The Passage
Where the highway ends, the nightmare begins.
Reassigned to a quiet field office in Albuquerque after a mysterious data breach, FBI agent Emily Slate is restless. But when a young woman’s body is found in the New Mexico desert, she’s thrust into a case that feels far more dangerous than it seems. With only her partner Zara for backup, Emily quickly realizes that this wasn’t a random killing—but instead is part of something much bigger.
As they dig deeper, Emily and Zara uncover a twisted conspiracy of treachery and betrayal, a plot that stretches across the barren desert and threatens to claim more lives. Racing against time, they must unravel the deadly scheme before the killer strikes again—and before they become the next targets.
In the vast emptiness of the desert, danger is closer than it appears.
***
The explosive overarching conspiracy deepens in Book 16 of the expansive Emily Slate series. As a driven female FBI agent and her trusted partner investigate a brutal Albuquerque murder mystery, they uncover a deadly plot stretching across the badlands. Packed with tense psychological suspense and gritty action, this gripping crime novel is a must-read for fans of intense desert mysteries, undercover operations, and high-stakes cat-and-mouse games.
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Alex Sigmore
Alex Sigmore writes gripping mystery thrillers with heart. Known for strong, complex female leads, Alex’s stories blend edge-of-your-seat suspense with emotional depth, exploring the costs of justice and the bonds that hold us together. Whether unraveling secrets in Her Dark Secret, tracking a killer across the New Mexico desert in The Passage, or going undercover in Blood in the Sand, Alex delivers stories where empathy is as sharp as the detective’s mind.
Each book stands alone but is part of a larger, multi-book arc, offering readers the satisfaction of a complete case and the thrill of an evolving mystery. The Emily Slate Mystery Thrillers and Ivy Bishop Investigations have become reader favorites, known for their layered characters, psychological twists, and immersive storytelling.
Emily Slate FBI Mystery Thriller
Emily Slate FBI Mystery Thriller consists of eighteen primary books, and includes two additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

