Best Kept Secrets

Det. Morgan Jewell of the Indianapolis Metro PD, the heroine of Phillips’s underwhelming debut, is still consumed by the murder of her best friend, Fay Ramsey, 16 years earlier. Fay’s death led Morgan to study “criminal psychology and law to try to make sense of what had happened to her friend,” and it also caused memory loss that Morgan’s psychiatrist, Dr. Taylor, has diagnosed as Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress syndrome; Dr. Taylor predicts the memories will someday return. Indeed, when the body of Hallie Marks, a successful designer, is discovered tied to a chair, having been tortured and severely beaten, the sight of Hallie’s disfigured face does cause some of Morgan’s repressed memories to resurface. After another young woman’s body is found with similar injuries, Morgan believes that this case might be connected to the deaths of Hallie and Fay. The detective’s erratic and self-absorbed behavior diminishes her ability to interview witnesses effectively or make logical deductions. The action builds to a surprising yet unconvincing finale. Hopefully, Phillips will do better next time. (Oct.)