Red Line: A Matt Sinclair Mystery

After a leave of absence due to alcohol abuse, Sgt. Matt Sinclair, the hero of Thiem’s riveting first novel, returns to the homicide division of the Oakland, Calif., PD, where he takes charge of investigating the murder of 17-year-old Zachary Caldwell, whose body was found at a bus stop. A medallion was around the boy’s neck, and his wrists and ankles were tied together with flex cuffs. Matt recalls an earlier case involving two drugged and raped teenage girls deposited at the same bus stop and also bound with flex cuffs, blaming himself for their assault due to his inattention at the time, a result of his insobriety. Several other similar homicides occur, each with a medallion left at the scene. Theim, a former homicide detective who served 25 years with the Oakland PD, skillfully guides the realistic action to the unexpected ending. Readers will want to see more of his richly drawn main character. Agent: Paula Munier, Talcott Notch Literary Agency. (Aug.)