Once again I am floored by the ability this author has to have you hanging on till the last gasp.

This is the story of Harley Banks whose mission was to stop thieves. Her expertise was in corporate crime. She had the ability and patience to audit the books to see if something wasn’t right. Most often it was at the hands of an employee who thought they had done an excellent job hiding any fraudulent activity.

Her latest assignment brought with it an unexpected conclusion. She was investigating the loss of shipments. What she uncovered was an enterprise of human trafficking. These culprits are not only greedy but dangerous.

Harley took jobs as a private investigator but as a CPA she was equipped for financial crimes. Her current job was for a wealthy shipping magnate. The only loose end was the identity of the boss of the scam. And that boss had now put a price on Harley Banks' head. These guys are out for revenge. Harley has no idea that she is now in their crosshairs.

We find ourselves back in Jubilee, Kentucky. Fans of Sharon Sala are familiar with this very unusual community. A corporation owns the town. The Popes, Glass and Cauley families have lived in these mountains for generations. Brandan Pope is the head pastry chef at the inn in town. The Popes have an interesting background. Suffice it to say, they don’t appreciate being bullied and at present the current inn manager has a scurrilous daughter who is causing trouble for Brandan. When his world gets too chaotic or lonely he takes a ride on his bike roaring through Pope Mountain to let off steam.

Candidly, it is difficult to determine just who is the bad seed Sharon Sala is referring to in the title. And as the tale progresses the cast of characters expands to many possibilities.

So it appears that all of us armchair detectives are going to have to pay attention. Such fun. All the Jubilee Kentucky series has been a delight, and it is important to note that each stands alone. Sharon Sala makes sure that she includes a brief introduction to each returning character.