Description
From Kirkus Reviews Lansing offers a debut novel about an ex-New York Police Department narcotics chief drawn out of retirement when drug-gang violence gets personal.xa0Jack Bertolino left his hometown of New York City for Los Angeles after back pain sidelined him from the force. Since then, he's been gardening and nurturing his penchant for red wine. Things change, however, when Mia, a gorgeous Colombian informant whom Jack knew intimately, turns up murdered. The Los Angeles police initially suspect Jack but quickly clear him - and then rebuff him when he offers to help. He investigates the murder on his own, using his experience, instincts and invaluable connections from his cartel-busting days to unearth new evidence that makes the LAPD crawl back to him.xa0xa0Lansing, crafts a compelling hero in Jack, who has a son at Stanford, an ex-wife back East, and classic tastes--including a fondness for Benziger wine, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" album and his sterling gray Mustang GT. He has the appeal of a Hollywood leading man in the vein of Harrison Ford, particularly when romantic sparks fly with Deputy District Attorney Leslie Sager. The cinematic plot unspools at a smooth pace, cleanly shifting from one scene to the next and allowing readers to put the pieces together themselves. When action erupts, Lansing doesn't hold back, and the explosive finale reads like something that blockbuster director Michael Bay might dream up."A pulse-pounding thriller with a charming protagonist." - Kirkus Reviews "Fast, furious and stone exciting... a wild ride, brilliantly executed."-- Robert Ward, Author of Red Baker John Lansing is the author of four thrillers featuring Jack Bertolino —The Devil’s Necktie , Blond Cargo , Dead Is Dead , and The Fourth Gunman —as well as the true-crime non-fiction book Good Cop Bad Money , written with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. He has been a writer and producer on Walker, Texas Ranger, and the co-executive producer of the ABC series Scoundrels . A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles. Find out more on JohnLansing.net and follow him on Twitter @jelansing.
Features & Highlights
- A sizzling thriller for fans of James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell--an action-packed tour into the real-life world of cops, crime, drugs, and murder.
- Retired inspector Jack Bertolino had strict rules when dealing with confidential informants. But Mia had the kind of beauty that could make a grown man contemplate leaving his wife, his job,
- and
- his kids. After a passionate night together, Mia is found murdered--and Jack is the lead suspect. Facing threats from the LAPD, the 18th Street Angels, and a Colombian drug cartel, Jack delves deeper into the seedy world of drug dealers and murderers and discovers that the top players knew Mia personally. And now Jack is torn between fearing for his life and seeking revenge for his slain lover....either way, the body count will rise.
