Opening with the doomed captain of a Great Lakes ship a century and a half ago, this modern tale picks up with college student and reticent scribe, Jesse Carlton. Recruited by history professor and NSA station chief Lee Tondar, this ailing academic reveals that a Weapon of Mass Destruction is being developed within the depths of a major American city. If measures aren't soon undertaken, its citizens are certain to perish.

Interwoven throughout is the appearance of the captain's ghost in the guise of spectral agent Kriel. As the tense hours count down, the professor and his ghoulish operative must contend with the combined forces of a renegade U.S. Intelligence figure, rampant anti-government militants, and a mysterious assassin.

With assistance from a female security chieftain and a young encryption analyst, they persist.

Meanwhile, ranking officials sit on the fence chasing shadows, as millions of lives hang in the balance.

"The characters are at the heart of 'Abbot Lane' by Jim Layeux. Full of action, heart and enough twists to keep you turning the pages, it's as thought-provoking as it is entertaining."

READER VIEWS

Jim Layeux is a singer-songwriter with several releases under his belt. Jim's story-oriented songs were cast in the folk tradition. This naturally led to the short-story format which he enjoys immensely and eventually to the penning of Abbot Lane, his first novel.