Nick Mason was four years into a 25-year prison term in Terre Haute, Indiana, when he met Darius Cole, a prominent gang leader in maximum security for two life terms. Subsequent meetings with Cole eventually led to Nick agreeing to a 20-year "contract" with the criminal. From behind bars with connections on the outside, Cole is able to get Nick's conviction overturned and his record expunged.

Now free after serving only five years, Nick is picked up at the prison gates and driven to Chicago where he's provided a swanky home, a female roommate, a car, a job, new clothes, excess funds and a cell phone. Nick's orders are that whenever that cell phone rings, he is to do exactly as instructed by the caller -- no questions asked. For the next 20 years, Nick's life belongs to Cole. He has to to follow every abhorrent order he is given until he can figure some way to get out.

Throughout his life, Nick has always followed a set of personal rules. They never failed him until he started ignoring them. To deal with this nightmare, Nick has to start including some new rules, especially when he realizes the observant and determined Detective Frank Sandoval is shadowing him.

Acclaimed mystery writer, Steve Hamilton has again reached electrifying heights with THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON. I have enjoyed reading his immensely popular Alex McKnight crime thriller series, so I was looking forward to this new novel, especially after Hamilton left his previous publisher over the release of this book. I can definitely say THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON exceeded my expectations. With an intensely suspenseful plot and brilliantly developed characters, Hamilton's commanding writing style grabbed me from the first page and kept me spellbound throughout. Nick Mason is a truly unique protagonist with many flaws, but his redeeming qualities, especially his love for his young daughter, make him a man I can cheer for as he tries to make things right and even the score. Obviously, this will take some time over subsequent books. The cliffhanger of THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON, though simplistic, was still enticing enough to make me eager to read the next installment to find out what new challenges Nick must face.