Pediatrician Sara Linton also serves as medical examiner in Grant County, Georgia, which means Sara works regularly with her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver. Recently, they've been resolving their past problems and have gotten close enough to consider living together again. During a casual walk in the woods near Sara's home, they discover the body of a teenage girl who was buried alive in a box, then killed in a terrible way.

Learning the identity of the pretty girl is only the start of a shocking investigation that reveals sordid details and secrets of members of the community, including Sara's family. Joining Jeffrey and Sara in solving the case is detective Lena Adams, who's fighting some very bad demons in her own life. And this case has elements that hit way too close for comfort for Lena. As the list of suspects narrows, Lena finds she's pivotal in uncovering facts needed to bring the culprit to justice.

Jeffrey and Sara must also learn to deal with past indiscretions of those they love, which brings more doubt into their relationship. Will this strengthen their love or hinder it further? As they close in on the murderer, tension builds to an astounding climax.

Slaughter is a master at keeping readers glued to the pages with gripping suspense and drama. Her characters are three- dimensionally human, and her plot progression is flawless. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series of novels featuring Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver from the start. They include (in order): BLINDSIGHTED, KISSCUT, A FAINT COLD FEAR and INDELIBLE. When I wrote about reading these four books last year, I stated: "In addition to gritty details, nail-biting suspense and riveting crime-solving, the relationship between the main characters is realistic and well-written." Well, it's even more true with this new novel. An excellent read!