London initially disavows David, leaving him on his own and necessitating his "breaking out" of FBI headquarters only to be captured by an unidentified group of individuals who want David to help them kill an FBI agent. David feigns acquiescence but ultimately helps the FBI at the appropriate time which endears him to the FBI but makes him a target of the other agency.

After solving the initial mystery, David learns that the victims on the train were actually mercenaries, all of whom were transferred from their duty of protecting a hospital involved with organ transplantation.

Andrew Grant's debut novel has multiple twists and is in some respects a series of continuing vignettes (think Jack Bauer and 24) with David Trevellyan as the main character. The initial part of each chapter provides background information about David or his training in the Royal Navy which relates to what follows in the book.

Even is a compelling, suspenseful (and extremely violent) debut, with, alas, one major weakness: the ending does not provide enough resolution of the story. While it seems obvious that a sequel is in the offing, Even could definitely have used more closure. Fair or not, Andrew Grant will be compared to his older brother and he does not yet have his brother's feel for an American setting and, more importantly, a element of likability in his main character.

--Jerry Solot