The Twelfth Card

Forensic titan Lincoln Rhyme and his partner Amelia Sachs are plunged into a race against time when a ruthless hitman targets Geneva Settle, a brilliant Harlem high school student. Geneva's dangerous curiosity has led her to research her ancestor, a former slave, uncovering secrets from 150 years ago that someone is desperate to keep buried. The assassin's chilling calling card—the hanged man of the tarot deck—hints at a motive rooted deeply in history. As Rhyme, quadriplegic but razor-sharp, deciphers the killer's intricate patterns and motivations, he and Sachs must navigate a labyrinth of historical injustice and modern-day conspiracy. They must outwit a meticulous killer intent on silencing Geneva and her discoveries forever, or risk not only losing an innocent life but also allowing explosive truths about America's past to remain hidden, echoing into the future of civil rights. This high-stakes thriller challenges Rhyme to solve a cold case that predates his own existence, blending historical mystery with cutting-edge forensics.