Ellen Synder, a fast rising star for the McLaren insurance company, leaves before dawn for a mysterious meeting. At McLaren's headquarters, John Walker, an analyst is taken under the wing by Max Stillman, a security investigator. Walker, who had a brief romance with Snyder, is needed because Snyder may have been somehow involved with a multi-million dollar fraud.
Thus begins a cross-country journey with timeouts for a few dead bodies, a Florida hurricane, more insurance scams and more than one life threatening experience.
Perry's characters have depth and are interesting. A burly computer hacker and his far more attractive associate get involved.
The quest leads them ultimately to an odd New Hampshire town with centuries of thievery behind it - and a town where everyone packs a gun and wants to kill Walker, Stillman and Serena, the lissome computer hacker.
The ending is a bit disappointing, but still well done.
All said, it's Thomas Perry: a masterful suspense novelist at work. It's an enjoyable, often tense read.
Jerry
Walker, the young insurance analyst who is pressed into sevice by the grizzled veteran investigator, seems to take getting attacked in alleys by thugs and shot at right in stride. He follows Stillman, the investigator, around like a puppy,taking everything he says as gospel. The ending was reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, not in the Sci-Fi sense. You'll understand when you read it.
Overall, I wasn't blown away by Mr. Perry but he has sparked my interest and I will check out other titles by him.