by Don Winslow
Tim Kearney sits in prison knowing he's marked for death. He killed a Hell's Angel, and the gangs want revenge. Then the DEA offers him a way out. They need him to pose as Bobby Z, a famous drug smuggler who recently died. The plan seems simple: trade fake Bobby Z to a Mexican cartel boss in exchange for a captured DEA agent. Kearney accepts the deal and finds himself at a luxury compound in the desert. There he meets Elizabeth, Bobby Z's former girlfriend, and her young son. For a brief moment, Kearney enjoys the good life by the pool. But violence erupts, and suddenly the three of them are running for their lives. Drug lords, bikers, Native Americans, and police all join the chase across the Southwest. Kearney must keep up his Bobby Z act while protecting Elizabeth and the boy. His survival depends on fooling people who knew the real Bobby Z better than anyone.
Genres: adventure, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, mistaken-identity
Setting: Mexico, Southwest, United States
Period: Contemporary
Paperback · Belfond
Content warnings: violence