Killing Innocence

Book excerpt: KILLING INNOCENCE, the second installment in Merit Clark’s award-winning Denver-based mysteries, takes homicide detective Jack Fariel deep into the world of human trafficking. “How could four young women simply disappear? One similarity between them—girls no one cared about, no one would look for, no one would miss. Perfect prey.” A minister with deadly secrets. A brutal zealot for hire. A sadistic manipulative millionaire. And dead girls discarded in Denver’s back alleys. The body of a young woman, murdered and discarded in a snowstorm, leads Jack to the discovery of a vicious criminal network with ties to the Middle East. From the elegant mansions of Denver’s elite to the despair of young, undocumented girls with no future, Jack must unravel a complex sex trafficking operation that reaches into all levels of society. As Jack gets closer to the truth, he’s hunted by an adversary with no remorse, no conscience, no hesitation. But Jack won’t let these young innocents down. He’ll stop the trafficking even if it costs him his life. “The author treats the topic of human trafficking with intelligence and respect. While parts of the story may make some readers uncomfortable (like a 12-year-old victim), Clark brings awareness to the issue without resorting to graphic or excessive violence.” ~Kirkus Reviews “Merit Clark has crafted a superb work of mystery and detective fiction with plenty of clever twists and exciting plot points for fans of the genre to follow. . . . The work crosses over the gritty and cozy genres really well to produce a read that all kinds of mystery fans are sure to love.” ~Readers’ Favorite Five Stars “This fictional account of sex trafficking has one of the most complex and well-developed plots on this subject that I have ever read. It also has some of the nastiest characters committing crimes against young women, some still children, for the most unexpected reasons i.e. not every offender or murderer who is killing innocents is doing it just for money.” ~Readers’ Favorite Five Stars