Book Review: A Lethal Question by Mark Rubinstein

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Manhattan psychiatrist Bill Madrian finds his peaceful routine shattered when a patient by the name of Alex Bronzi asks him a question: “Hey Doc, ya wanna know who clipped Boris Levenko?”

Boris Levenki, a notorious crime boss, was recently executed. Alex, a thirty-year-old Albanian-American, resides with his parents. Despite being informed that Alex’s father is involved in the shipping business, Bill never considered that the term “shipping business” might be a cover for illicit activities until Alex raised the question.

Now, Bill finds himself in a dire predicament. The sanctity of doctor-patient confidentiality could not only jeopardize Bill’s career but also his safety. Despite not actively prompting Alex to discuss Boris Levenki, the damage is irreversible.

Bill now lives in constant fear – what if Alex’s family discovers his visits to a psychiatrist? What if they suspect Alex of divulging family secrets during these sessions? Bill’s worst fears materialize when Alex’s father learns that his wayward son has been discussing Boris Levenki with his therapist.

Bill’s nightmare begins in the digital age, where spying is as simple as online browsing. With a hacker’s expertise, the mafia can uncover every detail of his life, from social media to finances. Then, using a tracker, they can easily locate him. Bill is thrust into a perilous game where every move risks his survival.

Bill turns to his lawyer brother-in-law for aid, who introduces him to an anonymous figure called Rami. Rami paints a vivid, albeit grisly, picture of how the mafia might pursue Bill. Determined to evade their grasp, Bill resolves to go off the grid, disconnecting from the virtual and technological realms.

However, in a world where technology is intertwined with every aspect of daily life, achieving complete anonymity proves impossible. Like any other person, Bill is susceptible to unwitting mistakes that could jeopardize his newfound covert existence.

While the first half gripped me with suspense, the latter part felt somewhat repetitive and lacked the intense action of its predecessor. The chase scene lost its momentum as Bill’s paranoia intensified – or perhaps, his fears were justified, and he truly was being pursued. Every suspicious figure seemed like a potential mafia henchman, validating Bill’s suspicions.

Bill’s struggle to evade capture through tactics like using burner phones, cash transactions, and avoiding social media and emails added depth to his plight. However, this theme became somewhat repetitive in the latter half of the story, diminishing its impact on the overall narrative.

The ending of the story, despite the suspense built from the start, fell short of expectations. A captivating beginning warranted an equally thrilling conclusion, which unfortunately was lacking. The revelation of the anonymous figure’s identity and their role in the story was not surprising, especially at the end.

Overall, it was a decent read – riveting and engrossing. However, a more exciting finale would have elevated it to a five-star rating.

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I received an ARC from Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.