In the waning days of WWII, an American major who processes the remains of soldiers for burial in the US is being chased down a mountain, falls into a snow crevice, and dies. In his hands, a journal.
Current day. Ashley Regan and Sam Connors are hiking the mountains on the Germany-Austria border; an annual event commemorating their first trip together. Ashley is in the lead and spots a cave, wanders deep inside and uncovers the corpse. Yes, she should tell the cops, but the body is clutching a book. Obviously important to the individual. First, grab the journal. Then tell the authorities.
It's in German, so a friend translates. The information sets Ashley on a trail of cemeteries digging up caskets of servicemen so mutilated by war that an open casket funeral was not possible.
Jake Pendelton and his partner Francesca Catanzaro work one of those ubiquitous 'government contractors'. They are called for a private audience with President Rudd. America's first woman president who is riding high in the polls, a shoo-in for a 2nd term, and set to host a summit that should stabilize a wounded worldwide economy. She has a few problems she needs handled quietly and quickly by someone who would guarantee discretion- Jack and Francesca. President Rudd has evidence that one of the most senior Senators is a child predator. Someone is trying to blackmail her. And graves of black soldiers are being desecrated; she needs to know if this is a hate crime and solved before the press gets hold of the story.
And why does the Chief of Staff have an assassin on speed dial? The investigation jumps from Arlington to Charleston to the Pensacola area, and Butler, TN. Graves are dug up, caskets opened, but the remains are undisturbed.
Barrett explores what should the President do if clues about her ancestry become public when she didn't even know about the details until this investigation concludes. Thought the premise was interesting, the plot was entertaining and the Pendelton character was believable. So, while I liked it, don't expect any awards to come its way. As West Coast Don says, this would be a good airplane read. Or on a cruise. Or a long car ride.
ECD
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