Torched Spades

The central darkness here is stalking and surveillance — Johnny installs cameras in Becca's home early on and tracks her movements extensively, framed as obsessive desire rather than threat. There is dubious consent in their sexual encounters given the inherent power imbalance of the doctor-patient relationship and his coercive behaviour. Manipulation and gaslighting run throughout, both from Johnny (concealing his true identity and agenda) and via Becca's backstory: her corrupt father gaslit her into disbelieving what she witnessed as a child. That backstory includes childhood trauma — Becca witnessed her mother's murder and was made to believe it didn't happen, leaving lasting psychological trauma and PTSD. Violence escalates through the book, culminating in an arson attack (immolation) on Becca's office building at the end of the book — she passes out in the fire at the cliffhanger. Power dynamics and coercion are present throughout the hero's behaviour, and the overall relationship is toxic by design. Police corruption and organised crime (mafia) context underpin the plot but are not individually triggering in the traditional sense.