February 1, 2020
In Swinson's third thriller, following The Black Market (2018), featuring Misty, a Virginia Beach pharmacy worker caught up in illegal drug dealings and the DEA, her determined protagonist learns firsthand about corruption and survival. She is definitely feeling remorse for the choices that landed her in prison, even though the murder she is charged with was committed in self-defense. She is attacked by associates of her outside enemies, and is subjected to assaults and abuse from medical staff who are conducting experiments on inmates. Between grueling interludes in solitary and in spite of the fact that everyone is living in fear, Misty is able to find a few allies, and she vows to help the other women inside if she is able to get out. Graphic descriptions of the horrors she endures vividly reveal her desperation and will to survive. Swinson, whose popularity is steadily growing, makes Misty a sympathetic character in an impossible situation, and the high suspense and theme of hope will keep readers reading and wondering how seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)