Trouble Shooter

U.S. Marshal Tim Rackley, nicknamed "Troubleshooter" because he's usually in trouble and he shoots a lot of people, is back on the job after breaking up a mind-control cult in his second Hurwitz outing, The Program . Biker gang the Laughing Sinners kills a couple of Rackley's friends while busting them out of U.S. marshall custody, then go on a rampage and massacre 37 of their rivals in preparation for a drug deal involving a powerful new form of liquid heroin called "Allah's Tears." Readers will feel a lurch of unease early on when informed that Rackley's deputy sheriff wife, Dray, is eight month's pregnant. Rackley is still suffering from the loss (in The Kill Clause ) of his daughter, Ginny, so when Dray tangles with the gang he comes close to losing it and screwing up the case. Hurwitz is a rock-solid writer, researcher and plotter, and readers will find him in top form putting Rackley through his procedural paces as he slowly closes in on and shuts down the spectacularly evil Laughing Sinners. Agent, Matthew Guma at Inkwell Management . (Sept. 1)