As a young girl, Caitlin Strong witnessed the death of Rev. Max Arno, a corrupt, self-ordained cultist leader, during a gunfight with her Texas Ranger father. Also present was Arno's son, Malcolm.

Now, 20 years later, Malcolm Arno is not only reclaiming his father's legacy, but exceeding it and without the religious connotations. His movement, Patriot Sun, advocates violence to fight government control and reclaim personal rights. Through the years, he's built a huge self-contained fortress in Texas, amassing an arsenal of weapons, as well as an inordinate amount of money. And the current chaotic mood of the country is highly conducive to his plans for waging a national war. He just needs a few more things to fall in place, and one nosy Texas Ranger to leave him alone.

Following her return from investigating a drug-smuggling operation along the Canadian border, Caitlin is contacted by double-amputee Army Sgt. Mark Serles, who fears for his life. He claims soldiers and civilian contractors were murdered in Iraq for reprehensible reasons. But when she follows up with Mark later, he's been moved to another hospital and claims the drugs he was taking before made him delusional. Caitlin is convinced the young man has been pressured to change his story, but why exactly and can she ever prove it.

If all this were not enough to deal with, Caitlin learns that Dylan, the 16-year-old son of her lover, Cort Wesley Masters, has been kidnapped by a Mexican sex-slave ring connected to a Hell's Angels chapter operating out of Canada. Once the slavers realize who they have in custody, they send Dylan to Arno's compound. Desperate to find and rescue his son, Cort Wesley eventually discovers Dylan's location and realizes he's being used as bait in Arno's vendetta against Caitlin. True gunfighters at heart, Caitlin and Cort Wesley devise a plan that culminates in an explosion (literally!) of violence. With the help of past and present acquaintances, both good and bad, Caitlin eventually finds justice for all those involved.

This third outing for Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong (following STRONG ENOUGH TO DIE and STRONG JUSTICE) finds her fighting the bad guys in three countries from Canada to Mexico and points in between. Jon Land writes with authority and expertise in this exceptional crime thriller series. The settings, as well as the characters, are believable and true-to-life, pulling readers in from the first page and never letting up on the action until the final page is turned. Another not-to-be-missed thriller by this talented author!