The Bane of the Curious

The author who brought you The Fragility of Contrition and The Restoration of Josef Mundt has returned with a suspense thriller that pits man against his nature.

Lon Calhoun has come to realize that he has inherited the character traits of callousness and insensitivity that brought wealth and prominence to his father. When an alien entity takes up residence in Lon, the benefits obtained by harboring the creature provide him the means to live true to his nature. Lon's newfound power allows him to overlook the price that must be paid: the death of innocent people.

Retired General Leslie Tritt is an honorable, straightforward man who holds to the principles of accountability, self-control and discipline. Familiar with the alien entity, Tritt must find a way to eliminate it.

When the government intervenes and wants to learn more about the mysterious creature, Lon must trust Tritt to help him navigate through their possible treachery. Lon and Tritt's mutual distrust of one another soon turns to an awkward friendship. Lon soon discovers that the only person he can trust is Tritt.

But the price for the entity's survival has risen to a level that even Lon cannot tolerate. Now the men must work together to eliminate their mutual foe. Their plan will most certainly mean the death of one or both of them. But can Tritt count on Lon to go against his nature and sacrifice himself for others? The price of failure is high: the death of thousands.