Perish

Lisa Black

Jan 2018 · A Gardiner and Renner Novel Book 3 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

A stunning Gardiner and Renner thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author of Every Kind of Wicked, “one of the best storytellers around” (Tess Gerritsen).
 
Forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner always follows the rules. Detective Jack Renner doesn’t believe in them . . .
 
In a mansion on the outskirts of Cleveland, a woman’s body lies in a pool of blood. The victim is Joanna Moorehouse, founder of Sterling Financial. To crack the case, Maggie and Jack will have to infiltrate the cutthroat world of high-stakes finance. But every employee at Sterling Financial is hellbent on making a killing.
 
When a series of unrelated murders reveals disturbing evidence, only Maggie recognizes the handiwork of a killer who will continue killing until he is stopped. Burdened with unbearable secrets, Maggie must make an agonizing choice, while her instincts keep telling her: she’s next.
 
“As always with Black, this psychological suspense is incredible.” —Suspense Magazine
 
“Full of fascinating forensic science and an eye-opening deep dive into predatory mortgage-lending practices.” —Publishers Weekly
 
Praise for Lisa Black and The Gardiner and Renner Thrillers
“Lisa Black always delivers.” —Jeff Lindsay, creator of the Dexter series
 
“This terrific mystery will keep you guessing—and turning pages.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan
 
“A great choice for readers of psychological suspense, forensic investigations, and mystery.” —Library Journal

Ratings and reviews

Maggie Gardiner, Forensic expert, and Jack Renner, Homicide Detective each have a deep dark secret that no one knows except each other. These secrets, if uncovered, could cost each of them their jobs or their very lives. This is the 3rd of a series. While this one does well as a stand alone, I would highly recommend starting with THAT DARKNESS and then UNPUNISHED. There are spoilers in this book that would damage the reading pleasure of this wonderful series. Maggie is called to process the murder scene of the founder of Sterling Financial. Joann Moorehouse was brutally murdered. There were no clues, no DNA, no motive .... Until the detectives start looking into the victim's background. Not very well liked at work, there are multiple suspects ... and as they say ... everyone lies. Maggie and Jack know that the killings have only started ... more bodies will fall. The author certainly did her research in this one. I now know more about loans and mortgages and high finance than I ever knew before. Money is the root of all evil ..is this the motive for these killings? As always with this author, the book is well-written with stand-out characters. Secondary characters such as Jack's partner, Riley, and Maggie's ex-husband, Rick, also a homicide detective lend credibility to the story. The suspense drew me in starting with the first page and the unexpected ending left me totally surprised. I am looking forward to the next chapter of their lives in SUFFER THE CHILDREN, due to be published August 2018. Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black introduced the characters of Maggie Gardiner and Jack Renner in her acclaimed suspense novel That Darkness and continued their story in Unpunished, Perish, Suffer the Children, and Let Justice Descend. As a forensic scientist at the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, she analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now she is a latent print examiner and crime scene analyst for the Cape Coral Police Department in Florida, working mostly with fingerprints and crime scenes. Lisa is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the International Association for Identification, and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, and she is a Certified Crime Scene Analyst and Certified Latent Print Examiner. She has testified in court as an expert witness more than sixty-five times. Her books have been translated into six languages. She lives near Fort Myers, Florida. Visit her on Facebook, Twitter, or at www.lisa-black.com.