When Tom Clone was in his fourth year of medical school at the University of Colorado, his former girlfriend Ivy Campbell was murdered. Park County Detectives Prehost and Bonnett immediately focused their investigation on Clone. He was convicted and spent 13 years on death row until his release based on newly discovered DNA evidence. Consistently throughout the book, Stephen White keeps changing the way the reader feels about Clone.

In the opening chapter Clone is being released from prison and, instead of being met by his attorney, he is surprised to meet Kelda James, the FBI agent who initiated the action which had ultimately set him free.

Readers met Kelda in the prologue, when as a rookie agent she stumbled onto a high profile kidnap victim, rescued her and killed a man. The years have not been kind to her as she now suffers from tortuous pain in her legs. Pain that she and neurologists are beginning to believe is psychological. Kelda is by far the most complicated character in this novel, as she exhibits a serenely beautiful façade in her daily life where she consistently shows herself to be loyal and compassionate. In reality, she is troubled and driven by rage and guilt among other emotions.

The arresting detectives are unhappy about Clone’s release, and let him know early that he will be watched carefully. Kelda refers Clone to Dr. Gregory for therapy. The referral is based upon her own patient relationship with him. A new death occurs, and an old death in Hawaii is revealed in a therapy session. Now the process of revelation starts.

White does an incredibly strong job of defining characters by their weaknesses and uncertainties. The scenes shift seamlessly; the dialogue is crisp and always in voice, and the plot moves along with the varied pacing which demonstrates the skill of a good writer.

One can always rely upon Stephen White for original creative plots with a twist, and it has never been truer than in this book. His writing is powerful, his characters realistic and the philosophical discussions with his best friend Boulder Detective Purdy provide a forum for discussions about the nature of justice in the United States - including but not limited to, the capital punishment issue. A definite recommend.

--Thea Davis