Breach of Trust

David Ellis

Feb 2011 · A Jason Kolarich Novel Book 2 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Former college football star and criminal defense attorney Jason Kolarich returns in this shocking thriller from the award-winning author of The Hidden Man.

Jason Kolarich has spent the past year struggling to recover from the horrific deaths of his wife and baby daughter.

On the night of their deaths, Kolarich was at the office, awaiting a call from a confidential informant named Ernesto Ramirez-a call that never came. Kolarich blames himself not only for the deaths of his wife and child, but for the informant's murder as well. He can't bring back his family, but he can find out who killed Ramirez and bring the killer to justice.

Unfortunately, Kolarich's guns-blazing approach to justice lands him smack in the middle of an FBI probe of a deeply corrupt governor and his cronies. To avoid jail, Kolarich must enter a world of wiretaps, double-dealing, and kickbacks, where he soon discovers that the murder of his informant was only the tip of the iceberg.

This breach of trust runs up to the highest levels of power, and exposing it may drag Kolarich into the fight of his life.

Ratings and reviews

Typical Ellis suspense featuring Klarich in another legal dilema after the death of his wife and child. The reader soon suspects the noose to tighten and Kolarich's will and determination to bring the guilty to justice. Good plot yet quite similar in many respect with the first Kolarich novel. Disappointing. J.P. Miller. Cambridge, MA

Jason Kolarich feels lucky that he was assigned to be second chair in the defense of Senator Hector Almundo. The Senator is alleged to have dealt with the Cannibals street gang. They shook down businessmen for contributions for the Senator's election campaign and split the proceeds. When one businessman refused to contribute, he was murdered. One night, Kolarich was waiting for a call from a confidential informant, Ernesto Ramirez. The call was important so Kolarich's wife took their new baby to her parent's home. In a double tragedy, Kolarich's family was killed when the car skidded off the road. Later, he learns that the reason that the call didn't come in is that the informant was murdered. After a period of mourning, Kolarich returns to work and is approached by Ramirez's widow, Essie. She wants him to find her husband's killer. Since Kolarich feels responsible for the man's murder and because he falso feels he was the cause of his wife and child's death, he accepts. He feels that if he can find the killer, somehow, he'll make up for his failure. As he goes headlong into the search for the killer, he attempts to ingratiate himself with the politicians and friends of Senator Almundo. However, his actions are caught by the FBI who are investigating political corruption. Since he can't prove that he was innocently associating with these people, Kolarich agrees to go undercover for the FBI. The investigation proceeds at two levels. Kolarich is attempting to help the FBI with the case of political corruption but he's also trying to find Ramirez's killer. Kolarich is a fine character who is just a man, not one of the powerful figures of many thrillers that have the ability to conquor many foes. He even gets beaten by a few thugs. However, he goes on with his goal and doesn't let anything stand in his way.

Shawnia Nike Blow

About the author

David Ellis is the author of seven novels, including Line of Vision for which he won the Edgar Award. An attorney from Chicago, he currently serves as Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and was recently appointed the Impeachment Prosecutor in the Blagojevich trial. Ellis lives in Springfield with his family.