Having read two of Kevin Powers’ previous novels, I have to admit I may have been a bit biased when I started reading his new one. I was prepared to be devastated, heartbroken and emotionally flattened, just as I have been by Powers before. Fortunately, whilst also hard-hitting and intense, A Line in the Sand is a more traditional story of good guys versus bad guys. A crime is committed on an American beach, and the journey (a sometimes uncomfortable, occasionally bloody, completely and utterly gripping journey) begins.

After losing his wife and child, former Iraqi interpreter Arman Bajalan has been given sanctuary in Virginia. He has a job at a motel, his own apartment, the ocean to swim in and, most importantly, a sense of security. His discovery of a body early one morning changes everything. Not only are the police suspicious of him, but his involvement in the investigation exposes him to the men who have been hunting him since he and his family witnessed a massacre perpetrated by American mercenaries abroad. Soon detective Catherine Wheel, her new partner, a struggling journalist and anyone else unfortunate enough to cross Arman’s path, are all swept up in a race against time, money and power.

The author is ex-military and his background makes this novel terrifyingly believable. All of his books describe the horror of war, but it is his exploration of how those left behind deal with the grief, the guilt and the sorrow that is so moving. He is also a poet, and his writing reflects his love of language, even as he makes you question morality, revenge, humanity, national security and greed. At times this story will fill you with an intense sense of dread. It is disturbing, sad, and thought-provoking. It is also action-packed and a true thriller. I loved it and will look forward to whatever Powers comes up with next.