The Contract: A John Q Mystery

Early in Gulvin’s gripping sequel to 2017’s The Long Count, indefatigable Texas Ranger John Quarrie confronts two men who just robbed a gun store in Deacon’s Mount, Tex., and fatally shoots one of them. Despite the FBI’s decision to investigate whether the killing was justified, Quarrie pursues the case, intuiting that more was involved than a simple robbery. Through skillful detective work, he links the robbery to a man found dead of a brain aneurism in a local hotel, where the two robbers also stayed. Next to the dead man was an empty bottle of Proloid, a drug filled by a New Orleans pharmacy. Once Quarrie determines that the man’s death was no accident, he decides to travel to New Orleans in search of answers. There, he uncovers a conspiracy to assassinate some unidentified person in just a few days. With little time to spare to prevent the murder, he must first figure out the intended victim’s identity. Colorful characters, including corrupt lawyers and lawmen, enliven this action-packed mystery. Readers will enjoy the wild ride. (Oct.)