Red Flags

by Lisa Black Narrated by Mia Barron

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black launches a pulse-pounding new series with a taut, compelling forensic thriller that introduces Dr. Ellie Carr and Dr. Rachael Davies, who must combine their expertise to solve deadly crimes ...
When D.C. crime scene analyst Dr. Ellie Carr is called to investigate the heartrending case of a missing baby, she's shocked to discover that the child's mother is her own cousin. Close during their impoverished childhoods, Ellie and Rebecca eventually drifted apart. Rebecca
is now half of a Washington power couple, and she and her wealthy lobbyist husband, Hunter, have been living a charmed life in an opulent mansion-until their infant son is taken.
“Every contact leaves a trace.” That's the basic principle of forensic science followed by pathologist Dr. Rachael Davies. A reluctant Ellie is teamed with Rachael, employed by Hunter to help with the investigation. Rachael is assistant dean at the prestigious Locard
Forensic Institute, named in honor of the French criminologist who inspired the profession.
But in this case, discovering where those traces lead quickly becomes a dangerous journey through a web of greed and deadly ambition.
At first antagonists, then allies, Ellie and Rachael race to find the baby alive and bring the kidnappers to justice. What seemed like a simple ransom grab reveals links to a lobbying effort to loosen regulations on a billion-dollar gaming empire. Unless they can piece
together the evidence before the Senate hearing, Rebecca's son-and others like him-will face an unthinkable fate ...

Editorial Reviews

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

Mia Barron portrays highly focused Washington, DC, forensic scientist Ellie Carr in a gritty voice as listeners follow Carr's investigation of the disappearance of a four-month-old baby. The missing child is the son of her first cousin, Rebecca, whose helpless demeanor clearly conveys her distress. The gravelly voices of the male law-enforcement characters contrast with the sharp, sometimes secretive, tones of Rebecca’s husband, a lobbyist. Barron ramps up the tension as more children disappear and cryptic ransom demands emerge. Dr. Carr is helped by an efficient-sounding colleague from the Locard Institute. The two forensic scientists doggedly follow the physical, digital, and verbal evidence, untangling a case that eventually plays out in a Congressional hearing. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

06/20/2022

This solid series launch from bestseller Black (the Maggie Gardiner and Jack Renner series) introduces forensics experts Ellie Carr and Rachael Davies. Ellie, part of the FBI’s evidence response team in Washington, D.C., arrives at a mansion on the banks of the Potomac to investigate the disappearance of four-month-old Mason Carlisle, who vanished from his crib in the middle of the afternoon with no trace and, so far, no ransom demand. The baby’s father, Hunter, owns a lobbying firm, and his mother, Rebecca, is a policy adviser to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She also happens to be Ellie’s cousin, with whom she hasn’t communicated in more than 15 years. Hunter, not satisfied with the FBI’s progress, calls in Rachael from the Locard Institute, one of the best equipped forensics labs in the country, to help with the investigation. Soon other children whose parents are connected to an online gaming site are kidnapped, and Ellie and Rachael join forces to solve a multilayered crime. Black packs the novel with fascinating details for crime scene buffs, who will eagerly await the next case for the intrepid CSIs. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Literary. (Aug.)

From the Publisher

Praise for RED FLAGS:
 
“Black packs the novel with fascinating details for crime scene buffs, who will eagerly await the next case for the intrepid CSIs.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“A diabolical plot, the kidnapping of kids, and a zealous lobbying group all play roles in Black's twist-filled narrative. There is more than enough suspense to keep readers fully engaged until the shocking ending.” —Booklist
 
“While Red Flags is a forensic thriller, it’s also a very clever fair-play mystery with a deeply satisfying ending. Black layers interconnecting mysteries, even as she sensitively explores Ellie and Rachael’s complicated family lives. Ellie and Rachael’s friendship develops from a realistic and understandable professional standoffishness to warmth as they learn not only to work together but to rely on one another. This series debut balances their personal stories perfectly with the suspenseful action. I’m so looking forward to enjoying more of Ellie and Rachael’s adventures.” —Criminal Element

“As the pages are turned the tension rises. The investigation is interesting and the detail about forensics is a bonus. The twists offer different red herrings to keep readers guessing.” —Crimespree Magazine
 
“Black, who writes elegantly from personal experience as a criminologist herself, has fashioned a wondrously structured tale with the pace and energy of a great crime film.” —BookTrib

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

Mia Barron portrays highly focused Washington, DC, forensic scientist Ellie Carr in a gritty voice as listeners follow Carr's investigation of the disappearance of a four-month-old baby. The missing child is the son of her first cousin, Rebecca, whose helpless demeanor clearly conveys her distress. The gravelly voices of the male law-enforcement characters contrast with the sharp, sometimes secretive, tones of Rebecca’s husband, a lobbyist. Barron ramps up the tension as more children disappear and cryptic ransom demands emerge. Dr. Carr is helped by an efficient-sounding colleague from the Locard Institute. The two forensic scientists doggedly follow the physical, digital, and verbal evidence, untangling a case that eventually plays out in a Congressional hearing. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176329568
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	07/26/2022
Series:	Locard Institute Thriller , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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