As a major flood threatens the city of Portland, Oregon, a serial killer stalks the streets, using the impending disaster to cover his crimes. Archie Sheridan, a local detective who gained notoriety and nearly lost his life pursuing Gretchen Lowell, the Beauty Killer, finds himself once again tracking a fiendishly clever foe. The search gets personal when Archie's partner and best friend, Henry Sobol, is attacked and hovers between life and death. But the case takes a truly bizarre turn when the task force discovers what the murder weapon is.

Susan Ward likes bizarre (current hair color: raspberry). A reporter for the local paper, she met Archie while doing a profile on him in relation to the Beauty Killer case. Their paths have continued to cross -- not always by coincidence, at least on Susan's part. She's currently researching the story behind a skeleton turned up by the floodwaters, which may be that of a victim of the last great flood, in 1948, but a modern-day serial killer is so much more interesting. As she "helps" Archie with the investigation, she finds that the past may well hold the key to solving the present case -- and that the killer has chosen his next victim: her.

Chelsea Cain has a scary talent for creating twisted characters -- not only the bad guys, but the good guys as well. Archie possesses an obsession with saving people, even at the expense of his own physical and emotional well- being, but that's what makes him a great cop; Susan is often self-sabotaging and reckless, but her motivation is bringing the truth to light. This strange pair are two of the most interesting "partners" in crime fiction today. In this story, the setting also plays a major role, with the relentless rain and raging river creating an atmosphere of grimness and urgency, even without a serial killer in the mix.

Some fans may be disappointed at Cain's move away from Gretchen Lowell in this book. I found it refreshing, and I really liked seeing Archie as a stronger, more independent character -- although he will obviously always be haunted by her, scarred inside and out by what she did to him. But I think it was time to move forward, and I for one can't wait to see what deliciously creepy villain Cain dreams up next.

Book Summary

With Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell locked away behind bars once again, Portland detective Archie Sheridan can finally rest.

Meanwhile, the city of Portland is in crisis. Several people have drowned in heavy rains that have flooded the Willamette River. But the medical examiner discovers that in fact the latest victim was poisoned before she went into the water—she didn’t drown. A little detective work shows that so far three of those previously thought to be accidental drownings have actually been murdered. Portland has a new serial killer on its hands, and Archie and his task force have a new case.

Meanwhile reporter Susan Ward is following up on an entirely separate mystery: the dramatic flooding has unearthed a skeleton, a man who might have died during catastrophic flooding more than sixty years ago that washed away an entire neighborhood and killed at least 15 people.

As Archie follows the bizarre trail of evidence and evil deeds to catch his killer, he has to battle the rising waters of the Willamette first.