Dark Fissures: A Rick Cahill Novel

Anthony Award–winner Coyle’s gripping third Rick Cahill novel (after 2015’s Night Tremors) finds the vulnerable, well-meaning La Jolla, Calif., PI in fear of losing his house to a bank foreclosure. Even worse, the town’s police chief, Tony Moretti, is preparing to arrest Rick for murder in a case involving a missing person as soon as he gets enough evidence. Meanwhile, singer Brianne Colton hires Cahill to prove that her police officer husband, Jim, didn’t commit suicide but was murdered. Jim didn’t trust Moretti, which puts Cahill in a tough position. The detective must also contend with criminal lawyer Alan Rankin, who once took a beating from Cahill. A kick in the nose from Rankin’s assistant, mixed martial arts–expert Miranda Jennings, is a reminder that Rankin hasn’t forgiven Cahill, though Miranda later provides some unexpected help in the Colton case. The deck is stacked against Cahill, but he comes up trumps by the end of this satisfying hard-boiled adventure. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, Kimberley Cameron & Associates. (Dec.)