A.E.S O’Neill’s novel is a romantic thriller that takes place over seven days in a near-future New Jersey weakened by repeated COVID pandemics. Alby is working a construction job in Iraq. Increasingly, he spends time outside the Green Zone with a Muslim family, developing relationships with co-worker Ahmed and his sister Aliyah. When the family is murdered by American Marines looking to frame them for industrial sabotage, Alby is whisked into witness-protection by corporate handlers seeking to put a positive spin on events. On returning to the U.S., Alby develops rules to stay safe. He works low-key jobs with his nephew and as a subcontractor hiring workers for undesirable positions. For one job, Alby hires a trio of lower-tier criminal opportunists to strip asbestos out of a bank. They subsequently steal a signed, blank check from an unlocked safe, without knowing the mob runs the bank.
On discovering the check has been stolen, The Owners hire a hitman to retrieve it. With terrorists and a hitman hunting him, Alby finds himself flaunting his own rules when he meets dance-instructor Ginger and is swept into a whirlwind courtship that further complicates his knotty existence.
O’Neill’s novel is an intriguing crime story packed with shady characters, double-dealing and violence. It’s also a romantic drama about a man struggling to adjust to civilian life, PTSD and the possibility of true love. While these conflicting narrative strands seem incompatible, O’Neill confidently weaves them into a complementary whole. Alby and Ginger’s romance is brimming with witty dialogue, comedic interludes and conflict. As readers worry about their well-being, the dramatic tension becomes impactful. Alby is a believable, psychologically troubled hero, struggling to adjust to the “small life” prescribed to him. And Ginger provides the perfect antidote to Alby’s moodiness. A decent gallery of supporting characters help round out the narrative. However, Alby and Ginger are the novel’s driving force, and thankfully for thriller fans, they are well worth spending time with.
KIRKUS: BOOK REVIEW:
In this debut thriller set during a pandemic, a New Jersey contractor finds romance while dodging a lethal mobster henchman. For his contract work at a bank, Aloysius “Alby” O’Brien anticipates payment under the table. That’s perfectly fine, but since he’d rather not do asbestos removal, he farms the work out to three strangers. One of those hires does something with unexpected consequences—he swipes a signed cashier’s check that a dim bank executive left in the open. The theft itself isn’t surprising; what’s shocking is that the bank’s owners are mobsters. They want this mess cleared up in a week and send meticulous problem-solver Jagger, who’s armed with a fake FBI badge and homicidal intentions. Alby hunts for the thief, too, as the mob’s involvement has already complicated the quiet life he struggles to maintain.
Years ago, while working in Baghdad, he was unwittingly entangled in an Islamic State group attack. United States government types spun the story so that Alby was the hero who thwarted the assault. This unquestionably put him on the terrorists’ hit list, forcing him to retreat to America and keep as low a profile as possible. But his present situation isn’t all bad, with charming diner waitress/Zumba instructor Ginger occupying his mind. While she shares with Alby a love of classic Hollywood musicals, Jagger tracks down the contract employees, leaving lingering threats and the occasional body in his wake. It’s not long before he’s eyeing Alby, an intriguing man with an oddly murky history. But now that Alby is dating Ginger, he’s not the only one in potential danger.
O’Neill infuses his series opener with a perpetual sense of unease. Jagger, for example, is a constant menacing presence, and readers know his ferocious search puts him closer and closer to Alby. In the same vein, the mobsters’ deadline ignites the story’s momentum, as each new chapter designates the day and time like a countdown. Even romantic interludes with Alby and Ginger hardly slow the narrative down. Their dialogue scenes pop, and their dates include such winsome bits as Alby’s mostly futile attempts at dancing.
The titular pandemic enhances this story—it creates a brooding atmosphere rather than serving as the plot’s driving force. In this case, the near-future world endures Covid-22. Alby protects himself with the most elaborate mask available, while Jagger, who’s getting his hands dirty for the mob, makes sure to sanitize when mingling with the unvaccinated. (1) Despite the romantic couple’s appeal, Jagger is the standout; it’s not his violent acts that prove the most terrifying but rather his painstaking dedication to his grim assignment. (2) His actions often showcase O’Neill’s stark, concise prose: “He saw an empty garage with weeds starting to poke through the black parking lot tar; an abandoned business, two large bay doors with narrow glass windows near the top. Jagger got out and peered through the windows. The place was half-lit from the parking lot, so all he could see was a mess; trash and oil stains were the main inhabitants.” While this book offers a solid wrap-up, the author has two more installments in the works. A rousing crime tale with an indelible cast and a sharp, edgy environment.
