Jake Schiff is a successful lawyer in New York with an upscale house, wife, and teenage son. His wife, Dana, is a social worker trying to make a difference. Her latest client, John Gates, is a homeless drug-addict with a tragic backstory. When John begins to harass Dana thinking that she is his wife, Jake tries to solve the problem. But since John hasn’t technically committed a crime, law enforcement doesn’t pursue the issue. So a local handyman, Philip Cardi, offers to help Jake to take matters into his own hands. But when things get out of control, Jake is the one on the hook. And if he can’t straighten things out, his whole life will fall apart. The Intruder by Peter Blauner is a suspense novel that explores how the lives of three men cross paths, and what happens when trust is misplaced in the wrong one.
Book
Jake grew up in a low-income neighborhood, but worked his way to the Manhattan elite lifestyle. Jake has made a name for himself in the legal world. But he doesn’t quite fit in with his fellow partners at his firm. And when a crazy homeless man insisting that Dana and his son Alex are his family and not Jake’s, it becomes a serious problem. John lost his young daughter in a tragic accident, which also destroyed his marriage. And while there are various shelters and services in New York, they aren’t 100% safe, nor are they very successful. John has reached rock bottom but struggles with reality on-and-off, leading him to behave erratically and dangerously.
Given Jake’s profession, he tries to file a complaint with the police, which goes nowhere. And because Dana tried to step around the chain of command to help him, there might be little that the Schiffs could do to get John to leave them alone. So in comes Philip, who suggests that he and his cousin Ronnie go with Jake to “have a word” with John. What Jake doesn’t know is that Philip works for his Uncle Carmine, a mafia boss who has a tight grip on his nephew. And when the “meeting” occurs, someone ends up dead. Unfortunately, due to a chain of events of which Jake has no knowledge or control, he ends up being the primary suspect. From this point on, Jake fights to keep his reputation and family intact. It’s his word against Philip’s. And in a crazy turn of events, the key to proving his innocence is in the least likely hands.
Review
I didn’t expect The Intruder to have the hold on me that it did. Blauner showcases his talent for leading readers to believe that the story will go a certain way, only to throw in a couple of plot twists that completely turn everything around. Through John, the author shows us how a series of tragic events can send anyone on a downward spiral. Through Jake, we see how far a man will go to protect his family, and how one mistake can cause a ripple effect with dreadful consequences. And with Philip, the author shows us how his inner turmoil directs his motivations. The main characters are multidimensional and authentic. I was invested in all their outcomes. And just when I thought everything was about to wrap up, Blauner throws another curveball for the last few pages, leading to a conclusion that readers won’t believe.
The Intruder is being re-released in a new hardcover edition on March 24.
