This series starter, spun out of D’Amico’s Neil Baggio books, centers on Marie Perdita, the new identity of a CIA officer who, in pursuit of justice, was forced into the most difficult decision of her life and now is on a new quest to stamp out corruption in New Orleans. The mission gives her an opportunity to put a branch of the Gaines family’s criminal network out of commission, but surviving will require all of her skills and training. Used to working alone, she finally receives support from Christian, a highly trained former military man, and Neil Baggio, D’Amico’s other series hero, who’s also facing fallout from Marie’s prior mission. Marie quickly ingratiates herself into the local crime syndicate, where a local politician is running drugs and holding a fellow politician’s daughter hostage to ensure his compliance.

Marie is a confident character, who breezily narrates a story of frequent action, with little concern for the danger she continually faces. While she does occasionally struggle with the consequences of hard choices, the book’s tone is often amusing, even light-hearted, an approach that brings the reader into the vibrant world of New Orleans. That’s true even as the stakes get higher: Even though Marie wants to take down the family, who are flooding the streets with the drug Requiem (familiar from the Baggio series), rescuing the young woman increasingly becomes a priority. Complicating matters further is Marie’s increasing attraction to Diego, a member of the syndicate, and a string of betrayals that will leave her scrambling to stay alive.

D’Amico also focuses on the shoe-leather of going undercover, reminding the reader that, along with the exciting showdowns, beating a crime family comes with spreadsheets and research. Dialogue scenes tend to run long, and readers will have a lengthy list of characters and plot twists to keep up with, but Marie proves a superb guide, companion, and hero.

Takeaway: A confident young woman uses her elite skill set to take down a local crime ring in the Big Easy.

Great for fans of: David Baldacci’s Atlee Pine series, Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg’s Fox and O’Hare series .

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-