But neither Breen nor Bradford can let an injustice lie, as Breen concocts another story of clever suspense and high-stakes corporate malfeasance that displays a persuasive understanding of law, health industry scams, and a lawyer’s drift of mind. Four years later, in 2016, an unexpected person from Bradford’s past offers a tip that might bring ZeiiMed down—and save lives. ZeiiMed is possibly importing poppies from Afghanistan to peddle illegally in the states as opiates. Soon, Bradford’s back in the game, as a ZeiiMed assassin, in dark and tense scenes, again targets him for death with no regard for civilian casualties.

New readers should understand that this is very much a concluding chapter, one whose first third is dedicated to the aftermath of the previous book, though the new case, once it starts, proves exciting. Bradford’s heroic but also proudly his own man, joking about sexual harassment and pausing the setup chapters to endorse the candidacy of Donald Trump. That’s interesting; less so is the 8 pages in which Bradford’s colleague airs theories about the intelligence community targeting Trump, a passage even MAGA diehards might skim. That action, fortunately, is satisfying, unpredictable, and in the end explosive, as Breen blends high-level legal maneuvering with terror in the streets and waterways of New York.

Takeaway: An attorney’s fight against a diabolical insurance company builds to an explosive climax.

Comparable Titles: Brad Meltzer, David Baldacci.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A