The Accused by Owen Mullen is the fourth book in the Charlie Cameron, P.I. series. I've read them all so I feel safe in saying that this is the best one to date (and the others weren't bad, either).

Charlie Cameron is the best in the business at finding missing persons because he's obsessive, like a dog with a bone. This time out the people aren't so much missing as unknown. A man is released from prison after serving fifteen years for a murder he claims he didn't commit. That's all well and good but almost immediately following his release one of the original witnesses turns up dead with all evidence pointing at him. He's on the run and wants Charlie to help him out. Find out who framed him fifteen years ago and you find out who's setting him up now.

At the same time Charlie's frequent nemesis, notorious crime boss Sean Rafferty, is doing his best to recreate himself as a legitimate businessman... at least on the surface. In reality Rafferty is every bit as crooked as he ever was, and now his trophy wife has decided it's time to save herself and her young child. Mrs. Rafferty wants to disappear but she knows she'll need help. She goes to the one man who has ever gotten the better of Rafferty and lived to tell the tale - P. I. Charlie Cameron.

In the space of 48-hours Charlie has been offered two impossible cases that a wiser man would walk away from. His right-hand man, the savvy and streetwise Patrick Logue, sums it up rather well when he says, "What've you gotten us into this time, Charlie?"

This is a page-turner from start to finish. This time out the two main storylines are fairly distinct from each other, running parallel without a lot of overlap between them as the story gets rolling. The plot unfolds with unexpected twists that make perfect sense in hindsight and some expected turns that just add to the experience. I can't wait for the next one!

You don't have to have read the others in the series to read this one, it does fine as a standalone, but there might be a few spoilers referenced from earlier books.

There is strong language, adult content, and violence. Not for young or sensitive readers.

***Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me a free digital copy of this title.

A tense, disturbing and utterly captivating read from an author who is clearly in the big leagues.

Charlie Cameron I approached by the ex girlfriend of a long time convict just released. She says he is innocent, but his desire for vengeance against his accusers might just put him back inside.

At the same time, evil thug Sean Rafferty is about to seal a deal with a foreign drug kingpin, which puts a strain on his marriage. His wife also approaches Charlie to help her escape.

The interplay of these characters puts Charlie in an impossible position, and as people start dying he begins to question the trustworthiness of even those closest to him.

Unputdownable.