However, those new to sidekick Hardwick’s brashness and lack of charm may wonder why Gurney would work with him. Gurney’s fans like the detective’s patient unraveling of complex puzzles, as well as his unflappable confidence. Soon, the two men and Hardwick’s stunning police-officer girlfriend, Esti, are on the trail of an insane international hit man.

When the lawyer going to bat for Kay Spalter turns up dead, it becomes evident that Gurney and Hardwick are dealing with something much larger than a mishandled case.

Initially, Gurney isn’t interested, but once he dips his toe into the mechanics of the investigation, he starts seeing all kinds of things that make no sense: crime scenes that fail to add up, missing witnesses, people whose stories contradict the evidence presented in court, and suspects that include a drugged-out daughter and a brother who maintains a questionable online church. Gurney’s crude, foulmouthed investigator friend lost his job after assisting Gurney with another case, and now he’s knocking on his buddy’s door asking for help on the Spalter situation. Not because he thinks she's innocent no, Hardwick hopes to prove police misconduct.

But Jack Hardwick, a former New York State police investigator, is out to spring her from her cell. Kay Spalter is in prison for killing her real estate–mogul husband, Carl. Verdon’s successful series-featuring thoughtful, puzzle-solving retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney-adds another chapter with this dark tale of a demented contract killer who becomes entangled with a rich, but disturbed, family.

Peter pan must die by john verdon