Slipping Into Darkness — Maxine Thompson

Life hasn't always been easy for Zipporah "Z" Saldano, but at 35, she's finally come to grips with some of her demons, and things are looking up. She's moved beyond mourning the loss of her LAPD job, her partner, and her murdered nephew. She has a new love, Detective Romero Gonzalez, and she's dedicated to remaining sober. Her new business, Saldano's Private Investigations, is thriving.

Just when she thinks she has a handle on life, though, her older brother, Mayhem, is kidnapped. His involvement with the Crips leads Z to believe that a Mexican gang has something to do with his disappearance. Chaos returns to Z's life when she discovers that the gang has ties to her boyfriend's family.

Will Z be able to get her brother back? Will her relationship with Romero survive? Things are going on that are not right. Nothing is as it seems, and once again Zipporah Saldano will have to contend with mystery and mayhem in the City of Angels.