The Damage

November 5, 2012
Linskey's intense, riveting sequel to his 2011 debut, The Drop, finds Newcastle crime lord David Blake living in Thailand with Sarah Mahoney, daughter of a rival Blake has murdered. Since Sarah is unaware of his involvement in her father's demise, their life is relatively tranquil. But vexing problems in Newcastle, where Blake runs such enterprises as drugs, prostitution, and money laundering, force him to return home: a major shipment of heroin from Turkey is missing; a top member in his outfit is facing hard jail time; and rival gangs are encroaching on his territory. Even more frightening, someone is making serious efforts to kill him. Blake uses his finely tuned baser instincts to try to save his organization and his own life. Along the way, he manages to rid himself of some enemies in uniquely appalling waysâand to cling to some innate sense of decency. Agent: Phil Patterson, Marjacq Literary.