Books like The Ways of the Dead by Neely Tucker

The Ways of the Dead follows Sully Carter, a former war reporter turned investigative journalist, as he probes the murder of Sarah Reese, the teenage daughter of a prominent Washington, D.C., judge. Arrested quickly are three local black youths, but Sully suspects a deeper link to a series of unresolved cold cases, including the disappearance of a university student. Navigating the city’s elite corridors and its shadowy backstreets, he confronts pressure from police, government officials, and his own newsroom. The novel paints a vivid portrait of the nation’s capital—from its grand monuments to its blighted districts—highlighting the power struggles within law, race, and the press. Set against the backdrop of 1990s Washington, it examines the moral complexities of investigative journalism and the dark underbelly of the city.

First publish date: 2014