This second entry in Valletta’s Gaslamp Quarter Trilogy, which explores the darkest secrets of sun-drenched San Diego, offers a twisty high-profile procedural investigation into the lurid double homicide of weatherman Carson Wedgeworth, a local celebrity on air weekdays at 5 and 11 for years, and his attorney girlfriend, Isabelle Scaglione, whose body is found abused in a host of vicious ways by someone who, as one cop notes, “attempted to create the shocking image of a naked pale vampire vixen crucified on an altar.” That line captures the spirit of Let Me See Them, which pairs returning detective Kate Delgado and her new partner, Jack Langton, a Vegas transplant with a brilliant smile who at first creeps Kate out by introducing himself to her at her favorite cafe on a Sunday morning.

As that duo learns to work together, Valletta immerses readers in a chilling, complex mystery that will entice lovers of dark investigations, bloody forensic discoveries, and detectives dancing their own backstories. The initial suspects are diverse and intriguing, from deranged fans of Carson to Isabelle’s ex-husband, the couple’s best friends, and more. Sifting through these potential murderers is further complicated by solid alibis, dual identities, DNA evidence, and the pasts of both the detectives and the victims. Isabelle, described by a friend as “a cross between an angel and a devil,” endured “a nightmare of pain and anguish” before her surprise marriage, and that suffering is explored with sympathy. Throughout,Valletta evokes the contrasts of San Diego, from the unhoused to coeds wolfing down burritos to the upper echelons of the real-estate biz.

Expertly paced, with a balance of plot advancement and character development, Let Me See Them will keep procedural lovers engaged. Valletta imbues Carson’s luxurious home with horrific darkness, creating a stark contrast that heightens the prevailing unease, as the detectives face confounding clues, looming threats, and revelations that readers won’t see coming.

Takeaway: Sharply crafted mystery of a double homicide that shakes San Diego.

Comparable Titles: Elizabeth Breck’s Anonymous, Curtis Ippolito’s Burying the Newspaperman.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-