In the newest installment of the gritty Carmine Delmonico mystery series, McCullough once again “delves into small town intrigue with well-defined characters and vivid descriptions” (Booklist) with police Captain Carmine Delmonico on the trail of not one but two killers.
It’s August 1969 in the sleepy college town of Holloman, Connecticut, and police Captain Carmine Delmonico is away on vacation. Back at home, first one, then two anonymous male corpses turn up, emaciated and emasculated. After connecting the victims to four other bodies, Sergeant Delia Carstairs and Lieutenant Abe Goldberg realize that Holloman has a psychopathic killer on the loose. Luckily, Carmine comes back early from vacation.
Carmine’s team begins to circle a trio of eccentrics, who readily admit to knowing all the victims, but their stories keep changing. They share family ties, painful memories, and a dark past. When another vicious murder rocks the town, Carmine faces the revelation that two killers are at large—even as he barely escapes being next in the body count. Suddenly the summer isn’t so sleepy anymore.
With Colleen McCullough’s trademark “mind-boggling, murderous plots” (Kirkus Reviews), Sins of the Flesh “will be welcomed by readers who just love that creepy feeling,” (Publishers Weekly).