THE DYING OF THE NIGHT (A Kate Delgado Mystery Thriller Book 1)

“The storyline is arresting!” - Publishers Weekly

Amid the sweltering heat of Southern California, a serial killer with a passion for sharp knives and naked flesh attacks their way across the affluent coastal neighborhoods of San Diego County. A banking executive is found slain in his beachfront hotel room. Then, the nude body of a young woman is found slashed and brutalized in a public park.

Former NYPD Homicide Detective Kate Delgado is still reeling from a failed marriage and the recent death of her mother. As a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department detective, Kate is absorbed in the investigations of the first two murder cases.

In a heartbeat, Kate’s world is flipped upside down and turned inside out. She’s suddenly on the wrong side of the law, accused of committing a horrific crime based upon iron-clad, indisputable fingerprint and video evidence. Against seemingly impossible odds, Kate must prove her innocence or face the consequences of an open-and-shut jury trial. She’s destined to spend the rest of her life behind bars or worse. How will she ever survive?

“The storyline is arresting and will please fans of crime fiction with flawed characters in this promising series opener. Valletta’s striking descriptions evoke a noirish California, as he cleverly uses minor details to show that Detective Kate Delgado, an East Coast transplant, doesn’t quite fit in. The diverse cast of colorful characters includes a blind voyeur, criminals, and exotic dancers with double lives, and Kate, in particular, is so strong an engaging protagonist that readers will likely enjoy following for multiple novels.” - Publishers Weekly

“The author never skimps on fast-paced action.” - Kirkus Reviews

An American Fiction Award Crime Thriller Finalist!

“A cat-and-mouse game of a novel. It has good flow and was invested in the characters.” - @bookwormincrime