Mark Gimenez returns to the field of law in this, his third novel. It's a stand-alone thriller, so you don't need to have read either The Color of Law or The Abduction first - you can dive straight in.

In some ways it's deceptively paced. After a breathless start, the story is slowed right down. The locations and characters are described in minute detail and one suspects a little self-indulgence on the author's part as he revisits his roots. However, it's absorbing enough to continue to hold the attention until the serious investigation of the crime in the prologue begins.

The cover of the book dubs Gimenez as the next John Grisham. That's open to debate, but he deserves to be considered as an author in his own right. There is no doubt that Gimenez is an excellent story-teller. Rounded characters, very good prose and enough twists to keep you guessing - this all adds up to a pretty good thriller which deserves to be recommended.