The Blue Zone: A Novel

Benjamin Raab has been a highly sucessful jeweler in New York. He has a booming business in the diamond and gold trade. He is arrested by the FBI for laundering money for a Columbian drug cartel. After he is released from jail he comes home to his family. That night hteir home is riddled with bullets by potential assassins. Raab decides to place himself and his family in the custody of WITSEC(witness protection program). Kate the oldest Raab child decides to continue living her life in New York. The Raab family is moved to the West coast and given a new address and a new last name. Kate becomes nervous about seeing suspicious and strange people. In the meantime Kate's father Ben dissapears. This triggers some unusual events. Kate is now in mortal danger. Kate also learns some deep secrets about her family and herself. There are many twists and turns before the book comes to an end. Do not miss this book. I also found Andrew Gross to be a very good author. I hope he keeps the good novels coming.

This was a wonderfully paced book. It called to be read in one sitting and was much better, in my opinion than any of the more recent Patterson books have been.

Family secrets, skeletons in the closet, would you really want to know, if the truth would destroy everything? Such questions had never entered Kate Raab's mind. Until she got the call from her Mom, that would devastate her life. Those words "your father has been arrested, come quickly," made no sense. There had to be a mistake. Money laundering, connections to the Mercado Family, her father didn't know anyone from Colombia. Or, did he? With a steady flow of action, suspense, and strong family emotion, The Blue Zone follows Kate as she discovers her life has been a lie. Refusing to accompany her Mother, sister and brother, into the protective custody of the WITSEC Program, Kate's communications with her family are limited and vague. After a year, she has married, and is trying to establish some semblance of a normal life. When her best friend is shot exiting the lab where they have worked together for several years. Kate is convinced the bullet was meant for her. Is she paranoid, is she being watched? If so, by whom and what do they want from her? When agents return asking questions about her father, she learns he is missing. Their case handler has been tortured and killed. The implications were hanging in the air like smog over LA on a windless day. They thought her father was a murderer. Kate was convinced everyone was lying to her. She had to find her family and learn the truth. The strange photo, the necklace her Mother told her held secrets, what does it all mean? The questions would remain between Mother and Daughter for eternity. Silenced by the blast of a gun. Once again, the reader is thrust into a state of uncertainty filled with nervous anticipation as the conclusion nears. The husband, the old man in the park, the agents that surround her, or her Father, can anyone be trusted? The mind swirls with possibilities. Keeping the reader guessing, wanting to know more, reading just one more chapter. Agents refer to those missing from within the Witness Protection Program, as being in the Blue Zone. Kate describes it this way, somewhere between love and hate, right and wrong, revenge and forgiveness......in this way, we all live within our own "Blue Zone." Andrew Gross doesn't open the door to the concept of "The Blue Zone" - He literally kicks it down! Having collaborated with James Patterson expectations were high for his solo debut. Readers will not be disappointed. Gross weaves his plot lines together and maintains a high octane ride like a seasoned pro. I look forward to reading his novels for years to come. In a crowded genre, with many well known and loved authors, Andrew Gross has cemented his place among the best! "Su deber es pagado aqui, Amigo. Your duty here is done." As is mine. Reviewing this title was a real pleasure! I recommend it heartily and without hesitation! Happy Reading!

I would guess that coat tailing with James Patterson has taught Andrew Gross alot. In fact this novel is one of the best written ones I've read this year. Along with its intricate plotting, it was both very emotional and highly suspenseful. With the many little surprises it provided, this was definitely one that was hard to put down. Highly recommended!

This book blew me away. The cliche "you can't put it down" is so overdone it means nothing anymore. But trust me, you canNOT put this book down. Unlike so many "thrillers", this one is intelligent and satisfying from begining to end...and the end is not a let down...for once. There simply are no weak points where the reader frustratingly screams "this could have been great but it degenerated into the absurd". I think this author, free from Patterson's shackles,is going to be the next great master of this genre, If this book is indicative of his ability, we are all fortunate.