What Meets the Eye

In Kenna’s debut, former police detective-turned-PI Kate Myles takes on the case of Margot Starling, a painter whose sudden death was ruled a suicide. Voiced by Caitlin Cavannaugh, Myles is a tough-as-nails divorcée who must find balance in her life as mother, investigator, and person recovering from opioid addiction. She fills Myles with gritty self-confidence while on the job and low self-esteem when dealing with her ex, her daughter, and a former colleague. In contrast, Starling is delivered with an intense, breathy egotism, capturing this privileged woman who delights in blackmailing despicable men. The story jumps back and forth in time, changing the point of view to fill in details of past events; throughout, Cavannaugh infuses a wide range of emotions into the characters, providing fully developed and easily identifiable portraits for each. Former LAPD partner Luke comes across as a professional who is attracted to Myles. Myles’s ex-husband is a jerk determined to keep primary custody of their daughter. Starling’s customer-victims become suspects in her murder, allowing Cavannaugh to showcase her remarkable skill in capturing men’s voices. One flaw: names of two painters in the opening are mispronounced.