Eva Pasco

5.0 out of 5 stars

Off-the-Beaten-Path Crime Fiction

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024

Verified Purchase

Author Sharon Mierke’s well-written, fast-paced, unpredictable nail-biter draws the reader in before Taheesha Jones backs out of her driveway with a stranger in the passenger seat. Narrated by Bill Best, undercover agent working as a crime boss’s accountant, the reader is held hostage in the back seat of Taheesha’s car along a routine business trip to Canada while her family is held hostage at home.

The story takes many unpredictable turns up until the sucker-punch ending.

The author profiles each character germane to the story so the reader knows them very well: Taheesha Jones; her husband, Isaac; their two children, Vanessa and Kyle; co-worker, Maggie. Then, there’s the underworld element of assorted unsavory characters: Frank Mantelli, a small-time crook with big dreams; Deke, a dangerous loser; Benny Friedman, a chameleon; Dayton Lewis, soon-retired policeman and his sidekick, Patrick Lanigan. There’s Marc Markham, the spoiled rich kid, grandson of Markham Holdings’ owner, who is the catalyst fueling the entire debacle.

Every character plays an intricate role along this off-the-beaten-path crime fiction I consider a must-read. It’s not about guessing the perps. Finding out what’s inside the envelope will blow your mind.