Customer Reviews

The Deadly Trade: A Novel

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From the first page to the last, I found suspense through this second book by Ken Morris strikes like lightening. In a treacherous theme that ties the stock market to bioterrorism, recovering alcoholic Tim Mack takes up a new position as a financial analyst for a high-finance broker, which he discovers is linked to a biotechnology company in San Diego that mysteriously explodes. Those first on the scene die shortly afterwards from unknown causes that suggest a lethal virus was unleashed during the blast. Just skimming through the chapters, the heading treatments reveal an accelerating plot rushing to beat a catastrophic deadline like the television series "24." Based on day-to-day and then hour-to-hour events, the novel opens on a street where the homeless live. Three men are promised $50.00 each if they can drink each other under the table at a party. This seduces them into a van that takes them to a lab where they are exposed to tainted air while eating porridge. The next day, local detective Bob Moore is faced with three John Doe bodies found together, and forensics can't figure out how they died such horrendous deaths. Is it murder or is it a sign of a 21st Century plague about to befall Californians?

At the same time, Mack begins his investigation into suspicious trading events of Isotopic Research, a drug company whose stock plunges after its research lab explodes and kills the scientists working inside. This sets up the plot that races to D-Day, Tuesday, February 6, in which Mack is trapped inside his firm's building where the deadly virus is to be launched and spread through the victims who inhale it, infect everyone who comes in contact with them and then die, thus killing thousands of people within 24 hours. The "anthrax test" must prove its intensified toxic power to Middle Eastern terrorists before they will pay for its delivery. Will Mack survive in time to save San Diego from a terrible disaster? It's a cliffhanger right up to the 'reveal' of the unexpected mastermind behind the deadly drug deal.

Morris' vision of real possibilities is horrifying. It's also what makes his second novel a riveting page-turner.

I read and enjoyed Ken Morris' first novel, Man in the Middle. I found his second novel to be even better! Once again, built around a securities firm but this time the protagonist is a research analyst with many past wounds both personally and professionally. A series of deaths and corporate events throw the analyst accidentally in the mix of solving a major crime before he even knows he's involved in solving the crime. A love interest and helpful policeman are also introduced to help move the story and add to the many subplots.

What I really like about this novel is how he builds short chapters around action events. In this book you're solving a small problem or ducking another accident every chapter so the book really moves quickly and is very difficult to put down. Morris also did a good job of hiding the many twists in the whodunit so you won't know exactly who the bad guys are until very close to the end. And, as mentioned by other reviewers, you will learn about the securities industry as he overlays the crimes around the lives at a securities firm.

One other note of interest, he does a great job of interlaying known locations into his novel so if you are familiar with the area of San Diego/La Jolla/Del Mar, you'll be familiar with the action. In summary, if you like fast mystery/murder novels, you'll love this book. I'll be back for the next one as soon as it's on sale. I strongly recommend this book.