David Mapstone

**Series Synopsis: The David Mapstone Mysteries** Step into the sun-baked chaos of Phoenix, Arizona—a city teetering on the brink of transformation while haunted by its shadowy past. In Jon Talton's *David Mapstone* series, former history professor David Mapstone returns to his roots, grappling with the stark changes around him, from glittering high-rises to the remnants of his boyhood: a city that holds secrets as deeply buried as its desert sands. Caught in a whirlwind of nostalgia and disillusionment, Mapstone finds himself drawn back into a world of intrigue when he takes on a temporary role at Maricopa County, tasked with unraveling cold cases. His life takes a sharp turn when an unexpected visitor brings the ghost of his past crashing back—his college sweetheart, now desperate and asking for help. As he delves into the disappearance of her sister, he uncovers a chilling connection to a decades-old unsolved murder, revealing a dark tapestry woven from both old and new threads of crime. With every layer he peels back, Mapstone confronts an unsettling truth: the city’s facade of affluence and tranquility masks a seedy underbelly of greed, addiction, and violence. Each mystery he unravels not only pits him against powerful adversaries but also forces a reckoning with his own history and the shifting landscape of a jarring modernity. Rich in cultural clashes and moral ambiguity, the *David Mapstone* series beckons readers to explore the intersections of loss, justice, and the everlasting search for identity in a world ripe for betrayal. As Mapstone digs deeper into the desert's secrets, will he find himself buried beneath the weight of their revelations? Join him on this gripping journey, where every answer leads to a new question, challenging everything he once believed. Discover the captivating complexities of human nature in *Concrete Desert* and beyond—where every mystery opens a door to the past and changes everything.