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Michael Pearson is an accomplished con artist working on his next mark. He has assumed the identity of an Army major working on a covert assignment at a Long Island base. Abigail Baxter is a widow who is still grieving the loss of her husband from a tragic helicopter accident. Michael introduces himself to Abigail as a prospective home buyer needing a realtor. Michael senses Abigail’s vulnerability and knows he can exploit that to his advantage in swindling her. Abigail is attracted to Michael, and soon, the pair begins an intense romance. Abigail’s passion is reawakened, and Michael worries that he’s in over his head. Michael decides to conclude his con and flee, but not before telling Abigail one additional lie. Unbeknownst to Michael, this will set off a chain of events that threaten the grift and his freedom.
Deception and the tangled webs that continue to spin from it are the heart of this mystery/romance. Michael Pearson is a charismatic rogue who manages to remain one step ahead of the authorities but may have made a fatal miscalculation in his latest scam. While Michael is a reprobate, he is deftly portrayed as a man of complexities in his motivation and occasional feelings of remorse. Abigail is the antithesis of the corrupt mind of Michael. She is trusting, loving, and genuine. While the narrative begins with the slow burn of the hustle, the story rapidly gains steam as Abigail begins to learn more about her beau and how things are not what they seem. The story becomes an edge-of-your-seat cat-and-mouse thriller that concludes with a brilliant climax.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review