From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of One Small Sacrifice, a gripping mystery about a sinister murder that everyone wants to stay buried—except one dogged NYPD detective.Jo Greaver is a model of success. Young and ambitious, she’s built a thriving beauty business from nothing. But she has secrets she’ll do anything to keep buried. When her blackmailer offers to meet, Jo expects to pay him … expects to pay him off—but gets a bullet instead. Bleeding and in shock, Jo flees with no one to turn to.
When NYPD detective Sheryn Sterling and her partner, Rafael Mendoza, find Andray Baxter murdered in his own home—shot through the heart—everything points to Jo as the killer. Her blood is at the scene, and so are disturbing photos of her taken as a young teen. But Sheryn has doubts. Was the kindhearted Andray really a criminal? Why did he repeatedly report finding spyware in his apartment? Was there something shady about Jo’s sister dying a year earlier?
Something’s not right, and it’s up to Sheryn to piece together the sinister puzzle, no matter the cost.
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Jo Greaver is being blackmailed. There are pictures that she doesn’t want published, but when she meets the blackmailer, everything goes wrong. Now with a bullet wound that she tries to cover up, she knows the police will be looking for her. NYPD detectives Sheryn Sterling and Rafael Mendoza catch the murder case of a man, Andray Baxter, found shot dead in his home. Will evidence at the scene aide them in finding the killer? Nothing is as it seems and Sheryn is not sure that Jo was responsible for Andray’s death. A mystery that will keep you guessing. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
NYPD Detective Sheryn Sterling and her partner Detective Rafael Mendoza are called to investigate a man (Andray Baxter) murdered in his own home… shot through the heart. Prime suspect is Jo Greaver, a woman who has secrets …. but was she willing to kill to keep them hidden? And how did she also wind up with a gun shot and in shock?
BOOK BLURB – Everything points to Jo as the killer. Her blood is at the scene, and so are disturbing photos of her taken as a young teen.
Something’s not right, and it’s up to Sheryn to piece together the sinister puzzle, no matter the cost.
The suspense starts on the very first page, and the fast pace doesn’t slow or stop until the final conclusion. Characters are deftly drawn and star in the intricate plot. The ending was unexpected, but satisfactory. Although second in this series, it reads easily as a stand alone. I do recommend starting with the first book, This is going to be a riveting series.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing/ Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime / psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own
Lots of twists in this one!
Interesting characters, brutal events, and complicated plot twists kept this book moving along at a nice fast pace. Good read.
Don’t Look Down began with a bang and absolutely hooked me. We primarily follow the points-of-view (POV) of Jo, who is being blackmailed; and detectives Sheryn and Rafael who are investigating the situation Jo’s found herself in when the novel begins. The book starts with Jo arriving to the prearranged spot for a blackmail drop. Things go bad and shots are fired. There are twists and turns throughout the book, and nothing is as it seems.
Jo is a great character whose emotions grabbed me during the very first scene. Her fear and related behavior made sense, and the more you learn about her the more her terror and beliefs are reasonable because of her life experiences (our reactions are all a culmination of so many events). The author does a good job during Jo’s POV chapters of demonstrating she’s suffering from PTSD.
I also particularly enjoyed Rafael. He was seriously injured in an explosion that occurred prior to this book. He is back at work though his injuries remain disabling, causing mobility problems that require a cane, ringing in his ears, fatigue, and pain (I’m probably forgetting something). His partner, Sheryn, is not happy he is there and it’s clear she feels he is slowing her down. Yes, she cares about him as a person but ultimately she’s not pleased to have to make concessions to accommodate his physical status. As a disabled woman, I was delighted the author gave Rafael his own POV chapters so that abled readers could get a taste of his experience, both how he has to work to function in an abled world and how even his friend/partner isn’t happy or particularly interested in accommodating his different abilities. Rafael was doing his job on top of fighting to function within a system that is not made for him. He is getting better and may not have these same functional issues forever but I hope the author will consider having the character not get back to 100%, because that is the reality millions of people deal with in this country and others.
I also love that Rafael and his husband have a happy, supportive relationship. Sheryn is happily married with kids and we see her dealing with the terror of having her son get involved in a protest. Racism is not the main focus of this book but it is addressed from the perspective of a mother wanting to support her son in being a good citizen, but recognizing that, as an African American male, he is at risk.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I had no trouble jumping in here. I’m looking forward to the next!
If you choose to look at the content warnings below (spoilers), you’ll see there are several serious subjects discussed in this book. However, I do not believe they are treated in a gratuitous way.
Content Warnings: child porn; rape; abuse; sex trafficking
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #DontLookDown #mystery #policeprocedural
Blackmail, prostitution, murder and revenge. Author Hilary Davidson has written it all in this excellent book. The good characters are likeable, especially Jo Greaver who is being blackmailed and Detectives Sheryn Sterling and Rafael Mendoza. However, the blackmailers are vengeful and just when you think you have them identified, Davidson adds another twist. Thank you Netgalley and Publisher Thomas and Mercer for an ARC of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.