s a mystery to solve. The high stakes of her profession weigh on Knight, and Arnold makes her guilt, anxiety, and paranoia palpable. The protagonist often acts rashly and is overcritical of those around her, but she remains an intriguing character. The story is told largely in dialogue, and as such, the book often feels like a transcript of a TV crime show; like such programs, it generally moves quickly, but readers may wish for a few more plot twists or jaw-dropping moments. Still, this is a page-turner with a few shocks here and there—particularly in chapters told from the perspective of the unknown killer, whose gruesome thoughts are hard to stomach.

A compact and often compelling police procedural.