When his brother Peter turns up dead with a strong suspicion of suicide, law student, Jack Mullen decides that it is time to figure out what really happened. His brother would never have committed suicide, particularly since the body looks like Peter was beaten to death.

On the night in question, Peter had been hired to work as a valet at a huge Memorial Day bash on the Long Island estate of the extremely wealthy and influential Barry Neubauer and family.

Jack brings int he help of his grandfather, a private eye with who he starts to build a relationship, and a small group of locals to try and prove that Peter was in fact murdered and that there is a major cover-up with a surprising and disturbing sexual twist.

Jack and his cohorts are forced to take extreme measures when the official inquest turns up a confirmation that Peter died either by suicide or accident. While this brings the novel into the area of outlandishness, it is exciting and interesting. I know it left me cheering along as Jack stuck it to those who had caused him and his family (among others) so much harm.

I could feel de Jong's influence a bit on this one as some sections had rambling characters and a feeling of just running on, which is rare for Patterson in his short and concise sentences and chapters. It did not make the book one that I would rather have passed up, but at times, it left me wanting to scream, "All right, already! I get it!"