David Rabin’s stunning debut crime thriller, In Danger of Judgment, releases on August 4th with Black Rose Writing, and I had the pleasure and privilege of reading an advanced copy.
Set in Chicago in the nineteen-eighties, this page-turner follows Detectives Marcelle DeSantis and Bernie Bernardelli as they race to get to the bottom of a string of drug-related murders, which they believe were perpetrated by two warring cartels. To their surprise, they learn that Robert Thornton, a man with a shady past as a mercenary in Southeast Asia, is muscling his way into the city’s drug trade, and he intends to kill whoever stands in his way. Assisting Marcelle and Bernie in their hunt for Thornton is John Shepard, Special Agent of the Internal Revenue Service, Narcotics-Related Financial Crimes unit.
Though Marcelle and Bernie suspect John hasn’t told them the entire truth about Thornton’s past, together they scramble to find and stop the man before more dead bodies appear. Unbeknownst to the detectives, another person holds a longstanding grudge against Thornton and also wants him dead. While trying to capture Thornton, Marcelle and Bernie risk their lives and get caught in the crosshairs.
The novel moves deftly from the sassy Marcelle, her partner (Bernie), the socially awkward John Shepard, “Professor” Thornton, and members of Chicago drug gangs in a breathtaking plot that left me compulsively turning pages. The prose is skillful and self-assured, and the dialogue and characters are realistic, well-drawn, and convincing. Marcelle’s feisty spirit contrasts beautifully with Bernie’s steady personality, and I enjoyed the brainstorming and interplay between the two, including the “learning moments” that Bernie shares with his younger partner.
A fascinating subplot involves Bernie’s attempt to befriend John Shepard and teach him basic social skills in advance of a date.
Fans of Barry Eisler, Stephen Hunter, and David Baldacci will enjoy Rabin’s fast-paced plot. Kudos to Mr. Rabin on the high quality of the prose, the thrilling plot with a twist and surprise ending, and the extensive research that went into this novel. I highly recommend it!