After her parents die when she is only 17 years old, Alyx Beck does whatever she must to take care of herself and her autistic twin brother, Trent-including her efforts as a high end sex worker, where she sticks to stringent professional rules and tries to stay on the good side of her handler, Estelle. But when her driver, roommate, and only friend, Sasha Belmont, fails to pick her up after an evening job, Alyx's world comes crashing down around her: Sasha's scheme to steal from their employers implicates Alyx, landing her in the middle of a risky cat-and-mouse game that threatens everyone she loves.

Lore (the pseudonym for Carmen DaVinleam) threads betrayal, seedy business dealings, and taut loyalty into a complex story of survival that unfolds through the eyes of a street-smart protagonist trapped in a dangerous web of lies. Alyx's only way of escape involves outsmarting those in charge and dismantling the business from the inside, and Lore uses incredibly high stakes to band together her central female characters, who must trust each other before they can successfully overthrow a sadistic enemy. Twists and turns keep coming, as Alyx learns surprising nuggets about her parents' deaths, and Lore ratchets up the tension into a suspenseful climax that finds Alyx working behind her handler's back to uncover the truth-and gain her freedom.

Readers will root for Lore's whip smart lead, an incredibly resilient young woman who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty if that's what it takes to exact vengeance on anyone who crosses her-or her loved ones. Diverse characters give the story layered depth, and Lore capably handles weighty topics like sex trafficking, kidnapping, and unbelievable violence. This gritty thriller vividly depicts the lives of young girls trapped in the sex trade, exploited by men and women with staggering amounts of money and power.

Publishers Weekly