A blast of international intrigue, including an Edgar Award-nominated short story featuring Thomas Laker, from the New York Times -bestselling author.

After a terrorist attack in Estonia, Homeland Security agent Thomas Laker is sent to diffuse the situation. He's told to take his diplomacy skills but leave his gun. Bad advice. Failing to stop a second bombing, Laker is set up to take the fall for the botched operation. Instead, he goes rogue, and on the run...

Back in Washington, DC, Laker's partner, cryptographer Ava North, finds herself embroiled in the murder of a fellow NSA employee. He was killed outside of a casino owned by a successful Cuban American developer. Told by her boss not to interfere, she quits her job and starts her own investigation...

Unable to communicate with each other, Laker and Ava find themselves on opposites sides of the globe. And should their paths cross again, the results could ignite World War III.

Praise for the writing of John Lutz:

"Lutz offers up a heart-pounding roller coaster of a tale." -Jeffery Deaver

"Lutz knows how to make you shiver." -Harlan Coben

"A major talent." -John Lescroart

"A dazzling tour de force." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Among the best." - The San Diego U-T