Blow Up

The exciting new Sophie Medina book (following Ghost Image) has enough thrill and historical context to keep readers engaged. Photojournalist Sophie is out for a run with her friend Jack O’Hara, a Catholic priest, when they stumble upon the body of Supreme Court Justice Everett Townsend. Barely hanging onto life, Townsend is rushed to the hospital, where he later dies. Before Sophie can grasp what has happened, an unhoused young man close to her is murdered right after confessing a secret to her. Knowing the two deaths are connected, Sophie searches for answers, putting her own life at risk. Crosby paints a detailed picture of life in Washington, DC, from the food and architecture to the heartbreaking reality of homelessness. The pacing and reveal of the plot are ensconced in social commentary about the violent and disillusioned political state of the country’s capital.