Seattle police psychologist Daphne Mathews has her hands full with a pregnant, addicted, runaway teenager, a murder victim's brother whose strange behavior unnerves her, and a deputy sheriff she once treated who's now stalking her. She's frightened enough to move in with Detective John LaMoia, a development that doesn't exactly thrill Lou Boldt, their boss and Daphne'sex-lover. But Lou's too busy with his own cases to brood over John and Daphne: the recent disappearances of two local women, and the death of Billy Chen, the nephew of Mama Lu, an old friend and a powerful figure in Seattle's Chinese community, which appeared to be an accident but turns out to have been murder.The only thing the disappearances and murder have in common is location; all three victims were last seen in a part of downtown built over the Underground, a dark and dangerous warren of buildings abandoned after the fire that leveled Seattle more than a hundred years ago.
While Seattle's Underground has been the setting for several mysteries by other authors (Earl Emerson, J.A. Jance), Pearson makes the most of its creepy-crawly atmosphere in a gripping thriller whose solid plotting pulls all of Daphne's, LaMoia's, and Boldt's cases together. It also wisely reconfigures the personal relationships among the three central characters, which bodes well for their future adventures in this long-running series (Middle of Nowhere, The Pied Piper). --Jane Adams
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"I really enjoy reading Ridley Pearson. He never fails to entertain and keep me guessing and this book is no different. I have read several books already with Daphne Matthews and Lou Boldt as the main characters and they are characters I like to keep up with. I would recommend this book and this author to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful crime novel."
— Linda (4 out of 5 stars)
" This is the first book I have read by this author. This book started out slow but about a quarter of the way through I couldn't put it down. Very Suspenseful and surprise ending.... Can't wait to read more. "
— Kristin, 2/19/2014" Plot too complicated, too many characters. "
— James, 2/6/2014" I never get tired of Boldt and Matthews. This one was especially creepy with all the underground scenes. "
— Gayle, 1/12/2014" Ridley writes a good detective yarn filled with interesting gumshoes and other unsavory characters. "
— Kathy, 1/3/2014" Another audio book I listened to while doing outdoor projects. Murder mystery that takes place in Seattle. "
— Alice, 12/23/2013" Great book - this one really rolls by quickly. Pearson's a great author and doesn't get enough credit for writing well. A little gross in one or two spots, probably excessively. But otherwise, awesome thriller. "
— Tom, 12/23/2013" If you're into suspense, then this is the book to read. It really has a lot of twists and turns and truly is a page turner. The author kept me interested from beginning to end. "
— Carol, 12/21/2013" This was a great suspense read. Good characters, twists in plot. "
— Jo, 12/13/2013" The Underground of Seattle added another layer of interest to a well written book. Plot twists kept me guessing. Good read. "
— Beverly, 12/11/2013" A police procedural that is well written blending fiction and realism in the sub-terranean ghost town of Seattle's underground. I didn't know this was part of a series and am eager to see what I've missed. "
— Jan, 12/2/2013" Set in Seattle -- and sometimes in underground Seattle. Ridley Pearson reads his own work, and he's really quite good. I found this one a little disjointed because of lack of focus on one or two characters. "
— Linda, 12/1/2013" Like the series. Police investigation in Seattle. "
— Serena, 11/10/2013" A good thriller. Believable characters. "
— Hapzydeco, 10/24/2013" The was the first I have read by this author, and I enjoyed the book. I plan to read more by the author and in this series. "
— Jeannie, 5/27/2013" Paperback junk reading while traveling: adequate for the genre and the Seattle location was entertaining. "
— Savannah, 1/27/2013" Well written book, but too much swearing. I liked the twists and turns. I was a little disappointed by the ending, but very few author can pull off a good ending. Once again, too much swearing. "
— Jeff, 1/6/2013" This book inspired my new 100-page rule. If I get to 100 pages and don't really have an interest in continuing, then I won't. It's as simple as that. There are too many great books in the world to spend time trying to read them all. "
— Jeremy, 11/6/2012" Good reading, kept me on the edge. "
— Mary, 10/27/2012" Ridley Pearson should stick to co-authoring books with dave Barry because this one stunk! "
— Darin, 8/23/2012" I loved the references to the Seattle underground! A must read for Pacific Northwesterners! "
— Kristi, 5/2/2012" Loved the book, especially the part about underground Seattle; it was really fascinating. "
— Laura, 4/16/2012" I enjoyed this one, good psychological twists,,, except for the spots where Daphne puts herself in danger YET AGAIN. Still a good read. "
— Glennie, 11/5/2011" I could not finish this book I read about %75 and just got bored, I guess i really did not care about how it could end. "
— Talisman, 9/29/2011" Very good Lou Boldt/Daphne Matthews book as they literally go underground in Seattle. Recommended to mystery/cop/thriller fans! "
— Jeff, 4/11/2011" The was the first I have read by this author, and I enjoyed the book. I plan to read more by the author and in this series. "
— Jeannie, 3/9/2011" The Underground of Seattle added another layer of interest to a well written book. Plot twists kept me guessing. Good read. "
— Beverly, 2/11/2011" I haven't read a Boldt/Matthews book in quite a while. This one was good, but took quite a bit to follow. The book is aptly titled. I do like the characters and enjoyed the book. "
— Wendy, 10/26/2010" I never get tired of Boldt and Matthews. This one was especially creepy with all the underground scenes. "
— Gayle, 9/19/2010" This book inspired my new 100-page rule. If I get to 100 pages and don't really have an interest in continuing, then I won't. It's as simple as that. There are too many great books in the world to spend time trying to read them all. "
— Jeremy, 7/23/2010" This book by Pearson was an excellent read. It was a little different from what I thought it would be but it was an excellent read. <br/> <br/>More Ridley, more. <br/> <br/>J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" "
— J., 6/4/2010" A good thriller. Believable characters. "
— Hapzydeco, 4/27/2010" Ridley writes a good detective yarn filled with interesting gumshoes and other unsavory characters. "
— Kathy, 10/2/2009" A police procedural that is well written blending fiction and realism in the sub-terranean ghost town of Seattle's underground. I didn't know this was part of a series and am eager to see what I've missed. "
— Jan, 8/8/2009" Daphne Matthews is not a convincing nor committed cop. I like Lou Boldt (who is) but he appears only peripherally. "
— Judy, 8/5/2009" Plot too complicated, too many characters. "
— James, 7/20/2009" I loved the references to the Seattle underground! A must read for Pacific Northwesterners! "
— Kristi, 7/15/2009" Well written book, but too much swearing. I liked the twists and turns. I was a little disappointed by the ending, but very few author can pull off a good ending. Once again, too much swearing. "
— Jeff, 3/10/2009" Like the series. Police investigation in Seattle. "
— Serena, 8/2/2008" Great police procedural taking place in Seattle's mysterious underground. "
— Mary, 4/20/2008" Set in Seattle -- and sometimes in underground Seattle. Ridley Pearson reads his own work, and he's really quite good. I found this one a little disjointed because of lack of focus on one or two characters. "
— Linda, 4/3/2008Ridley Pearson is the New York Times bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including The Red Room, Choke Point, and The Risk Agent, as well as the Walt Fleming and Lou Boldt crime series, and many books for young readers. He lives with his family, dividing his time between St. Louis, Missouri, and Hailey, Idaho.