‘Illegal’ a bookstore discovery

  One of the great rewards in being hooked on books is discovering a talented author who is new to you. This can happen while exploring library shelves or finding a book by chance.
  Paul Levine’s thriller “Illegal” was a bookstore discovery. I found the summary on the dust jacket intriguing and quickly purchased the book. I wasn’t disappointed.
  The plot may sound corny, but it isn’t. Jimmy “Royal” Payne is a cynical lawyer who is hurting inside and nearly insane because of the death of his son in an auto accident. His police detective ex-wife, who would like to see him get over his grief, tries to get Payne to turn himself in after he is accused of stealing $5,000 when he is forced to take part in a sting to catch a crooked judge.
  Payne’s problems multiply. His ex cuts him some slack when he befriends a 12-year-old Mexican immigrant boy who became separated from his mother in their perilous journey across the border. At this point the book could have become maudlin. Payne obviously becomes a father figure for Tino Perez, who has become victimized by a vicious “Coyote,” as the people who smuggle illegals across the border are called. Tino became separated from his mother during the crossing and is desperately trying to find her.
  Levine takes the reader deep inside a world of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Payne’s journey to Mexicali to pick up the trail of Tino’s mother, Marisol.
  Payne eventually tangles with Simeon Rutledge, who runs his California agricultural empire like a feudal lord. Rutledge gives lip service to immigrant rights, but exploits his workers and guards his dark secrets. The final showdown is powerful. This is the type of book that will keep the reader up late.
  I discovered Levine has written 12 other novels. This should keep me busy for a while.