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TV evangelist Reverend Scaler made his fortune from firebrand attacks on the sins of modern America. But Scaler has preached his last sermon after being bound and beaten to death in an apparent S & M session. Detective Carson Ryder has his own problems. He's edgy and unpredictable, seemingly unmoved by the discovery of an abandoned infant in a boat - nearby, a burnt-out shack, a body and signs of a struggle. Scaler's tangled personal life reveals bizarre connections between the cases. And it seems the baby fighting for its life in hospital has powerful enemies. Ryder can't seem to save himself but can he save the life of an innocent child?
When a prominent televangelist is found murdered under scandalous circumstances, Detective Carson Ryder must navigate a web of corruption that links the preacher's death to a vulnerable infant found at a nearby crime scene. Ryder, a detective defined by his volatile temperament and personal instability, finds himself tasked with protecting the child from unseen, powerful adversaries. As he investigates the preacher's hidden life, the narrative forces Ryder to confront his own demons while racing against time to prevent further violence. The story unfolds through a gritty, third-person perspective that emphasizes the stark contrast between the public morality of the victim and the private depravity of his associates.
This novel is characterized by its dark, visceral approach to the police procedural genre, focusing heavily on the psychological volatility of its lead investigator. The narrative structure relies on the juxtaposition of a public scandal with a private, high-stakes rescue mission to maintain momentum. Readers often note the author's emphasis on the gritty, often unpleasant realities of criminal investigation and the moral ambiguity of the characters involved. The work functions as a standard entry in the detective thriller category, prioritizing suspenseful pacing and the unraveling of complex, interconnected motives over traditional heroic tropes.
Page Count:
327
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publisher
ISBN-10:
0007269102
ISBN-13:
9780007269105
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