Whit’s career had contained many part-time diversions and jobs, but he is adjusting to the respectability that the judicial office bestows. At present he is also having an affair with Faith Hubble, the ex-wife of Senator Lucinda Hubble’s son Pete. Faith still serves as Lucinda’s top administrative aid.

Whit is summoned to a suspicious death aboard a boat in the harbor. To his regret he finds the victim is Pete Hubble, the ex-husband of his lover. He is discovered having apparently shot himself in the mouth. During the course of his investigation Whit uncovers the fact that Pete is also known as Pete Majors, a porn king. In addition to the many porn videos Pete has starred in, he also finds a video with snatches of an investigation that Pete had apparently been making into his missing brother Cory’s disappearance years ago. Shots include an interview with a religious con man that had reputedly been the last man to see Cory alive.

Whit is under immediate pressure to rule the death a suicide. Pete’s mother Lucinda wishes it, Whit’s lover wishes it for more obvious reasons, his father wishes it, even the serial killer of women who is revealed to the reader in the prologue wants the investigation halted.

Whit does his best to see it as a suicide but lately acquired reasoned judgment leads him to search for the murderer. There are many avenues to explore: the person who loaned Pete the boat was a minor king of drugs; the preacher Pete had captured in his video about his missing brother, possible porn connections, and other persons flexing their powerful muscles.

Jeff Abbott has created memorable characters, perhaps more noteworthy because each is flawed.. The author cleverly interlinks possible suspects with others, making the resolution as complex as possible, but without the accompanying tension or suspense found in a thriller.

The author’s efforts at creating a coastal atmosphere are less convincing than his character portrayals. Parts of the dialogue are very good but for the most part it is inconsistent and often heavy handed.

It is equally hard to miss the point when the author positions a hero with everything to lose by going against political and personal pressure to discover the truth. What is unexpected though is the solution and for that Abbott deserves kudos.

--Thea Davis