Diamond Cut

A Relentless New Hero

They say you can’t go back, but what if the past won’t let go? That’s the case for Sandy Corrigan. She narrowly escaped sex work and now works for her brother as a private detective. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds, with Sandy spending her days chasing cheating husbands and those seeking to milk personal-injury cases. But at least she’s safe—until her former life comes calling. A woman who works for Sandy’s old pimp begs for help when another sex worker, Naomi, goes missing. Naomi’s just a teenager and Sandy’s emotions kick in, as well as her desire for revenge against the abusive, disgusting pimp, Omar. She wraps up the initial part of the case quickly and her brother wants her back to her usual gigs. But Sandy can’t give in when she finds that Omar and his gang are up to much worse than pimping. Sandy is a gutsy but realistic hero, with chase scenes and literal near-death experiences alternating with bathroom breaks—a girl’s gotta pee!—and picking her child up from school. Fast action, snappy dialogue, and empathy galore add up to a quick read, and with an 11th-hour twist, this book keeps on giving right till the last page. I hope for more from PI Corrigan.