John Bae’s A Killer's Tears melds the finest elements of mystery, crime, and legal thriller into a sensational tale that puts readers on the edge of their seats and has them racing through the pages. The story has an explosive opening where readers encounter Hope Kane just after committing a heinous crime— or does she, really? It is an open-and-shut case that Hope is guilty of the murder of her husband and daughter, a case that has been in the news to the point that no defense lawyer wants to take on. Tom Rose is aware of the stakes and when — even reluctantly — he meets Hope, everything changes. The woman who has never said even a word to anyone from the moment of her arrest arouses his curiosity in a way that is irresistible. He takes on the case as pro bono and quickly finds himself navigating through murky waters, facing a mystery and a threat not only to his life but to the lives of others? The closer he gets to the truth, the stronger the danger! Did this woman kill her husband and daughter or is there more to the mystery of her personality?

The revelations in this twisty tale are shocking and following Tom’s investigation until the exciting climax leaves readers spellbound. I love short chapters with well-crafted paragraphs, and Bae excels at them, using them to heighten the pace and the dramatic notes that are characteristic of this tale. The plot reserves unexpected twists for readers and emotionally tense moments that start from the beginning of the story. Tom Rose is a relentless, intelligent lawyer who is at a decisive moment in his career, and taking on Hope Kane’s case could make or mar his career; he is genuinely vulnerable but has those qualities that keep readers rooting for his humanity. Hope Kane is a puzzle that readers want to unravel and the author uses this character to build the suspense that permeates the narrative. The question: “Did she really kill her husband and daughter?” is persistent and it drives the plot in directions that no one can imagine. A Killer's Tears is an accomplished novel that will appeal to a wide range of thriller fans, deftly plotted, balanced, and intensely propulsive. It grips the reader from the very first page and the grip only tightens as the story moves forward.