Dr. Alex Delaware, the renowned psychologist, is called to an elementary school playground after a sniper opens fire, only to be gunned down himself before harming any children. While the immediate danger is averted, the disturbing image of the teenage shooter, clutching an oversized rifle, haunts Alex. As news crews descend and therapy sessions for traumatized children begin, Alex finds himself drawn into a deeper mystery. Intrigued by the sniper's grieving father, who requests a 'psychological autopsy' of his deceased child, Alex embarks on an investigation that unearths a chilling pattern. What he discovers is far more sinister than a lone act of violence: a trail of blood leading to a dark, vicious plot rooted in the sniper's past. This journey forces Alex to confront not just the identity of a potential assassin, but the very face of real human evil, a terrifying nightmare lurking beneath the indifferent California sky.
Critical Reception
"A compelling New York Times bestseller, this installment in the Alex Delaware series is lauded as virtually impossible to put aside until its horrifying conclusion."