Unfortunately, the tires are bad, almost causing Devonie to have an accident. When she takes the truck in for tires, the mechanic notices a woman's purse taped inside the spare. A curious, and apparently unemployed, Devonie learns that the woman was found dead over a year ago from an apparent jogging accident. An angry letter to a soon-to-be ex-husband in the purse makes Devonie suspect foul play and she brings the purse and her suspicions to the detective who investigated the case, Sam Wright.

Sam thanks Devonie, but doesn't think much of her theory. For some reason, Devonie feels compelled to launch and investigation herself, and despite repeated orders from Wright to stay out of it, continues investigating to the point of helping a young woman plan her wedding to the dead woman's widower. With no real motive on Devonie's part to drive the investigation, it becomes a series of seemingly unrelated events and Devonie's fixation on Bradley Parker, as prime suspect seems circumstantial, especially since the reader saw the crime being committed.

Devonie is not a well-developed character. She has no job and lives on a boat, but there is no background information that explains either. Her wedding is looming, yet she is not rushing around seeing to last minute details the way most brides do, and Craig, her fiancé, seems too good to be true. He never attempts to curtail Devonie's activities and even encourages them at times. There are quite a few allusions to a former investigation Devonie was involved in, but not enough background is given to add any interest or character development. In an odd twist at the end, Sam unexpectedly declares his love for Devonie, after berating her through the entire book.

The reader knows how the murder occurs before Devonie even buys the Explorer. Even though they aren't entirely certain who did the pushing, it becomes clear enough early on that readers looking for a challenging mystery will be disappointed and may lose interest.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry