The Executive Murder : An Unconventional Forensic Mystery - Paul Austin Ardoin

A forensic thriller that sends a federal investigator and a prickly toxicologist into a murder case the local police are paid not to solve. Corporate corruption, scientific anomalies and a killer whose message is aimed at the investigator's own family. A billionaire is murdered. The local cops are compromised. And her daughter is next. Federal investigator Bernadette Becker is supposed to be off the clock, enjoying a music festival in Milwaukee with her teenage daughter. But when a coded message from a confidential informant lands in her lap, everything changes. A powerful tech executive has been killed in his suburban mansion-and the killer has ties to people who know exactly where Bernadette is. Within hours, she's sending her daughter into protective custody and heading straight into a case no one wants her to touch. The victim, Leopold Montclair, left behind a shattered company, a bitter family, and a trail of enemies. But in a city where police brass are easily bought and investigators disappear when they ask the wrong questions, Bernadette and her partner, prickly toxicologist Dr. Kep Woodhead, know they can't rely on anyone else. With evidence disappearing and potential witnesses too scared to talk, the two must follow a trail of scientific anomalies, corporate pressure, and hidden connections that lead far beyond Ohio. And the deeper they dig, the more personal it becomes. The killer isn't just protecting secrets-they're sending a message. And Becker's daughter is in the crosshairs. From Milwaukee to Cleveland to California's Central Valley, The Executive Murder takes readers on a relentless pursuit of justice through corrupt police departments, high-tech labs, and boardrooms thick with lies. With smart pacing, sharp dialogue, and a pair of unforgettable investigators, this is a murder mystery for readers who love their thrillers brainy, urgent, and unputdownable. This fourth installment in the Woodhead & Becker series delivers forensic intrigue, layered characters, and a case where science is only part of the truth.