Black mixes her knowledge of crime-scene analysis with the terrifying world of cults in her latest thriller. Billy Diamond, a legend in the music business, approaches forensic analysts Rachael Davies and Ellie Carr, who run the prestigious Locard Institute, a research center. His daughter, Devon, went on a retreat with her boyfriend, Carlos, and neither came back. When Carlos’s body is found near the ranch, and his death does not appear to be accidental, Rachael and Ellie work out a plot to learn the truth. Ellie goes to the retreat as a recruit, while Rachael tries to understand how Carlos died. Ellie feels comfortable at first, but the more she learns, the more terrified she feels. And the person she’s supposed to find, Devon, appears to have no interest in leaving and might be the cult leader’s number two in the organization. Black handles suspense like a pro, and every element of the story is unpredictable, with misdirection, manipulation, and challenging of the reader’s expectations. The cult and everyone following Galen, the leader, come across as realistic and sympathetic. Readers will understand why these people are devoted and not questioning what’s really going on. Familiarity with the previous books is unnecessary, and be prepared to say after finishing this novel, “That was not what I expected.”
