Rough Justice: A Carl Burns Thriller

Carl Burns, the hero of this engrossing series launch from Smith (Shoot the Dog), returns after being released from prison to Rose City, Ontario, his hometown, where he hopes to improve his relationship with his grown daughter, Kate, whom he hasn’t been in touch with for 12 years. Carl’s crime was arson of a pig farm in which a fireman perished—a crime committed in Carl’s zeal to prevent the creation of more pig farms that would be detrimental to the community and its farmers. Now Carl has joined Kate’s favorite aunt and others to fight a corporate proposal to establish a local landfill. Meanwhile, Kate, along with three other women, is embroiled in the prosecution of former mayor Joseph Sanderson III for raping the four of them when they were vulnerable teenagers, 16 or more years before. Carl and Kate are forced to confront a media influenced by corrupt government officials who are willing to take any means to stop them. The two story lines build to a satisfying ending. Agent: Jennifer Barclay, Jennifer Barclay Books (Greece). (Feb.)