Jack Carpenter is an ex-cop who cares deeply about finding lost children. It's his specialty in his new business -- well, actually, finding anyone is. But it's the children who make him ache and lose sleep and persevere until he finds them.

Jack is surprised when a death-row inmate contacts him and requests his services. But that inmate's grandson, Sampson, has disappeared and the prisoner has received a threatening note: Stop talking to the FBI or Sampson will die.

The local police have settled on a suspect in the disappearance, the boy's father Jed Grimes. They're so certain it's him that they are not looking for further evidence, and Jack doesn't think they're right. He shares his information and begins digging into the case in his usual dogged, determined way.

In looking at Sampson's disappearance, Jack digs back into the murderous crimes that put the boy's grandfather away. Someone is worried about the inmate spilling too much to the FBI, so there must be a connection.

The convoluted trail will lead Jack in search of a killer who is determined to leave the past uncovered -- even if that means killing in the present. Unfortunately, Jack is on his own, fighting against the police and even the FBI, to solve a case before Sampson dies.

An interesting read, packed with action and suspense. Jack Carpenter is an intriguing character, but he's the only person who really stands out in this book. It's definitely about the action and mystery. A good read.