Restitution

by: Lee Vance

Published by: Knopf/Random House

Reviewed by Peg Brantley

Peter Tyler has a high-powered Wall Street career. He’s ambitious. A real guy’s guy. Married to his college sweetheart. His life looks solid. Ordered. Easy.

On the surface.

But there are cracks—weak places in his character and his history. As his marriage struggles, he finds himself increasingly attracted to the sister of his best friend, Andrei. A one-night stand with her leaves him conflicted, but before he can sort it out, his wife is murdered in their home and he’s suspect number one. When it’s discovered that a package sent by Andrei is the only thing missing from the murder scene, Peter believes Andrei is the key.

Only Andrei is missing.

In order to prove his innocence and find his wife’s killer, Peter goes underground. Bitter cops, greed, vengeance, ruthless pillars of society, and the Russian mob all conspire to put obstacles in Peter’s way as he fights to save his own life and find the truth.

First novel? Yes. An amazing first novel. The pace is relentless, the plot serpentine, and the writing tight. Vance hints at the rewrites and efforts he made to bring a winner to the market. They paid off. Restitution is fabulous, and one of my top reads for 2007.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended first novel. Hope he is writing the next one right now!