She—Larkin Conner Barkley, young, lonely, rich, and self-destructive—rules the LA night in her Aston Martin. Now, because of an accident, she's the sole witness in a federal investigation. Because she's a witness, someone wants her dead.

Enter Joe Pike—former Marine, former cop, former mercenary, black belt in five martial arts disciplines, combat trained and combat ready—the only person with the requisite skills to protect Larkin from the assassins hired to kill her. But Pike's promise to keep Larkin safe won't be an easy one to keep; headstrong Larkin's rebellious nature might get them both killed.

At a second safe house, a second attempt on Larkin's life within 24 hours convinces Pike that someone on the inside is selling out the girl. But who? To buy time and get the answers he needs to end the madness, Joe and Larkin drop off the radar, much to the consternation of U.S. Marshals and Larkin's millionaire father.

With the help of his friend and partner, private investigator Elvis Cole, Joe takes the fight to the enemy. Suddenly, the hunters become the hunted as Pike risks his life and reputation to untangle a convoluted web of lies and deception.

Brutal, heart-stopping action or breathtaking suspense at every turn of a page proves yet again that Crais is a true master of the genre. It comes as no surprise that during the week this review was written and posted on the Web, The Watchman appeared on The New York Times bestseller list.

Robert Crais, a former scriptwriter for such notable television shows as Hill Street Blues, Cagney and Lacey, and Miami Vice, has authored more than a dozen books, among them Free Fall, Demolition Angel, and The Two Minute Rule—a New York Times bestseller. Crais, recipient of the Ross Macdonald Literary Award for 2006, is a Louisiana native currently living in the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California with his wife, cats, and thousands of books.

Visit Robert's Web site at www.robertcrais.com/

Review by Phil Hanson, for FSB Associates