SUNSCREEN SHOWER

The detectives of the Criminal Investigation Division of Baltimore strive to find justice for the city’s grisly murders in Rieger’s thriller.

Det. Kev Dixit is covering for his sergeant’s medical leave and contemplating his future of being overworked and underpaid when he receives a call about a mysterious case. Det. Dinetta Laurence tells him they’ve found the dead bodies of a presumed couple in their home with no apparent signs of a break-in. The woman, later identified as Joanne Mattheisen, is found at the foot of the stairs with a gunshot wound. Her husband, Christian Mattheisen, is dead on the couch, killed by a shot to the head. There are also adhesive marks on his face, indicating his mouth was taped shut. They have no living relatives aside from an elderly great-aunt in Vermont who’s not interested in driving down to Baltimore to assist in funeral arrangements or the investigation. As Dixit digs further into the investigation with the assistance of lawyer Rainwater Wells, he discovers that Joanne and Christian were actually siblings, and that Christian had recently transferred money to the Cayman Islands. Dixit wants to put this case to bed as an argument gone wrong that concluded in a murder and suicide, but he continues to search for clues. Alongside the Mattheisen case is a flashback to October of 2000, when Dixit was investigating a possible pair of serial killers torturing women to death (“The crimes are almost identical. Glenda thought it was two perps. Neither said a word”). The author has crafted a masterful mystery novel with a story full of unexpected twists and turns. The intrigue is occasionally overshadowed by the large cast of characters—at times it’s difficult to differentiate between them all. But Kev Dixit stands out as a grounded and dedicated detective who’s both relatable and a hero worthy of praise. His determination to solve cases and find justice for victims highlights the importance of his work and supports the stakes of the mystery.

A great detective story with a clever ending.