The Devil You Know

LAPD detective Margaret Nolan’s third outing (after Desolation Canyon) involves the suspicious death of actor Evan Hobbes, a Disney star who, hours before his death, had been targeted with a deep fake video portraying him as a pedophile. Initial speculation of suicide gives way to murder as evidence of foul play surfaces. As Maggie and her partner Al pursue their investigation, they cross paths with heavy-hitting Hollywood types interested in the impact of Evan’s death on business as well as those who appear genuinely devastated by the murder, including Evan’s agent, Seth, and Seth’s sister Essie, one of the last people to see Evan alive. When a double murder in Santa Barbara appears to be connected to their case, the detectives’ pursuit of leads intensifies, as does their frustration. The murder of their prime suspect leads Maggie to wonder if this time someone will get away with murder. While the first two books in the series add background, this book reads easily as a stand-alone.