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Dust to dust

First published 2000 · 611 pages

A gritty, high-stakes procedural where dogged detectives peel back the shadowy layers of institutional corruption to unearth long-buried secrets.

What it feels like

This propulsive thriller plunges readers into the gritty, shadowy world of Minneapolis law enforcement, where the line between ally and enemy blurs. The mood is tense and paranoid, driven by the cynical yet determined banter of a veteran detective and his wisecracking partner. As they dig into a suspicious death that the powers-that-be desperately want closed, the narrative accelerates, layering suspense with the heavy dread of institutional corruption and long-buried secrets. The prose is sharp and urgent, keeping the stakes high as careers and lives are put on the line. It is a perfect read for fans of dark police procedurals who crave a relentless pursuit of the truth against a backdrop of elite cover-ups and dangerous lies.

Mood
  • suspenseful
  • shadowy
  • tense
  • paranoid
Tone
  • gritty
  • cynical
  • urgent
  • wisecracking
Pace
propulsive
Themes
institutional corruption · buried secrets · pursuit of truth · professional risk
The writing
Sharp, suspenseful, and driven by gritty procedural details and snappy banter.
The arc
Moves from cynical skepticism to high-stakes, paranoid determination as dangerous secrets come to light.
Who it's for
Fans of gritty police procedurals who love a dogged detective duo fighting against institutional cover-ups.
Content notes
  • suicide or staged suicide
  • murder
  • police corruption
  • sexual themes

About the book

Sorry. The single word was written on a mirror. In front of it hung the Minneapolis Internal Affairs cop. Was it suicide? Or a kinky act turned tragic?Either way, it wasn't murder. At least not according to the powers that be. But veteran homicide detective Sam Kovac and his wisecracking, ambitious partner Nikki Liska think differently. Together they begin to dig at the too-neat edges of the young cop's death, uncovering one motive and one suspect after another. The shadows of suspicion fall not only on the city's elite, but into the very heart of the police department. Someone wants the case closed--quickly and forever. But neither Kovac nor Liska will give up. Now both their careers and their lives are on the line. From a murder case two months old to another case closed for twenty years, Kovac and Liska must unearth a connection the killer wants dead and buried. A killer who will stop at absolutely nothing to keep a dark and shattering secret...From the Paperback edition.

Description from Open Library.

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