Fear and Loathing

At the start of Norman’s absorbing, disturbing seventh Sam Becket thriller (after 2012’s Eclipse), Gary Burton and his Chinese-American wife are entertaining another couple on their Miami Beach patio facing the Intracoastal Waterway when four armed men step off a boat and interrupt the party. The intruders tie up the Burtons and their guests, place them in the garage, and stand by as the victims slowly die of carbon monoxide poisoning. A note left at the scene addressed specifically to Becket, an African-American detective married to a white woman, promises more slayings. Becket and partner Al Martinez dive into the bizarre case with few leads. As the body count increases, so does the threat against Becket—including a separate danger for adopted daughter Cathy, blissfully pursuing her dream job in France. Becket finds himself struggling to keep perspective and protect his loved ones from harm. Tight prose combined with well-drawn characters and skillfully evoked locales ensures a satisfying, high-pressure ride. [em](Oct.) [/em]