2019-04-12
In this fourth thriller in a series, a pilot with the gift of invisible flight investigates the links between a suspicious death, a dangerous fugitive, and a powerful lobbyist.
A lot has happened in the six months since 33-year-old Will Stewart, a charter pilot for Wisconsin's Essex County Air Services, miraculously survived an unexplained accident that crashed his small plane. Even more miraculously, the mishap mysteriously left Will with the ability to turn invisible and fly. Currently grounded while waiting for medical clearance, he's been perfecting his self-powered flight and developing gadgets to help with aim and propulsion. He's also used his abilities to make some amazing rescues and has helped his wife, Essex County police detective Andrea "Andy" Stewart, solve several crimes. Three weeks ago, someone tried to kill her sister Lydia, believing that she was Andy. The suspect is Mannis Rahn, who's connected with the previous book's case, which involved a high-society robbery and lobbyists for private prisons. Now it's Christmas, and Lydia's lobbyist husband, Davis Bates, whom she's divorcing, has been found dead. It could be suicide—but more likely, it's murder. Andy and Will investigate in Washington, D.C., and follow up leads connected to Davis' lobbying firm, Rahn, and a mysterious redheaded woman who may have a crucial piece of evidence. Will faces several tests of character that challenge him to use his abilities for good, including a situation involving a possible school shooter and another involving an immensely powerful player in American politics.
As in this series' three previous books, Seaborne (Divisible Man: The Second Ghost, 2018, etc.), a former flight instructor and charter pilot, proves that he's a natural-born storyteller, serving up an exciting, well-written thriller. He makes even minor moments in the story memorable with his sharp, evocative prose, as when he describes a parking lot in which "Evenly-spaced lamps all around us cast down cones of lighted mist—creating a magical forest of transparent Christmas trees." Every reader will be able to relate to the fantasy of being able to fly, and Seaborne keeps that idea fresh by allowing Will to find new and different ways to master his ability. Will's smart, humane, and humorous narrative voice is appealing, as is his sincere appreciation for Andy—not just for her considerable beauty, but also for her dedication and intelligence. As before, Seaborne does a fine job of making side characters and locales believable. It's deeply gratifying to see Will deliver righteous justice to some very bad people; a nice scene on top of a municipal water tower will have readers wishing that they could step into Will's shoes. Readers of the series so far will enjoy seeing Will's horizons grow as he considers the use of his powers, which seem to have effects beyond invisibility and flight. He also expresses reasonable fears that his powers could put him at risk from others who may want to use them for either humanitarian or selfish purposes.
An intensely satisfying thriller—another winner from Seaborne.
