THE CONSULAR OFFICIAL

In this sixth installment of King’s thriller series, FBI Special Agent Pete Cortez delves into the knotty case of an abduction in Texas involving a Mexican diplomat.

This isn’t the first time Pepe Alonso has been kidnapped. As a junior official with the Mexican consulate in Houston and the son of a wealthy, powerful family, he isn’t exactly low-profile. When he goes missing on a Friday afternoon from outside a pharmacy, the case instantly becomes top priority for law enforcement. Cortez, a high-profile agent, initially believes that the abduction is just a ploy for ransom. However, as the FBI, local police, family members, and elected officials pass around scattered information about the case, it quickly becomes clear that this crime is unusual, and it soon spirals into shocking violence. It turns out that some people plan to use the crime for their own personal or political gain. Cortez works with and against those who are supposed to be on his side as he navigates complicated border dynamics that influence his detective work. But although Cortez is the protagonist, he sometimes feels a bit distant due to King’s frequent shifts in perspective. The tale introduces numerous characters who somehow tie into the crime, directly or not, including several cops, consular officials, cartel members, and a militialike group called the Sabine Copperheads. Occasional glimpses into Alonso’s viewpoint add emotional appeal (“Pepe Alonso was beginning to doubt that anyone was coming to rescue him”), but a more intimate focus on Cortez might have allowed readers to forge a stronger connection to the material. Nevertheless, the story presents an intriguing mystery that clearly introduces its various twists and theories, and realistic, easy-to-follow dialogue keeps the plot consistently moving forward. Even if readers struggle to keep track of who’s who, mystery fans will find plenty of interest in this tale of crime, power, and the pursuit of justice.

An intriguing mystery novel that explores crime near the border and the implications of greed.