"Be careful what you wish for."

The above quote could well be the theme statement for James
Grippando's newest thriller, LAST TO DIE. Miami criminal attorney
Jack Swyteck is asked to represent his best friend's older brother,
Tatum Knight, a former hit man. Swyteck was successful in getting
Theo Knight released from death row, serving time for a murder he
did not commit.

A beautiful woman named Sally Fenning, who is worth millions of
dollars, has tried to hire Tatum to kill her. He refuses her offer,
but she soon turns up dead. Tatum is called to the dead woman's
attorney's office for a meeting but wants to have his own attorney
present. Swyteck accompanies him to a reading of Sally's will. The
reading of this document is a life-altering event for those
involved.

One of six persons named in the will is going to inherit $46
million. The catch is that the recipient will be the last one of
them still living. The unlikely beneficiaries include a former
husband, divorce lawyer, female crime reporter, assistant district
attorney, Tatum, and a mysterious no-show at the reading named Alan
Sirap. Throughout, Grippando develops the cast with believable
motives and personalities. Each has a history with the deceased
woman that indicates more reason for her hatred than the benefit of
her generosity.

Swyteck's involvement takes him from Miami to Africa, where he
meets Sally's sister Rene, a medical doctor as beautiful as her
dead sibling. His near-romantic entanglements become complicated
when he dates a law assistant and mother of his "little brother"
Nate. The friendship is threatened when Kelsey divulges information
from Swyteck's investigation to determine the guilt or innocence of
his client in Sally's death.

One by one, the possible beneficiaries are murdered. Violence,
bloodshed and death haunt the remaining ones enough to form
alliances to protect themselves and their claims to the
inheritance. When clues hint that Tatum is not whitewashed from
blame, Swyteck is determined to find the remaining Alan
Sirap.

LAST TO DIE is a clever rendering of motives, crimes both past and
present, and a shocking resolution to the question of who will
receive the millions. Courtroom drama is alive with wit and humor
in the scenes when bumbling Gerry Colletti seeks a restraining
order against Tatum. Grippando depicts Theo with humor as well and
involves his audience with his characters as they wheel and deal
their paths to conclusion. Swyteck is as real as the odd assortment
he cohabits with on the page.

LAST TO DIE will have a place with most memorable thrillers. I
highly recommend it for one who enjoys a great mystery.