Well constructed characters and a lot of action carry the beginning of this story, but it simply disintegrates at the never-ending end. The willing suspension of disbelief which is essential for the success of a good fiction read becomes more and more difficult as the book progresses. Unexplained details (a character who is described as a "miracle worker" is a repeated deus ex machina whom the author inartfully uses to tie up loose plot ends, e.g.), impossible coincidences (an ex-con known to the protagonist just happens - out of the absolute ether - to have the drop dead connection to the bad guy) and unresolved plot lines (what happened to the social worker and the ex-wife? They simply disappeared!) sink this book. Deaver is a talent but it is not evident here. If this was a first novel, it would be tagged with a slew of "Thanks but no thanks" letters from any publishers to which it was sent. Too bad.