Final Acts by Alex Abella

With the return of Cuban-American lawyer Charlie Morell, "New York Times" notable author Alex Abella once again takes readers into the dark, insidious underworld of cult killings, corrupt politicians, and the tortured heart of Morell's native Cuba. When the decapitated bodies of young women appear along the California coast, Morell, hero of "The Killing of the Saints" and "Dead of Night," returns to investigate what appear to be cult-related murders. After working for years as one of Los Angeles's supreme and most controversial criminal defenders, Morell suddenly finds himself sitting in the defendant's chair, and only Mexican-American lawyer Rita Carr -- a feisty addition to the ranks of female sleuths -- can help prove his innocence.

Battling her own demons, past and present, Rita must jeopardize all she holds dear before she can get Morell off the hook and bring the real killer to justice.

Spinning the narrative from both perspectives, Morell and Rita keep their deepest secrets hidden from each other until the final terrifying end. "Final Acts," Abella's latest tale of murder, mystery, and the occult, is sure to make any reader an instant fan.