“It was a good day to be free of prison. The mechanical whoosh and greasy smell of the opening bus doors greeted Aloysius Archer, as he breathed free air for the first time in a while.” The year was 1949 and he was just released from Carderock Prison and he is on his way to Poca City on parole.
The small town is complicated and dangerous even for a man just out of prison and who served in the war. His first night in town at a local bar he is hired to collect a debt seemingly a simple job. The $5,000 debt is owed to Hank Pittleman, a man that seems to own the town. Lucas Tuttle owes the money has no intention of paying up which could be a real problem for Archer who got an advance on his fee before starting the job.
Archer explains his new job to his parole officer, Miss Crabtee, who just seems to take it in stride but also who is tough and will be watching him closely.
When a murder takes place right under Archer's nose the police, who know he is an ex-convict, suspect him and he has no choice but to track down the killer.
Baldacci is a master storyteller who weaves plots that twist and turn, and you don’t see what is coming until it happens. Another great book.
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