Thorn Mystery / Squall Line / James W. Hall

When strong air currents meet and clash to produce explosions of high wind and rain the weather forecasters describe the natural drama as ‘squall lines’ . . . and they happen, intensely, in the tropical Florida Keys. In Squall Line the violent clashes are between people. The drama is human and destructive. Living on his boat in the Keys, Thorn, a survivor of tragedy, is trying to rebuild his life. But a chance encounter with his old friend Gaeton Richards, an undercover FBI agent, precipitates Thorn once again into violence and danger. Gaeton, troubled by aspects of his current case, talks it over with Thorn and tries unsuccessfully to hire him. So when Gaeton goes missing Thorn feels honour-bound to search for him. Aided by Gaeton’s sister Darcy, a weather forecaster on a local TV station, Thorn uncovers an ingenious scam run by a ruthless killer. But Thornalso becomes the target of a brutal young thug who is driven by a fantasy that the TV weather girl is his and his alone. As events converge the tensions finally explode into a chilling climax.