Cherry Beach Express
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A police detective is accused of murder in this novel that "delivers on all levels: action, courtroom drama . . . and a show-stopping climax" (The Hamilton Spectator).
Until recently, Steve Nastos was a respected Toronto detective, part of the sexual assault unit. Now he's in custody—accused of killing his young daughter's dentist after learning of the man's unspeakable crimes against children.
Freed on bail, he has one hope: to track down the actual killer, in a town where laws are seen more as guidelines and law enforcement agents adhere to their own moral relativism. Handicapped by a recovering alcoholic lawyer, a rogue cop, and a two-faced judge, Nastos has the cards stacked against him. Then his estranged but still beloved wife inadvertently becomes involved in the case, and the stakes become even higher.
He has to protect his family—but first he has to save himself . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Each of the characters in Cain's herky-jerky debut about the Toronto justice system is tarnished. When Det. Steve Nastos of the Sexual Assault Unit is arrested for the murder of Dr. Irons, the dentist who molested Nastos's daughter, chief prosecutor Jeff Scott and Det.-Sgt. Dave Koche conspire to make sure Nastos is convicted. Defense attorney Kevin Carscadden reluctantly takes the case only because he needs the money. Nastiest of all is James North, ex-cop, drug user, and thug hired by Koche to harass and intimidate Nastos's wife and Carscadden, among others. Nastos struggles to remain out of jail long enough to clear himself, while Koche and Scott work to get his bail revoked. By relying heavily on coincidences and one-dimensional characters, Cain who's worked for the last 18 years in the Ontario emergency services as a paramedic, firefighter, and police officer undercuts his unsparing portrayal of corruption.
