Book Review: ‘Renegade: A Novel’ By Nancy Allen

After writing a couple of books with a guy named James Patterson, author Nancy Allen has launched a new series, with a great lead character in Kate Stone. She works for the Manhatten DA’s office as an assistant DA. She is prosecuting a big case against a high powered man named Max James, who’s accused of sexual assualt of a masseuse. The case really never should have went to court and Kate knew it was a long shot. Kate thinks the judge was corrupt and James walked free. Kate got into with him outside the courtroom and punched him and it went viral. Kate is forced to go to anger management classes to keep her job. After the class a man named Steven invites her to a meeting that is made up of people wronged by the system who take justice into their own hands. They decide to take down James and Kate is front and center. Kate is also investigating the suicide death ofher father (she doesn’t believe he killed himself), who was set to testify in a big case. And Kate also has to deal with her over-bearing mother, who likes to control her life as well as her brother Leos. Kate gets in over her head and soon finds herself in danger when she asks one too many questions. But Kate is tough and won’t back down. It leads to a less then stellar climax but leaves the door open with questions not answered for future novels in the series. Kate is a strong woman and the supporting characters are a unique, interesting group, who when flushed out more, will help the series flush out.

You can pick up Renegade in stores on Tuesday, March 22nd from Grand Central.