What critics and readers say

“O’Neill infuses his series opener with a perpetual sense of unease. Jagger, for example, is a constant menacing presence, and readers know his ferocious search puts him closer and closer to Alby. In the same vein, the mobsters’ deadline ignites the story’s momentum, as each new chapter designates the day and time like a countdown. Even romantic interludes with Alby and Ginger hardly slow the narrative down. Their dialogue scenes pop, and their dates include such winsome bits as Alby’s mostly futile attempts at dancing.

The titular pandemic enhances this story, it creates a brooding atmosphere rather than serving as the plot’s driving force. In this case, the near-future world endures Covid-22. Alby protects himself with the most elaborate mask available, while Jagger, who’s getting his hands dirty for the mob, makes sure to sanitize when mingling with the unvaccinated. Despite the romantic couple’s appeal, Jagger is the standout; it’s not his violent acts that prove the most terrifying but rather his painstaking dedication to his grim assignment. His actions often showcase O’Neill’s stark, concise prose: “He saw an empty garage with weeds starting to poke through the black parking lot tar; an abandoned business, two large bay doors with narrow glass windows near the top. Jagger got out and peered through the windows. The place was half-lit from the parking lot, so all he could see was a mess; trash and oil stains were the main inhabitants.”

O'Neill's novel is an intriguing crime story packed with shady characters, double-dealing and violence. It's also a romantic drama about a man struggling to adjust to civilian life, PTSD and the possibility of true love. While these conflicting narrative strands seem incompatible, O'Neill confidently weaves them into a complementary whole. Alby and Ginger's romance is brimming with witty dialogue, comedic interludes and conflict.

As readers worry about their wellbeing, the dramatic tension becomes impactful. Alby is a believable, psychologically troubled hero, struggling to adjust to the "small life" prescribed to him. And Ginger provides the perfect antidote to Alby's moodiness.

A decent gallery of supporting characters help round out the narrative. However, Alby and Ginger are the novel's driving force, and thankfully for thriller fans, they are well worth spending time with.

“…This was a truly gripping narrative. When I first read the prologue, I saw a story already, but pulling readers from an already difficult situation with historical accuracy that made me question which parts were real and which parts were fictionalized into a narrative that follows a small life turned large by this huge thriller of a case. The details, down to what each character was feeling at any given moment to, were superb in this novel. I appreciated the nuances in characters’ clothing, the backdrop that situations would occur in, and the little easter eggs that kept me interested in how this mob bank operated. I also appreciated the voice of each character, especially Alby and Ginger. There was a lot of narration of actions that made it easy to distinguish between who was talking or acting, even if there was dialogue tag or a stray pronoun. These distinct voices and actions in the characters also allowed for a great deal of character development, namely on Alby’s part, because of how consistent the core values and traits of these characters were.