Identity: Lost
Pascal Marco

Oceanview Publishing
June 14, 2011 / ISBN 978-1608090150
Mystery /Thriller
Amazon

Reviewed by Dennis Collins

In nineteen seventy-five, twelve year old James Overstreet witnesses the murder of an old man in a south side Chicago Park. The eighty-five year old man is brutally beaten to death by “Pick,” the leader of the Rangers, a black Chicago street gang. There are six gang members present and young James knows them all. City Hall is demanding a quick resolution to this heinous crime and when the twelve year old steps forward as an eyewitness, it looks like an open and shut case. But, in their haste for a conviction, the police department overlooks important details and mandatory procedures. The result is a nightmare trial that ends in acquittal because of technicalities. Young James Overstreet, as well as his entire family, are now vulnerable; at the mercy of Pick and his gang. The Overstreet family are given new identities, placed in the witness protection program and moved to Arizona.

In two thousand-five, Arizona’s “most ruthless” prosecutor is a man named Stan Kobe. He’s a man who works closely with police investigators to be sure that all of the rules are followed and all loopholes closed. His thoroughness is evidenced in his conviction record. But there are demons haunting this seemingly fearless crusader. Stan’s inability to share the nightmares of his youth with those closest to him make for uncomfortable and awkward situations in his social world.

And then two men suspected of running guns to Mexican drug cartels are arrested on a nearby Indian reservation. The names of the two suspects are quite familiar to Stan Kobe; they’re members of Picks infamous Rangers and were both participants in the murder that Stan witnessed as a twelve year old, back when his name was James Overstreet.

This is the powerful debut novel of Pascal Marco. His writing style is exciting and his characters vivid. Hopefully, we will see more from him.