From the author Jeffery Deaver calls âsmart, speedy, and stylish,â this Boston-based thriller was the basis for the film The Town and features an Iraq war veteran who gets involved with dangerous, big-time drug dealers.
Neal Maven returns to Boston from his tour in Iraq only to discover that the country he vowed to protect has little use for him now. The men and women who remained Stateside are years ahead of him both personally and professionally, which embitters him and pushes him toward his breaking point.
And then he meets Brad Royce. Royce is everything Maven wants to be: a fellow vet, charismatic, and confident, principled, wealthy, and with a beautiful woman on his arm. Not just any beautiful woman, but Danielle Vettiâthe most stunning girl from Mavenâs high school. Literally, the girl of his dreams.
Royce offers Maven a much-needed job, and Maven soon finds himself a part of Royceâs team of âsugar bandits,â a group of fellow veterans who use their military skills to intercept major drug deals, taking the dirty money while destroying the productâa get-rich scheme with a clear moral imperative. Though exceedingly dangerous and certainly illegal, the efforts of these modern-day Robin Hoods provide Maven with the adrenaline charge heâs craved since his decommission. Besides, Maven canât resist the chance to be in Danielleâs orbit once again.
Suddenly, Mavenâs life is better than he ever thought possible: a soldier in a civilianâs world, he is once again able to do something he excels at and rediscovers the camaraderie heâs sorely lacked since his return. He can get into any club, eat at any restaurant, be with any woman he wantsâexcept, of course, his dream girl. Itâs almost too good to be true. In fact, it is too good to be true when Maven learns that nothing is as it seems, but heâs in too deep and can see no way outâŠ
