by Scott Lynch
First published 1997
Liam can barely pay his bills. The former soldier scrapes by until a rich man walks into his life with a proposition that sounds like salvation. Take the money, do the work, no questions asked. Liam says yes. The assignment looks straightforward at first, but warning signs multiply fast. Behind the scenes, an extremist organization pulls strings and moves pieces on a board Liam never knew existed. His wealthy employer has been lying from the start. Liam realizes he's become a tool in someone else's war. Bodies start dropping. Each decision Liam makes raises the stakes and narrows his options. He faces an impossible choice between the cash he desperately needs and the values he fought to defend. Between staying alive and standing up for what matters. The answer will force him to confront what he truly believes about honor, right and wrong, and what price he's willing to pay for both.
Genres: adventure, contemporary, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Atlantic Provinces, Canada
Content warnings: violence