Archives for August 21, 2025

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

The girl in the ballerina dress lies still on the carousel with her face toward the blue sky. In her tutu and slippers, she’s ready for her next performance. But as the morning sun shines down upon her, she no longer feels its warmth on her cheeks. Her bright light is gone forever.

When the body of Hailey Tanner is found in a local park, Detective Amanda Steele races to the scene. Interviewing her devastated parents, they confirm that Hailey never made it home from her dance class. Searching for clues in the family home, Amanda discovers that some ballet clothing was taken from Hailey’s room. Could the killer have been close to her?

As Amanda and Trent question potential suspects, they’re painfully reminded of a similar case. Julie Gilbert, another gifted performer, was murdered in exactly the same way twelve years ago. Amanda’s former colleague, Katherine Graves, never gave up hope of bringing the killer to justice and now with a clear link between the two victims, she steps back into the investigation.

But she’s soon warned off when a threatening note is found in the hem of Hailey’s dress. “This girl’s your fault. Stop looking or there will be more.”

With boxes of evidence files and potential leads, Amanda knows that Katherine must have been getting close, but when a third girl is taken soon after, the clock starts ticking again. There’s no way Amanda will let another child suffer at the hands of this twisted killer. But how much will the team be prepared to sacrifice, and can they save this girl before it’s too late?

Nonstop suspense and action is synonymous with Carolyn Arnold’s Detective Amanda Steel series! The fourteenth book in the series is no less a hit than all of the rest as Amanda races against time to find a killer who is hunting little girls. The plot is well detailed and developed and brings a familiar face back into the team fold as Katherine Graves tries to help put the case that haunted her back in NYC to rest. Action packed and easy to follow, I was hooked from start to finish. I love this series so much … I only wish Amanda and Trent would stop fighting their feelings for each other already! Highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a crime filled plot with dedicated cops on the case that don’t give up until they catch their bad guy!