Dreiling plunges readers into the heartland fentanyl epidemic in the gripping second installment of the Debbie Bradley Mysteries, as St. Louis is shaken by Caleb Webb's death by overdose after a 60-day rehab. Signs point to the presence of fentanyl in the drug, and Caleb’s childhood friend Macie Holloway—a chemist major with a history of heroin use—stands as the prime suspect, as she was present at the scene. Enter Debbie, a journalist-podcaster known as the Crime Beat Girl, daring to investigate the lethal drug's source and uncovering Dardos Venenosos, a sprawling paramilitary drug cartel that has infiltrated the Midwest—and more dangerous, Debra knows, “than black ice” or the deadly frog that gives the novel its title.

While Debbie remains the centrifugal force and a bold and engaging lead, the lives of a host of characters are given emphasis and empathy in perspective chapters, resulting in a novel more rich than in many protagonist-focused procedurals: young adults Macie, Connor, and Caleb and their world of narcotics and self-destructive secrets; lawyers and detectives; cartel worker José Rodrigo, missing a finger and desperate to save his family. Dreiling dismantles simple views of drug crimes and addiction, revealing human frailty and brokenness. "The truly courageous man was the one who clung to kindness in the face of savagery," Dreiling writes of how José retains his morality despite his association with cartel operations in Mexico and Missouri.

This taut, chilling novel captures, with sharp edges and spirit of humanity, the inner workings of cops, reporters, lawyers, and detectives in the fight against trafficking, while remaining attentive to the everyday reality of drugs destroying lives and family relationships. “Rich. Poor. It doesn’t matter,” pone character notes. “Addiction doesn’t care about income levels.” Dreiling has crafted a potent blend of suspense, drama, strong local color, and emotional exploration of grief and blame, not flinching or sensationalizing her subject while still offering hope for a slice of justice.

Takeaway: High-stakes Midwestern drug-crime thriller, with humane emphasis.

Comparable Titles: Tricia Fields’s The Territory, Amy Pease’s Northwoods.

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