Shakedown

by: Joel Goldman

Published by: Pinnacle Books

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE

Jack Davis is an FBI Special Agent in Kansas City. His wife is divorcing him and has already moved most of the furniture out of their house. Their only remaining child, Wendy, is out on her own and dating Colby, an FBI agent who is undercover – something Jack finds very risky. And now someone is systematically killing the crack dealers that Colby is involved with – and there are few clues.

In the middle of one crime scene, Jack suddenly gets the shakes and loses sight of a possible suspect. He is put on administrative leave and knows he’s one step from his career being over – unless he can solve the crime. But officially he’s off the case and without the resources that he is used to having.

He knows the suspects, he has questions, but no answers, and he has help from some unlikely friends, including a Kansas City Police detective and a psychologist who specializes in jury consulting and micro expressions – tiny fleeting facial movements that most people can’t see, but that enable her to read people like a book.

Goldman does a wonderful job of painting characters that you can care about – including some of the people that end up being villains. His descriptions of Kansas City will make you feel as though you lived there. The ethical and psychological dilemmas he has given Jack Davis, including those surrounding the abduction and death of his son some years earlier, will have you feeling the same emotions of helplessness, anger, commitment, and hope that Jack does.

Armchair Interviews says: Book really touches emotions.