Unnerving thriller calls back to Jonestown

This week I picked up D.F. Bailey’s “Second Life.” It is the fourth in Bailey’s Will Finch series, so I didn’t have much backstory.

In November 1978, life imploded at Jonestown, Guyana. Few survived the mass suicide ordered by Jim Jones. The two children who did were given new identities and lives. Sadly, no one knew about PTSD or the damage that trauma can do.

Many years later, journalist Will Finch is covering a debate on climate change between environmentalist Martin Fast and famous conservative Christian Kali Rood. As Finch heads back to his cubby at the online magazine “eXpress,” he spots escaped murderer Toby Squire.

Over a year ago, Finch and his significant other, Eve Noon, were swept up in a gruesome blackmail scheme where Eve nearly died. Surgery left the almost-7-foot man brain damaged, but he managed to escape.

Finch calls the police and confronts Squire. When the dust clears, Squire has killed himself. Within hours they learn that the same gun Squire used to kill himself had just been used to kill Martin Fast in a convenience store robbery.

Case closed. But Finch knows that there is more to it. When Finch saw Squire, he had been holding a suit jacket. He dropped it when confronted. Finch takes it home where Eve finds a Twitter address hidden in the jacket’s lining.

That leads them to a verse in Revelations and a list of names. It is a hit list that includes Martin Fast and Finch, along with 22 religious leaders, environmental activists and journalists.

Finch is sure that Rood is somehow connected, but he has absolutely no proof. With Eve’s help and the eXpress’s resources he learns Rood’s true identity and gets some insights into her life after Jonestown. It appears that Rood always had a personality that drew others to her but no real friends. After college she assumed her current name and formed her own quasi-religious foundation. It didn’t take her long to grow it into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

After interviewing her, Finch can sense something dark and frightening in her. Her comments actually unnerve him. He and Eve have managed to compile a substantial file on Rood and her foundation, so they decide it is time to turn it over to the FBI. They are on their way to do just that when they are abducted by Rood’s henchmen.

They are taken to a hidden estate where Rood makes him a strange offer. She calls it the Barabbas deal. If he agrees to write a series of favorable articles about Rood’s beliefs within one month, Eve will be freed. If not, Eve will die. He’ll do anything to save Eve and agrees.

Before they can say more, the FBI arrives. Most of Rood’s followers commit suicide, while she and two others take Eve and escape into the woods. Once freed, Finch follows them along a narrow path until a fallen tree blocks their way. Finch manages to disable one of the men, but Rood and her companion hold Eve on the edge of the cliff.

Things become surreal when Rood nods and the man steps off the cliff without a word. He tries to convince Rood to let Eve go, but she challenges Finch to carefully examine his own life, then calmly steps off the cliff.

Finch is stunned to realize that he nearly decided to join Rood and jump to his death, too. Now he and Eve must work toward healing. On the day he submits the final promised articles, Finch gets a note stating he has fulfilled his part of the deal, but he can’t help wondering if Rood’s remaining followers will honor their end. Only time will tell.

Sometimes we need to be reminded that instead of worrying about life, we should spend our time living. Your public library can help. Drop by and check it out.