Dr. Johnathan Gray is one of the best developed characters I’ve seen in a while. I felt an instant connection to him and his cause. I loved his commitment and drive, not only to his work but also to his personal life.

The plot of this book was well thought out and executed. There certainly was enough plot twists to keep you interested and invested. There’s a lot of mystery and well as a desperate need to find out what happened to these characters.

I loved how the author brought all the loose ends together and the ending was tied in a nice bow.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend? Yes
Finished: April 10, 2025
Format: Advanced Digital; thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC
Read this if you like: political intrigue, off-beat heroes, strong relationships, military personnel representation, police representation
Triggers: sexual assault (referenced, off page), child death (off page), firearm use (explicit, on page)

Dr. Jonathan Gray is wildly happy in his marriage & fulfilled by his job as Chief Deputy Coroner for New Orleans; but with his mentor/boss’ mysterious death, he is plunged into a world of political corruption, murder, harassment and a full-on trafficking ring. Will Dr. Grey be able to exonerate his oldest friend & still fulfill his duty to uncovering the truth of the hidden files left behind?

This was an enjoyable read, well-written & structured, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Some of the most fun in a mystery is when you think you’ve figured out the twist long before the protagonist & you are waiting for them to catch up, yelling at the page as though they could hear your hunches. But in this “Jonathan Gray” novel, I have to admit I only got it 50% right & that makes me insanely happy. The ending was wrapped up nicely, but left little storylines unfinished that I hope to find out more about in the next installment.