In Winslow’s novel, a tangled investigation of fraud and murder pulls two damaged professionals into a high-stakes collision with their own secrets and worst instincts.

Larry Welk is an investigator in Chicago; he used to be a lawyer in Texas, but that didn’t work out. Now, he takes on cases just trying to make a living. His life is pretty boring until June, the sister of former lover Darlene Pepper, shows up. Darlene, who was linked to a huge financial scheme, was shot during an arrest and later found dead under suspicious circumstances. It turns out she didn’t die from the gunshot, and now Larry is a suspect. Meanwhile, a woman named Birdie Thurmond works for the Illinois Auditor General’s office, checking on people who don’t pay their taxes. She receives a package containing information about some land deals. At first it looks like nothing, but she starts doing some digging. Birdie learns that everything’s connected to a plan to build new roads and bridges. Her colleagues don’t think it’s a big deal, but Birdie believes it is, so she starts to investigate on her own, and as she digs deeper, her investigation evolves from noting irregularities to confronting real-world consequences, including violence. The story gets tighter as these threads converge: Larry uncovers deceptions while trying to stay ahead of suspicion and questioning whether he can trust June; Birdie follows a trail that leads from spreadsheets to bodies. Murders occur, suggesting that someone’s trying to cover their tracks. Larry and Birdie eventually meet on an online date. They try to figure each other out: Larry doesn’t tell Birdie everything he’s up to, and Birdie isn’t sure if she can trust Larry, but they continue to see each other. As Birdie continues to investigate, she starts to find deeper connections; some powerful people are involved, and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep things a secret. Larry is in trouble, too: The police want to talk to him, and June is growing increasingly impatient. He must decide what to do with the information he’s uncovered, which isn’t an easy decision.

The characters are well written. Larry knows his failings but still acts against his better judgment; his instincts lean more toward survival than integrity. Birdie is defined by a need for control (of data, environment, and emotion) that hides deep isolation and trauma. Her analytical clarity contrasts with her difficulty in maintaining relationships—she’s both strong and vulnerable. Larry and Birdie are stuck in systems they don’t fully believe in (Larry is “a stranger in a strange land, adrift and lost”), trying to impose meaning on environments shaped by opacity and compromise. The novel is a compelling study of risk—characters make choices that expose them legally and emotionally, often while fully aware of the consequences. Institutions don’t offer protection, instead amplifying uncertainty. The narrative’s addictive tension lies in seeing how far each of the characters will go and what they’ll sacrifice to maintain control or uncover the truth.

A tightly constructed, character-driven thriller that neatly balances financial intrigue with psychological suspense.