Pretty Corpse by Linda Berry

When a series of female assault victims are found unconscious and posed as corpses, it sends a shockwave through the city of San Francisco. The latest attack is intensely personal to Patrol Officer Lauren Starkley. Not only did she find the victim, but the girl is one of her daughter’s best friends. Lauren feels compelled to do some off-duty investigation. The perpetrator is keenly intelligent and methodical, but Lauren finds evidence missed by the detectives. She earns official trouble for her effort, but the warnings from her superiors don’t keep her from tugging at elusive clues. As she gets closer, the predator takes notice. Taunting Lauren, he demonstrates that he can get close to her, and to her daughter, without a trace. Stressed and sleep-deprived, she is determined to bring him down. But can she succeed before she, or her daughter, become his next victim?

Category: Mystery – Women Sleuths