This is a 2024 book release from David Ellis, a judge and an award-winning author of ten novels of crime fiction, as well as eight bestselling books co-authored with James Patterson. In December 2014, David was sworn in as the youngest-serving Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District. He lives outside Chicago with his family.
Leo Balanoff is a diagnosed pathological liar with a very disturbing past. At six years old, he was taken from his family and sold by a trafficking ring to a woman who lost her own children. After being raised by this woman, alongside another boy who developed mental illness and addiction problems, he pursued a career as a lawyer to seek justice, at all costs, against the types of criminals that destroyed his youth.
When a ruthless drug dealer is found dead and Leo’s fingerprints show up on the murder weapon, no one believes a word he says. The FBI offers him a deal that requires him to go undercover to take down the dealer’s brutal syndicate. In a choice between risking his life going undercover for the feds or heading straight to prison for murder, Leo accepts the FBI’s offer. The undercover operation leads him directly on a collision course with his ex, Andi Piotrowski, a former cop and “the one who got away.” As Leo is forced to walk a tightrope between a mistrustful FBI agent and a ruthless crime titan, Leo feels trapped in a corner. But his genius mathematical skills, along with his own buried secrets, give him an advantage that no one realizes. By playing his cards carefully, he must navigate a dangerous game of cat and mouse and somehow get out of it alive and free from prison.
This is a fast-paced, action-packed psychological crime thriller that will have you shaking your head at all the twists. David Ellis is a master at deceiving his readers with the perception of plot holes early on in his novels that all dissipate after a multitude of ingenious and complex twists. Ellis’ last book, Look Closer, may be the prime example, but this book is also one where all the complex and extraordinary pieces fit into place by the end.
The first half of this book, although very compelling with an introduction of many characters, is mostly a setup for the twists and action that is to come. The second half of this book features many jawdropping twists and some very captivating writing that is worth waiting for. The story includes multiple timelines and three different POVs for Leo, Andi, and Chris, giving readers several interesting perspectives. What’s even more unique, but might also irritate some readers, is that one of these POVs is told in first person, while the other two are told in third person. There are even a few occasions where the POV suddenly switches from first to third in mid-conversation, which honestly feels a bit disjointed.
Leo, the story’s main protagonist, has the most interesting backstory and is presented as a genius, always calculating his moves a step ahead of everyone else. He’s also the most likeable character in the story, and it’s easy to envision him getting his own series of books, bringing justice at all costs, one complex case at a time. His relationship with Andi is mostly told through past memories and internal reflections until the very end, when they are forced into close proximity. Despite their little communication in the book, the chemistry between them is still very palpable.
Narrators Vas Eli, Emana Rachelle, Lee Osorio, Natasha Soudek, and Philip Hernandez deliver a fully entertaining and addictive listening experience. Vas Eli’s portrayal of Leo is perfectly executed and well paced, with plenty of witty, dry humour and captivating narration, especially during Leo’s mathematical analyses. Emana Rachelle brings a strong and confident female voice to Andi and does an excellent job narrating all the details of the corporate espionage storyline. Lee Osorio’s performance is a perfect complement to the others’ voices, bringing out a range of emotions and dramatic flair to portray all the ups and downs of flawed and conniving Chris.
Overall, this is an exciting and unique book full of unguessable twists and heart-pounding action, true to Ellis’s writing style. If you enjoy crime thrillers, mobsters, sting operations, police procedurals, corporate espionage, complex storytelling, and shocking twists, then this book should be very high on your list!