Part of Isaac Bell, book 12
First published 2021
Detective Isaac Bell saves a U.S. Senator from assassination, but the rescue only marks the beginning of his troubles. His wife often jokes that Bell finds himself in the wrong place at the right time, and this incident proves her point. Bell suspects the failed killing connects to something far more sinister than a simple political hit. The senator champions the Panama Canal construction, a project that has made powerful enemies. Among them lurks the Red Vipers, a Panamanian insurgency determined to halt the canal's completion. With millions at stake and two nations watching, Bell travels to Panama seeking answers. A devastating explosion rocks the construction site, confirming his worst fears. Someone with deep pockets backs these saboteurs, and they plan to strike again. Bell must identify the true puppet masters before their next attack succeeds in destroying one of the world's greatest engineering achievements.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, wrong-place-right-time
Setting: Panama
Period: 20th-century
400 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons