Winter Massey is a U.S. Marshal.  Typically, his jobs are arresting and transporting federal criminals.  His closest friend, Greg, an agent in WITSEC (witness protection), has requested Winter for the guard detail his team is working.

The team is guarding Dylan Devlin, who’s waiting to testify, and his wife Sean.  Dylan is a hired hit man with twelve confirmed kills to his name.  Dylan was caught when his car was hit by teenagers running a red light.  Unfortunately for Dylan, he was finishing up a hit and had the murder weapon in the backseat and the dead bodies in the trunk.  He’s cut a deal to get witness protection in returning for testifying mob boss Sam Manelli.

Sam Manelli is the last of the “Godfather” style mobsters.  He’s grooming his protégé and nephew Johnny Russo to take over the business.  In his career, Sam’s never had a criminal charge make it to trial.  The best way for a mob boss to avoid trial is if the witness is dead.  Sam charges Johnny with seeing that Dylan doesn’t make it to the courthouse alive.

Sean Devlin didn’t know that her husband is a hit man.  She only found out during their protection in a safe house.  The contract hit on Dylan includes Sean.  When ex-military men attack Sean and Winter, they go on the run.  Now Winter finds himself not only in extreme danger but also at odds with bosses.

Inside Out is the first in a trilogy featuring Winter Massey.  The second and third books are being released close together in July and September 2005. This is a smart plan to keep readers’ interest.

Miller has created a hero the reader cares about.  Three years ago Winter’s wife was killed and his son Rush was blinded in a plane crash.  As the “good guy,” Winter wants to do the right thing in his job despite the pressure of office politics.  His struggle balancing life between his son and his job makes Winter more than the stereotypical one-dimensional government agent do-gooder.

It’s a little hard to believe that Sean didn’t suspect something was odd with her husband.  How did she not have any idea that her husband is morally bankrupt?  The reason given seems simplified.  Fortunately, Sean’s lack of knowledge in her husband’s murder career is not important to the overall story and a pretty small hurdle to get over.

Inside Out is, as they say in the movies, “rated R for violence.” With bullets flying and blood flowing it’s not for the squeamish.  The roller coaster action kicks off from page one and lasts to the very end giving Inside Out a strong recommendation.

--Terry Lawrence