3 Review(s)

Jerry Barnes is a man with a troubled past. Once a key figure in the criminal underworld, he has spent years trying to escape his old life. The novel begins with Jerry working in a pawnshop, a symbol of the way his life has been "pawned" or put on hold by his past misdeeds. He lives in constant fear of being drawn back into crime by the powerful and corrupt Martin Kessler, who knows too much about Jerry’s former life.Jerry's life takes a turn when he meets Helen Marriott, a young woman who stumbles into the pawnshop looking for help. She is desperate, and her vulnerability awakens in Jerry a desire to protect her and perhaps, in doing so, redeem himself. Helen is connected to a web of crime and deceit that threatens to pull Jerry back into the life he is trying to escape.As the story unfolds, Jerry is faced with difficult choices. Martin Kessler tries to manipulate him into participating in a high-stakes criminal scheme, threatening to expose his past if he refuses. At the same time, Detective Kane, who has been keeping an eye on Jerry, offers him a deal: if Jerry helps bring down Kessler, Kane will ensure that his past is forgotten, and he will have a chance at a fresh start.