In present day, a teen is found in a local garden with the same MO as the Night Gardener’s victims. Ramone, still working for the force, notices the case involving his son’s friend is similar to the ’85 murders. Eventually Cook and Holiday, who are no longer on the force, join the case hoping to finally solve it. As the three men work to solve the case, their personal lives are revealed. Social and political issues are brought to the forefront and the usual police procedures play out.

The subject matter of the story and characters are so intense that I found them overwhelming at points and had to take a break, but I couldn’t let them go. By the last CD, I felt drained and depressed. The plot as a whole is mesmerizing. The crime itself is repulsive. Pelecanos is able to keep the intensity of it all alive as he moves from the case to personal and professional issues of the three men and the victims. It’s a disturbing, yet entertaining read. Make sure you’re ready for it, before you pick it up.

Pelecanos narrates the audio version. His deep, methodical voice matches the plot line, but at points it did make the narration difficult to hear. Headphones were best for me, and considering the powerful subject matter, headphones are recommended.