Breach of Trust

Jason Kolarich feels lucky that he was assigned to be second chair in the defense of Senator Hector Almundo. The Senator is alleged to have dealt with the Cannibals street gang. They shook down businessmen for contributions for the Senator's election campaign and split the proceeds. When one businessman refused to contribute, he was murdered. One night, Kolarich was waiting for a call from a confidential informant, Ernesto Ramirez. The call was important so Kolarich's wife took their new baby to her parent's home. In a double tragedy, Kolarich's family was killed when the car skidded off the road. Later, he learns that the reason that the call didn't come in is that the informant was murdered. After a period of mourning, Kolarich returns to work and is approached by Ramirez's widow, Essie. She wants him to find her husband's killer. Since Kolarich feels responsible for the man's murder and because he falso feels he was the cause of his wife and child's death, he accepts. He feels that if he can find the killer, somehow, he'll make up for his failure. As he goes headlong into the search for the killer, he attempts to ingratiate himself with the politicians and friends of Senator Almundo. However, his actions are caught by the FBI who are investigating political corruption. Since he can't prove that he was innocently associating with these people, Kolarich agrees to go undercover for the FBI. The investigation proceeds at two levels. Kolarich is attempting to help the FBI with the case of political corruption but he's also trying to find Ramirez's killer. Kolarich is a fine character who is just a man, not one of the powerful figures of many thrillers that have the ability to conquor many foes. He even gets beaten by a few thugs. However, he goes on with his goal and doesn't let anything stand in his way.

Typical Ellis suspense featuring Klarich in another legal dilema after the death of his wife and child. The reader soon suspects the noose to tighten and Kolarich's will and determination to bring the guilty to justice. Good plot yet quite similar in many respect with the first Kolarich novel. Disappointing. J.P. Miller. Cambridge, MA

great read!!!!