SLIPPER GIRL

A woman unwillingly reunites with her mother in Royce’s thriller, the second in a series.

Skylar Van Ness has grown up in Amsterdam under the neglectful eye of her mother, Brit, a sex worker who often entertains clients in the room next door. Seeking an escape, Skylar turns to drugs and alcohol at a young age, becoming a sex worker herself until a traumatic incident occurs. Soon after, Skylar is sent to live with her father, DJ Keller, in Las Vegas. Fifteen years later, 27-year-old Skylar works as VP of marketing at Donovan Resort and Casino, where DJ serves as CEO. Despite her success in her professional life, Skylar struggles with persistent feelings that she’s an imposter benefitting from her nepo-baby status. Her troubled upbringing also leaves her feeling like an outsider within her own family, unsure as to what connects her to her father or the world he inhabits. While DJ is on his honeymoon with his new wife, Skylar sees an opportunity to prove that she can handle things on her own. That sense of control collapses when Brit suddenly reaches out, appearing in Las Vegas under the guise of reconnecting with her estranged daughter. After Skylar rejects her, Brit ingratiates herself with Sal Vincenzo, a wealthy and influential casino patron who holds enough sway with the VIPs to threaten the casino’s future. With Brit effectively untouchable, Skylar must figure out how to get rid of her without revealing her painful past. As threatening notes and photographs begin to appear in Skylar’s home, she’s forced to question who around her can truly be trusted.

The novel is gripping from the start, immersing readers in a bloody crime scene before jumping forward in time. The plot delivers a steady stream of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing. The casino setting adds to the high-stakes feeling of the narrative, providing an undercurrent of ritz and glamour tied to risk and power. The cast of characters is just as strong—Skylar is an engaging protagonist whose past continually shapes her decisions, leading to some questionable actions. The memorable supporting cast includes James Monarch, the condescending Irishman and Trinity graduate who may have humbler roots than he lets on at work; Clay Moresco, the casino’s catering director and Skylar’s loyal best friend; and DJ himself, whose occasional third-person-perspective chapters offer insight into the family dynamics at play. While these characters often make exasperating choices, readers will want to witness the consequences as they unfold. Fans of the series’ previous installment, Summer’s Blood(2024), will also appreciate the return of Craig Keller, Skylar’s uncle, whose presence effectively connects this book to the author’s larger universe without overshadowing this entry’s narrative. The novel will be accessible to newcomers, who will have little trouble jumping in without prior knowledge of the series. Stylistically, the prose leans heavily on description, which sometimes borders on excessive (“The cadence of my scouring became an impatient mantra, each swipe escorted by the angst of my own thoughts and thumping heartbeat”), though readers will easily overlook this as the story’s momentum takes hold.

An intricate thriller filled with suspense and family drama.