When people sworn to protect become part of the problem, nothing is simple anymore.
Lindsay Boxer is still very much human here. She makes mistakes, second-guesses herself, and doesn’t always get it right the first time. But she’s also strong, stubborn, and grounded in a way that feels earned after thirteen books. I really liked her in this installment. She still feels real.
There are four storylines running at once:
First up are the Windbreaker Murders, where check cashing places and SFPD officers are being targeted. I spent most of that storyline hoping the killers weren’t actually cops, because a few bad apples can ruin the reputation of the whole barrel, and that theme hangs heavy over the book.
Then there’s Joe’s case, which starts almost by accident. Lindsay realizes she’s been pulled away from Claire’s birthday by a murder Again. Turns out it’s been happening for five straight years. That discovery leads to the Claire’s Birthday Murders, and I loved seeing Joe take the lead here. Yes, it’s the Women’s Murder Club, but Joe is such a central part of Lindsay’s life that it makes sense to give him more page time. It added emotional weight without stealing focus.
Yuki’s storyline might be the most infuriating and powerful. She takes a new job with a defense league and immediately goes up against the police department and the DA, her former boss. A mentally challenged kid is coerced into confessing to a crime he didn’t commit and then murdered in jail. It’s ugly, heartbreaking, and painfully believable. Yuki’s anger and determination felt justified, and I liked seeing her pushed into morally uncomfortable territory and winning.
And finally, we get a bit of happiness. Cindy writes a book, goes on tour, and reconnects with Richie. It’s a lighter thread, but a welcome one. These characters go through so much that it’s nice to see something just work out.
Overall, 14th Deadly Sin balances multiple plots, emotional stakes, and character growth really well. It’s fast, it’s frustrating in the right ways, and it deepens the relationships that keep this series going. Not every installment hits like this, but this one definitely did. Plus, it ended in a cliffhanger.
On to number fifteen.
