First published 2025
Jack Swyteck takes on what appears to be a straightforward custody case when a woman flees Tehran for Miami with a young girl, only to face kidnapping charges from the child's father. The criminal defense attorney must prove that returning the girl to Iran would endanger her life. The case becomes complicated when Jack discovers his client is actually the child's aunt, not her mother. The biological mother may have died at the hands of Iran's morality police. Jack investigates the father's possible involvement in his wife's death while facing pressure from an unexpected source. His wife Andie Henning, an FBI agent, receives orders from her superiors to convince Jack to abandon the case. As Jack digs deeper into the legal maneuvering, he uncovers a conspiracy that reaches from Miami courtrooms to Washington DC power brokers. The case forces Jack and Andie onto opposing sides, threatening their marriage. They must work through layers of deception while protecting the child's welfare and their own relationship.
Genres: mystery, crime, action, legal-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: Iran, Miami, Washington DC
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: kidnapping