From New York Times-bestselling, two-time Edgar-award-winning author Steve Hamilton comes an unforgettable new hero, a man who will walk out of prison and into a harrowing double life that is anything but free.

Nick Mason has already spent five years inside a maximum security prison when an offer comes that will grant his release twenty years early. He accepts -- but the deal comes with a terrible price.

Now, back on the streets, Nick Mason has a new house, a new car, money to burn, and a beautiful roommate. He's returned to society, but he's still a prisoner. Whenever his cell phone rings, day or night, Nick must answer it and follow whatever order he is given. It's the deal he made with Darius Cole, a criminal mastermind serving a double-life term who runs an empire from his prison cell.

Forced to commit increasingly more dangerous crimes, hunted by the relentless detective who put him behind bars, and desperate to go straight and rebuild his life with his daughter and ex-wife, Nick will ultimately have to risk everything—his family, his sanity, and even his life—to finally break free. Highly recommended.

I could not get into this book. I kept picking it up, but it just never grabbed me. I may wait and try again, or just go on to his next book. I love Steve Hamiltons other books, the Alex McKnight books were great, hope there's more! I also really enjoyed The Lock Artist.! Really good book. Maybe I was just not in the right frame of mind, at the time. If you don't like this one, please read his other books!

Nick Mason is released from prison after serving only five years of his 25 year sentence for felony murder of a federal agent. His release was arranged by Darius Cole, another prisoner who is still running his own crime operation in Chicago from his jail cell, with the aid of a bunch of crooked cops. Mason exchanges one form of imprisonment for another when he is forced to work for Cole.

This was a fast-paced and exciting thriller with various mobsters and both good and bad cops pitted against each other. There was a pretty high body count. I liked Mason and I look forward to the next book in which I assume he will try to extricate himself from Cole's control. I do hope he loses the new girlfriend though. Any woman who puts up with a man who shows up with new mysterious bruises every time she sees him is really too stupid to interest me.

I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, however I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library.