(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Retired inspector Jack Bertolino had strict rules when dealing with confidential informants. A line in the sand he never crossed. 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 Bertolino is forced to pull out all the stops to figure out exactly what Mia had gotten herself into and a way to clear his name. As Jack delves deeper into the world of drug dealers and murderers, he uncovers an international drug ring, and the top players in this game knew Mia personally.
It is uncovered that Mia had a loving relationship with the son of a major drug lord, but she was never accepted into the family. Despite this, the relationship bloomed, and Mia became pregnant. Upon hearing this news, someone ordered her pregnancy be terminated, forcibly. Mia had spent the past few years getting revenge on the cartel family, right up until she got found out. It just so happened that she reached out to Jack on the day of her death. And now Jack is seeking revenge on behalf of his slain lover.

Characters, characters, characters - if there is something in writing classes that needs to be stressed to every hopeful author, it is characters. If John Lansing took those classes, then you gotta say he was paying close attention...

This book has quite a cast of characters and balancing them all is an extraordinary job: sure, Jack Bertolino is the MC in this story (and a terrific character), but the supporting cast are really the ones who keep the story moving along. That goes for the good guys and the bad guys, for family and workmates...it's the characters that win this book for me.

Aside from that, the actual story itself was quite clever and well done. The ever-winding path to the truth behind Mia's death - and the story of Jack's journey (and enemies accumulated along the way) - was intriguing enough to keep me reading. The details of the underground drug trade was enlightening (shall we say?) and the disparity between it and the rest of society was quite telling. I also think that the author tip-toed nicely along the "too much" line - not too much sex, drugs or violence, but enough for you to feel a part of the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book happily.


Paul
ARH