The Deepest Kill

Tech mogul Martin Post, one of the wealthiest men in America, has hired the Locard Institute,  which specializes in forensic science, to look into the death of his beloved pregnant daughter, Ashley after her body was found washed up on the shore near Martin’s estate.

Ashley’s mother died eight years ago when she was seventeen, and although he has since remarried, Ashley is still very close and precious to him and gets on well with her stepmother. Ashley and her husband, Greg Anderson both worked for her Martin’s company, Oak Tree, living in their own apartment on his huge private, secure estate on the coast of the Gulf of Florida. The morning she died, Ashley took her boat out into the Gulf, as she did every day, to work on her laptop in the peace and tranquility of the water. A good swimmer, she somehow ended up falling into the water, and drowning after sustaining a head injury in the process.

Although the county coroner has ruled Ashley’s death an accident, Martin is not convinced and wants the Locard to perform a second autopsy and review the investigation to look for signs of foul play. Assistant Dean of the institute and ex-medical examiner, Dr Rachel Davies, and ex-FBI agent, Dr Ellie Carr, have arrived in Florida and will liaise with the FBI agents investigating the case.

Oak Tree is in the final stages of putting together a huge defense proposal for the US Department of Defense and must shortly meet a deadline to demonstrate to the military that their system will work. He is concerned that Ashley’s death might have been orchestrated by one of his competitors or even a foreign power in order to scupper his chance at winning the massive contract. He is also not a big fan of his son-in-law, Greg, who hadn’t shown any enthusiasm for his impending fatherhood. 

The novel could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. The characters and their backstories have been mostly fleshed out in the previous two books of the series, however there is sufficient description here to enable readers to form a good picture of them as complex but likeable and resilient women. Rachael is a strong and confident leader, and although Ellie is often unsure of herself and easily stressed, she is braver than she thinks.  

This carefully plotted mystery is well written with false leads and unexpected twists leading to the gradual uncovering of secrets. Lisa’s Black professional knowledge of forensic science adds scientific authenticity to Rachael and Ellie’s observations and will be interesting to readers who enjoy crime scene investigations. Like the waters of the Gulf in the impending storm that arrives at the end of the book, their investigation becomes turbulent and dangerous as the pressure ramps up and a very atmospheric climax perfectly wraps up this compelling thriller.

With thanks to Kensington Books via Netgalley for a copy to read.