The ongoing relationship of Butch Karp, his wife Marlene Ciampi and their family continues in this and subsequent novels. A fascinating group they are.

Tanenbaum and his co-author Michael Gruber have the ability to start a story with seemingly insignificant events that eventually all inter-relate and wind up coming together in the climax. This technique hooks the reader and forces him or her to pay attention to seemingly unrelated details because they are sure to become important later.

This particular story has Butch, in a staff role at the NYC DA's office, pursuing what looks to him like a possible terrorist plot but is ignored by all but a few of his colleagues and associates in law enforcement.

Marlene, spending much of her time helping out at an abused woman's shelter, uncovers a connection to what her husband is working on but neither of them know it. She is also constantly struggling with her personal demons that manifest themselves as her seeming inability or unwillingness to avoid serious trouble and violence.

The supporting cast of Tran, the Vietnamese bodyguard, ass't DA's, police investigators, Islamic terrorists, Mexican drug lords and an unbelievable Hispanic assassin all contribute to the fascinating story.

This is one of the better efforts of the Tanenbaum/Gruber collaboration.



Rodz (USA: OH) (2012/06/23):
*** POLICE / DETECTIVE / LAW ENFORCEMENT ***