Washington, D.C., attorney Leyla James heads out for a solo run during the COVID-19 pandemic and is grabbed from behind on a quiet trail. Two strangers intervene, the attacker dies, and the witnesses vanish without giving their names. Before Leyla can process what happened, her boyfriend, Cam, a State Department aide, leaves on a classified trip abroad, sending her only a cryptic package containing a worry stone. On advice from Dave, a former DC cop turned private investigator, Leyla flees to a friend's condo on Lake Michigan. A GPS tracker found on her car confirms she is being followed, and Dave's investigation reveals the attacker may have been hired, and the two rescuers may have been planted as well.

Eveline builds suspense steadily, layering the story with a criminal lead, a government angle, and a family secret hinted at by Leyla's mother, all without losing the thread. The pandemic setting fits naturally into the story, shaping how characters move and talk without getting in the way. Leyla is a solid protagonist. She doesn't take unnecessary risks, but she doesn't wait around either. Her relationship with Dave feels genuine and develops naturally. Eveline also knows when to hold back, giving the reader just enough to stay curious without telegraphing what comes next. The political threads, while interesting, don't get much development. Readers new to the series may find that some relationships between returning characters need more background. However, for readers who like their mysteries character-driven and carefully plotted, this series is definitely worth following.

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