Hilde Swenson, one of the contestants in town for a local beauty pageant, is no longer beautiful when Detective Claire Morgan is called in to investigate her murder. Hilde has been hung up in a shower stall posed with her face sewn in a hideous grin. Adding to the bizarre case is the fact that Hilde's sister, Brianna, is currently dating Claire's partner, Bud. That means Brianna should be able to assist Claire with providing some facts about her sister -- and their unusual pasts. But will she?

It seems that not only did Hilde have quite a few enemies from the beauty queen circuit, but she'd been dealing with a sadistic ex-boyfriend who has unsettling connections to both Hilde and Brianna. However, Brianna is keeping a terrible secret about the sisters' pasts that could cost more people their lives.

Why can't things ever be slow and peaceful in the quiet Ozarks where Claire now lives and works? It seems that ever since she moved to the area and took the job of detective for the local police force, she's had to solve one horrendous murder after another -- and almost gotten killed in the process. This time around, she's assisted even more by the handsome psychiatrist Nicholas Black (now her full- time lover) as she works to solve another bizarre case.

The talented Ms. Ladd has done it again -- given readers a cannot-put-down thriller that's dark, edgy and intense. Claire Morgan and the supporting cast of characters are multifaceted and believable as they go about solving a twisted case of murder and bringing to justice an evil killer. Another great addition to this stunning series.