cover image The Last Minute

The Last Minute

Jeff Abbott. Grand Central, $24.99 (480p) ISBN 978-0-446-57520-1

In Thriller Award–finalist Abbott’s exciting if tortuous sequel to Adrenaline (2010), CIA agent Sam Capra continues to search for his infant son, Daniel, held by the cartel of evil known as Novem Soles (Nine Suns). At the behest of the cartel, Sam must kill Chinese graduate student and computer hacker Jin Ming, who holds secrets that might destroy Novem Soles. Meanwhile, the cartel snatches Taylor, the baby daughter of computer expert Leonie, and blackmails Leonie into helping Sam locate Ming. With their children’s lives at stake, the two will do anything to save Taylor and Daniel. Fights, flights, betrayals, and shifting alliances all play out against the constant threat to the children as a much battered Sam seeks an end game that will give him back his life and his son. A closing twist that violates fair play will annoy some readers. 5-city author tour. Agent: Peter Ginsberg, Curtis Brown. (July)