The First 48
By Tim Green

      As a former football player, author Tim Green used to throw himself around the field at breakneck speed. In The First 48 Green spins a story at the same out of control pace that keeps readers guessing and turning the pages with reckless abandon.

     When Washington Post reporter Jane Redmon disappears after investigating a corrupt senator, her father Tom Redmon is pushed into action. Despite battling his own demons of alcohol and failure, Redmon knows that he is the one who must locate his daughter, because of both his history with the senator and his need to prove his worth as a father. Redmon is not only racing against time – he’s racing against his past.

     Green unravels his story in tight, sharp chapters, with an authentic voice that clearly demonstrates his understanding of the ins and outs of Washington D.C. The action moves at a frenetic speed and drives the plot like a locomotive out of control. The title refers to the time period in which missing persons cases are solved and the countdown of those hours is what pushes the book forward.

     At times, some of the dialogue and some of the relationships seem a bit thin. Moreover, the turnaround that Tom Redmon does from a down on his luck degenerate to action hero stretches the limits of credibility. Nevertheless, Green does an excellent job of fleshing out the feelings that Redmon has for his daughter and the reader can empathize with a father acting out of love for his daughter.

      The First 48 is an exciting thriller with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy most every reader and Green has done a commendable job of putting together a top notch read.