From USA Today Bestselling Author, P.D. Workman!

Too many missing men

Zachary Goldman, PI is deeply flawed, unable to overcome much of his traumatic past, yet he is always ready to defend the underdog and right injustices.

When Pat asked him to look into the disappearance of an illegal, Zachary agreed to take it, but didn’t expect to find anything more than a man who had returned to his family or fled immigration officials. But the more he digs, the more missing men Zachary discovers, and it quickly becomes apparent that the disappearance that was deemed by the police not to be suspicious was just the tip of the iceberg.

As the body count grows, so does Zachary’s determination to bring the killer to justice, no matter what the cost.

The trouble is, this case might cost him dearly.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Having a serial killer targeting a vulnerable segment of the population should give you an idea that this is not a “cozy” murder mystery but be assured that, despite its gritty subject matter, there is no graphic violence, no explicit sexual material, and no excessively coarse language. This completely captivating story held my attention throughout and offered more than enough thrills and chills to ensure that I will absolutely go back and read the previous installments as well as follow this series as it moves forward. Without reservation, I recommend this book to any enthusiast of the detective/private investigator type of mystery stories.

Zachary Goldman, Private Investigator, is flawed with a capital F. Shattered by the tragedies of his own life, he will somehow still manage to pick himself up and dig just a little bit deeper than anyone else to find the vital clues.

Maybe being broken makes it easier for others who have faced tragedy to trust him. Walk with Zachary as he solves cases that will stretch his abilities to the limit.

Even with his own life in shambles, Zachary Goldman is still the one you want on the case.

Investigate this P.I. mystery now!

— an amazing and suspenseful story. It carries you away into a psychological tailspin that keeps you going in so many different directions.

— A really good piece of detective fiction with some novel and original features which keep the reader guessing until the last few pages.

— I love the way the investigation plays out…very interesting.  That is done very well. It held my interest. I very much wanted to find out the outcome…

— Very well written. [Zachary] is flawed with a capital F … In spite of his problems, he is a very sympathetic character and doggedly pursues the truth.

— [She Wore Mourning] made for a pleasant read while presenting an interesting story.

— What a great story. Fabulous plot with interesting and complex characters. I was totally involved into the wee hours. Many twists and left waiting until the end. Highly recommended

— Wow! I just finished it. In one day! I could not stop reading it! This book grabs hold of you from the start. It’s a very well written detective novel. It pulls you not the story and is very emotional. You feel for the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but it will not be my last. I highly recommend this book.

Author Notes may contain spoilers!

Serial killers are a fascinating subject. Despite their proliferation in fiction, both literary and TV/movies, they are a very small fraction of the criminal population. Of the US population of 327 million, with a prison population of 2.3 million, the number of serial killers in prison appears to be around 30 people. It is estimated that the number of serial killers operating in the US is between 25 and 50 people. As DNA testing continues to grow, I expect those numbers will change as serial killings which would previously have gone unrealized are identified, as has been the case with identifying serial rapists while processing cold case rape kits.

What makes a serial killer? While it is our nature to look for patterns and to identify them as somehow “sick” or “other” than we are, there is no one diagnosis or red flag to help us to identify serial killers before they strike or to explain their actions afterward. We think of serial killers as being psychopaths (not a DSM diagnosis) or having something like Antisocial Personality Disorder, but their diagnoses, if any, range from depression, to schizophrenia, to Narcissistic Personality Disorder. While TV would have us believe that they are geniuses, they range from borderline retardation to average intelligence, with only a few with greater than average intelligence. They’re just good at not getting caught.

Again, we have been told that they usually (but not always) come from very abusive or traumatic backgrounds; but so do millions of others who have never killed even one person. And the “red flag” of cruelty to animals? It is estimated that 44% of children will abuse animals at some point. The older they are, the more of a red flag it becomes, but we can’t use it to identify anything other than possible abuse or trauma in the home, particularly when it is part of the MacDonald Triad (animal abuse, fire setting, and bedwetting.) More in the Book Club Resources below. 

• Pinterest Board: Mental Illness
• How alleged Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur went unnoticed
• Russian Serial Killer Mikhail Popkov Now Convicted Of 78 Murders
• A Proleptic Genealogy of the MSM Category
• Animal Cruelty May Indicate Child Abuse “Animal abuse is common among children, with up to 44 percent likely to display such behavior at some point, the researchers said. But they suspect the true rate is likely much higher, because parents or children may be unwilling to report it.”
• Macdonald triad

“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me … And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”

“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend her enough.”

“I’ll read anything by P. D. Workman that I can get my hands on.”

“Every book by PD Workman that I’ve read has been a gripping one, however different the genres are, going from lighter mysteries to really dark ones… this is one of my favourite, most dependable authors.”

“P.D. Workman is an incredibly versatile writer. No matter which of her books I read I am drawn into a great story and honestly, I don’t think I’ve followed another author that could go from cozy mystery to YA to a PI series dealing with mental health issues. Really enjoy her books!”

“[P.D. Workman’s] stories are so believable and you can’t help but feel like you know these people. You find yourself crying, laughing and feeling the characters emotions. Now if an author can make you cry and feel every emotion in a story, she is one hell of an author.”

“P. D. Workman, does not shy from probing the deep psychological scars of childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Also characteristic of this author, these extremely sensitive issues are explored with extensive empathy, described with incredible clarity, and portrayed with profound insight.”

“Once again P.D.Workman has created an intense psychological mystery that impacts a wallop of thought induction. The writing is so well developed and draws you into the characters story.”