In Canada, two men are shot, severely beaten and their bodies dumped in separate areas. One of them is found and taken to a Calgary hospital where he remains comatose for over a month. Which of the men has managed to survive?

Marnie, along with other members of the hospital staff, visit John Doe and talk to him. But it's Marnie's voice he recognizes when he finally wakes up. Unfortunately, Luke, as Marnie has named him, has no memory of who he is or what happened to him. When he's well enough to leave the hospital, Marnie arranges to have him stay in her home, despite her family's objections. She has the room, and as a physiotherapist, she can continue working with him and help him regain his memory and mobility. Despite the fact he wears a wedding ring, Marnie finds herself attracted to the man without a history. Can she let him go when the time comes? Can she help him sort out his nightmares to find a clue to his past and what happened to him?

Erin Fox really knows her characters. This novel of murder and betrayal offers a mystery of the survivor's identity. While several clues are offered, don't expect them to help, because they can go either way, keeping the mystery intact through most of the story. The two Philadelphia police officers who unofficially get involved in the case give strong support to the mystery. While Pete Gruber is anxious to get to the bottom of things and find his missing partner, his current partner, Kyle, has a knack for subtly defusing tension with occasional humor. Ms Fox adds descriptions of her Canadian homeland as backdrop to quieter moments in the story.

Beyond Innocence is well written, and intriguing in style. Trying to figure out who the survivor is will keep you involved in the events. Even when Luke's identity is finally revealed, you'll want to finish the story to see how he deals with matters. Beyond Innocence is a definite page turner and a showcase for Ms Fox's writing talent.