Niels Madsen, a homicide detective for the LAPD, finds himself literally caught in the middle between a couple of cops and a former gang leader, Cisco, whose recent injury has left him intellectually disabled—or so he claims. The former gangbanger appears to have killed a man; he says the victim was his friend and denies killing him, but Madsen isn’t sure what to believe. As he investigates, he uncovers hidden truths about the L.A. gang scene and also about local law enforcement. This is a finely crafted novel. Noirishly hard-boiled, the book is much more than a police procedural; it’s an exploration of some serious themes, such as personal redemption and the societal prejudices against the disabled (the dead man had Down syndrome; Cisco may be suffering from brain damage). Stallings is known to mystery readers as the author of the gritty Moses McGuire mysteries, and fans of those books will definitely enjoy this one. – David Pitt Booklist