The story opens as Assistant District Attorney Carson Tanner is with his boss Donald Wainwright interviewing John Stokes, a serial killer. Stokes confesses to Carson’s family’s murder and in a plea bargain is off to serve a life sentence. Stokes leaves Carson with an enigmatic remark suggesting to Carson that he is pretty naïve about what is really going on. Shortly after Stokes confesses, one of the other ADA’s is instrumental in setting Carson up for a wild night of sex with a nameless female, who in reality is Annette Baxter.

Subsequently Carson is assigned the office’s most challenging investigation – to essentially bring down Otis Fleming, a king size mover and shaker who brokers the largest deals, both legal and illegal in the city. Fleming mentors Annette Baxter who uses her wiles, sex and other tools of persuasion “to fix problems” of the affluent for very large fees. Carson is shaken with the knowledge that he has crossed the line…sex with a “person of interest” in an investigation.

Events begin to escalate for Carson; Zac, an acquaintance in this world of the powerful and wealthy, becomes a victim of drugs. Elizabeth Drake reappears in his life, and it is obvious to Carson that he has finally garnered her family’s approval for their relationship to mature into marriage. Discordant notes in that family reveal that Dane, her errant brother, is missing again, mixed up as always in the drug market.

Annette warns Carson that he is clueless about what is going on, and suddenly things for both Annette and Carson begins to spiral out of control with life threatening attempts. Finally Annette realizes that neither she nor Carson will make it alone, and she somewhat reluctantly teams with him to survive.

Debra Webb does an exemplary job of using people’s innermost motivations to shape their actions. Her characters are dynamic and mature through confrontations and exciting scenario changes.

This plot is very complex as the past continues to drive the direction of the many twists and turns. There is enough subtle foreshadowing for the reader to begin to understand that this is a very organized cover up of Carson’s tragedy, however, not even an experienced mystery solver will ever see this ending coming.

The author is deserving of kudos for her originality, the only criticism is that the ending is worked out too swiftly, as the extraordinary pieces of this puzzle fall into place a little too conveniently. Still, Faceless is a memorable read.

--Thea Davis