Mr. Lanyon has long been one of my favorite authors and with this book he stays at the top of the list. While reading the story I kept finding myself thinking of an old black and white Bogart movie. The story's plot while compelling starts out slowly. It then draws you in with its building suspense and with a colorful dialogue. The dialogue is very much in keeping with era of the roaring twenties and topics of the times. The story of the massacre is a mystery within this mystery and then the mystery of the dead girls all add to spell the author builds around the reader drawing us in. The character of David starts out as the typical cynical newspaper reporter who is looking to write a good story while at the same time trying to deny who he is inside. While the character of Julian is more confident in who he is and what he wants. Yet even with different personalities and background come together as a pairing you are rooting for. While there are some m/m situations there is nothing that is offensive to readers in anyway. This is a great book for those that love a great mystery read reminiscent of old days without all the graphic violence and sex of today's more prolific writers. - Ana