Burke visits southwest Texas with Sheriff Hackberry Holland, last seen in 2009's "Rain Gods". When alcoholic ex-boxer Danny Boy begs to be locked up in the drunk tank, though he's clearly sober, Hack and his young deputy wring a confession from him: Danny Boy has witnessed a gruesome torture killing in the desert. Hack tracks the bad guys to the home of a (predictably) mysterious Chinese woman named Anton Ling, who's either in danger—or dangerous. Burke always delivers

Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and staff writer for The New Yorker, has penned a broad spectrum of books. Her latest work tells the story of famed movie star dog, Rin Tin Tin, and Corporal Lee Duncan who rescued the puppy in France during the closing months of WWI. Rin Tin Tin enjoyed a very long movie career, and hence of course, was a succession of German Shepherds cared for by Duncan. Once again Orleans provides extensive research to fully tell a story begging to be told.