"Everything I’ve read by this author has me riveted to the pages and this is no exception! This book is a slight deviation from her previous novels in that it has a crime novel feel rather than a women’s fiction theme. A very aptly title as well telling the store of two men - one a man determined to try to write the wrongs of the judicial system and the other a policeman who is also trying to correct the process of people who become vigilantes. Yep men with a similar goal in mind but going about it in a different way!

This was a slow burn until it reached the point that I couldn’t stop until I finished! I hope the author continues with this genre and we see more in the future - highly recommend - 5 Stars ⭐️"

"Superbly Written Thriller Will Make You Reconsider Your Ideas Of 'Justice'. On the one hand, a man has identified a way to identify serial sexual predators - and is committed to stopping them before they can strike again. On the other, a law man absolutely committed to the Rule of Law and that *everyone* has the right to a second chance once their sentence is complete. Which one is "good". Which one is "just"? How can we as readers of this text reconcile the two competing ideals? Should we? How can we as a society reconcile these ideals? Should we?

Redfearn - yes, the same Suzanne Redfearn of In An Instant, Moment In Time, Hadley & Grace, and Where Butterflies Wander - here presents her most thoughtful book to date, damn near an Atlas Shrugged level deep, *deep* philosophical dive - without Rand's overt political diatribes. Indeed, the text here in some ways is also remeniscent of NPC by Jeremy Robinson, which also features such deep examinations from two different sides by two people of equal mental acuity - though in the Robinson text, the questions at hand are more existential in nature rather than centered on justice for all, particularly those deemed the lowest of the low by society at large.

This is one of those books that could have gotten quite preachy rather quickly in any number of ways in a less deft hand - as Rand was known to do, despite her own great storytelling abilities - and yet never actually does. It questions and it shows pros and cons of both sides, with quite a bit of real (enough) logically paced and logically executed action. While it can be read as a straight up thriller, and many might, it is one of those texts that really deserves and demands to be more deeply considered and examined. Perhaps particularly in the weeks leading into an Election Day, though that has nothing at all to do with the book and is nowhere present in the text.

This was the 157th book I read in 2024. I'm reasonably confident (at the moment at least, we'll see what happens in my final rankings in December) in saying that if you read just a single book this year... make it this one.

Very much recommended."

"What a story! At first I thought I was predicting the path of the book. No! This is an author with deep thoughts and superior writing skills. This is an author who entertains but most importantly makes one think!"

" Features:
- Explores both the pitfalls and necessity of a legal system that protects felons after they have served their sentence.
- Explores the ethics of vigilante justice
- Story told through two different characters with opposing viewpoints but the same ultimate goal
- Morally gray characters and situations

Summary

With pedophile Otis Parsons now free from prison, Dick and his sister Dee know it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again. Between a seemingly threatening note Otis sent to Dee from prison and the fact that it was Dee’s testimony that landed him behind bars, Dick and Dee fear that Dee’s son Jesse might be Otis’s next target. With his life in shambles, Dick finds himself with nothing to lose and a family to protect. Meanwhile, FBI agent Steve Patterson finds himself on the trail of a potential serial killer who seems to be targeting recently released felons. Sparks fly when his investigation leads him to Dee’s door and everything he so firmly believed will once again be called into question.

Thoughts

This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best of ways and definitely sticks with you. We enter the story at an extremely low point in Dick’s life. Though Redfearn does a wonderful job establishing this as an endpoint of a steady, long-term decline, Dick’s current state makes him really hard to connect to as a person. However, I think that is part of the point and I was still able to empathize with his perspective. On the other hand, Dee and Jesse were incredibly likable characters and Dick’s relationship with them is what truly got me invested in him as well. Steve stood out to me slightly less, but the addition of his perspective is what really helped make this book stand out.

It is not unusual to be able to see the perspectives of both the ‘cop�� and ‘criminal�� characters in a Mystery/Thriller. However, Steve and Dick feel a lot more intimately connected. Their philosophical differences create space for an interesting, and sometimes uncomfortable, exploration of how justice is achieved and upheld. Be warned that some topics in this book might be triggering and there are no easy answers or happy endings to be found here. However, if you enjoy a suspenseful read that gives you something to think about, this book is definitely for you!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!"