Some chapters switch to the viewpoint of the villain, but he is referred to simply as "the man."  There are subtle clues as to his identity, but I only saw them in retrospect. The airtight case that Ellie and J. J. build against a young hedge fund manager just doesn't feel right to Ellie and her investigation reveals similarities between Chelsea's murder and three cold cases that happened nearly a decade ago... way before Jake Myers could have been the killer. Then inexplicitly, details of the current case are leaked to the press, compromising her case.   Ellie's superiors look at her romantic relationship with reporter Peter Morse with a suspicious eye, and the killer begins to look at her as a good candidate for his next victim.

Burke manages to make her victims into sympathetic characters, and even the villain has his moments. Angel's Tip is filled with fast action and escalating suspense, providing a very entertaining story with a shocking  climax.  Ellie, her brother Jess, and her partner J. J. Rogan, are memorable characters I will look forward to seeing in future Burke novels.  Though Alafair Burke doesn't have quite the descriptive flair of her famous dad, James Lee Burke, I do plan to read her other books.  She's a winner.