cover image Kill and Be Killed

Kill and Be Killed

Louis Begley. Doubleday/Talese, $25.95 (288p) ISBN 978-0-385-54071-1

Begley’s intriguing follow-up to 2015’s Killer, Come Hither pits Jack Dana, a former Marine, against Texas billionaire Abner Brown, the villain who murdered Dana’s beloved uncle in the previous book. Now a successful novelist, Dana is living in Venice after a breakup with his lover, Kerry Black, but an attack on Dana and news of Kerry’s death send him back to New York City, where he receives further threats. From Kerry’s closest friend, lawyer Heidi Krohn, Dana learns that Kerry had damning evidence against Brown, and with Kerry dead, Brown thinks Dana may have the evidence. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues with Brown sending his people after Dana and those dear to him. Fortunately, Dana can turn to friends such as Scott Prentice of the CIA and former FBI agent Martin Sweeney in the fight against the seemingly invulnerable Brown. Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher should enjoy Jack Dana’s adventures. Agent: Georges Borchardt, George Borchardt Inc. (Apr.)