"Two months after the suspicious and much-publicized death of his father on theisland of Martha's Vineyard, it is taking all of Adam Blaine's character to suturethe deep wounds - both within his family and himself - torn open by the tragedy.Moreover, as the court inquest into Benjamin Blaine's death continues, it istaking all of Adam's cunning to protect those closest to him from figures who stillsuspect that Adam's father was murdered by one of his kin.But the sternest test of all is Adam's proximity to Carla Pacelli - his late father'smistress; and a woman who, ..."

Richard North Patterson is the author of fifteen novels - including Balance of Power, The Race and Eclipse - eight of which were consecutive international bestsellers. Formerly a trial lawyer, Patterson was the SEC's liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor, and he has also served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups. Richard lives in San Francisco with his partner, Dr Nancy Clair.