This fast-paced, gritty thriller—filled with whip smart characters, rich descriptions, and a vividly portrayed Southwest landscape—sweeps readers into the seedy world of organized crime, sex trafficking, and illegal border operations. Hanley—assisted by the Indigenous Tohono O'odham tribe—pairs well with Tallbear, a sarcastic yet capable protagonist that readers will find humorous and fast on his feet, especially when lives, including his own, are on the line. Tallbear quickly finds himself in the crossfire of multiple gangs and the seductive charms of power-hungry widow, Marla Satillo, the “leader of the Sinaloa Cartel in Nogales,” as well as allies who turn out to be anything but.
Lauritzen’s story—the second in his Lance Tallbear series, after Regardless of the Consequences—is immersive and will captivate readers from beginning to end. While undercover, Tallbear views those he comes to work closely with as "an enigma,” reflecting that “they all seemed like normal people, but accepted levels of depravity he couldn’t understand.” With danger hurtling from every direction, Tallbear must keep his wits about him as he tries to deliver on his promise to Hanley while still making it home alive. Secrets, betrayal, and greed pave his road, and readers will be transfixed by his fight for justice.
Takeaway: Heart-pounding thriller of infiltrating the Sinaloa cartel.
Comparable Titles: Ian K. Smith's Ashe Cayne Mystery series; James Patterson's Alex Cross series.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
