The Last Act: A Novel

Award-winning author Brad Parks delivers a tense novel of thrills, twists, and deceit that grabs you and won’t let go until the final, satisfying page.Tommy Jump is an out-of-work stage actor approached by the FBI with the role of a lifetime: Go undercover at a federal prison, impersonate a convicted felon, and befriend a fellow inmate, a disgraced banker named Mitchell Dupree who knows the location of documents that can be used to bring down a ruthless drug cartel. . . if only he’d tell the FBI where they are.The women in Tommy’s life, his fiancée and mother, tell him he’s crazy to even consider taking the part. The cartel has quickly risen to become the largest supplier of crystal meth in America. And it hasn’t done it by playing nice. Still, Tommy’s acting career has stalled, and the FBI is offering a minimum of $150,000 for a six-month gig—whether he gets the documents or not.Using a false name and backstory, Tommy enters the low-security prison and begins the process of befriending Dupree. But Tommy soon realizes he’s underestimated the enormity of his task and the terrifying reach of the cartel. The FBI isn’t the only one looking for the documents, and if Tommy doesn’t play his role to perfection, it just may be his last act.**
Praise

“A perfect piece of entertainment.”—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author“A superb, highly original thriller with a terrific premise. I loved it.”—Peter James, #1 international bestselling author“With The Last Act, Parks conjures meth, murder, and musical theater into a remarkable turn of crime fiction magic.”—Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author“This
novel packs on the suspenseful surprises and plot reversals that made
Parks a mainstay on the best-seller lists, but it’s not just gritty and
dark. With a lighter approach, Parks focuses on enduring characters and
sharp wordplay, perfect for those who like their thrillers witty rather
than bloody. Even if they aren’t fans of Broadway musicals, readers will
want to seek out this one.”—Library Journal (starred review)“Award-winning
author Brad Parks delivers a confident — and highly entertaining —
thriller that spins on believable characters and avoids clichés. It
works as a domestic drama that also delves into money laundering, the
drug cartel and prison. The Last Act again proves Parks’ mettle in high-concept standalone novels.” —South Florida Sun Sentinel“The Last Act is
rife with surprise…[with] smart, tough lead females who provide the
essential brains and grit that make happy endings possible… The unforced
element of surprise, which is also present and, in spades, works. There
are switchbacks and sudden side turnings. Not the least of these is a
pitch-perfect outcome.”—The Virginian-Pilot“With a story which made us angry, sad, and was too close to the realities that exist in our society today, The Last Act is definitely an entertaining commercial thriller which does not disappoint.” —Mystery Tribune“Riveting new thriller…it’s a perfect setup.” —The Big Thrill“The
setup is so patient and the logistics so matter-of-fact that even the
savviest readers will be caught in the story’s expertly laid traps
before they know what’s happening.”—Kirkus“A
Brad Parks novel offers two pleasures. One is watching a stunning talent
at work. The other—operating almost apart from the first—is getting
wrapped in the coils of a fiendishly clever thriller.”—Booklist More Praise for Brad Parks and His Novels“Parks has produced a gripping story, masterfully drawn.”—Oprah.com (Editor’s Pick) on Closer Than You Know“The
novel’s final pages are exciting, surprising, and deeply moving. How
moving? Its ending brought me to tears, and, where books are concerned,
such moments are rare. . . . [Say Nothing] carries his work to a new level.”  —The Washington Post    “[Say Nothing] grips the reader from the get-go and doesn’t let up until the final twist in a story that’s filled with surprises.”  —Associated Press    “[A] real gem . . . Closer Than You Know [is] full
of what makes a great novel great. Brilliant characters, as well as a
plot line that will rattle your nerves with every page.”   —The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)  
“A top-notch thriller . . . clever storytelling, pitch-perfect dialogue
. . . His latest work reaffirms his stature as an adroit and
accomplished author whose abilities shine brighter with each novel.” –Richmond Times-Dispatch on Closer Than You KnowAbout the AuthorInternational bestselling author Brad Parks is the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of crime fiction’s most prestigious prizes. A former reporter with The Washington Post and The Star-Ledger (Newark), he lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.