Dan Lazaro lobbies for big oil in DC but lives in the Texas Hill Country. His firm funnels money to a senator to defeat a methane bill, as he is seduced by the senator’s aide and a flash flood washes away his home along with his wife and daughter. Guilt brings on aquaphobia. He tries to keep working but becomes convinced his work made the flood worse, that he has been promoting greed over the public good. His brother-in-law introduces him to eco-activists, who exploit his grief and new understanding of climate science to convince him to join in what he thinks is a plan to hang a banner from a logging bridge, but the mission is really to blow it up. Eco, the group’s charismatic leader, is killed and his beautiful Romanian partner Mia falls into the river. Dan jumps into save her, curing his phobia. Back in DC Dan comes up with a plan to turn over documents to expose the payment for methane votes. He carries the material to NYC and hands off through Mia to his young associate, who runs the FBI in circles and delivers the materials to The Times. Dan and Mia retreat to a safe house as the scandal hits the press. But Dan hears they have finally found his daughter’s body and Mia accompanies him to the memorial in Texas, after which, neither having a jobs or family, they head on a road trip west to connect with comrades, pausing to spray paint on a billboard “Eco Lives."
Tragedy tears Daniel’s world apart when the Guadalupe river floods and rips through his family home stealing away his wife Bree and daughter Annabelle to a watery death. Remorse, guilt, and sorrow traumatizes Daniel so deeply he can barely look at a glass of water without being haunted by the ghosts of his actions. Reeling from these events, he seeks psychiatric help while awakening to the humanitarian efforts of Anthro, a subversive environmental protection group. Anthro challenges the established order of the corrupt oil business Daniel had so faithfully served. Led by Eco and Verde, their discreet clandestine activities permeate Daniel’s consciousness, opening his eyes to the suffering his actions caused to his family, and the entire planet. His soul-searching journey is slow and methodical as he realizes he has already lost his world.
He tries to earn his way into Anthro through small tasks he must diligently fulfill. Working through the chaos of giving up his life and income, his actions threaten those who mentored him yet he realizes there is no going back. Ried exposes the harsh reality of sexist and misogynistic mentalities, the looming threat of global warming, and the formidable power of lobbyists, attorneys, and unscrupulous politicians. Against this persuasively disheartening backdrop, Two Degrees combines suspense, environmental activism, and personal redemption. Daniel’s challenge captivates the reader, prompting reflection on the real-world implications of our choices, leaving no doubt that the ongoing battle to preserve our planet for future generations is in our hands.
Takeaway: Searing thriller of an attorney, big oil, and the planet’s climate tipping point.
Comparable Titles: Ryan Steck’s Fields of Fire, Feargus O’Connor Greenwood’s 180 Degrees.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
