For the longest time, we have been warned not to judge a book by its cover. However, it was the cover of LOVE THE STRANGER that initially grabbed me. It depicts the famous 7 train and indicates that the book is a Queens mystery.

I grew up and spent the formative years of my life in Flushing, Queens --- the starting point of the 7 subway line, which traverses Queens County on the way to Manhattan. Attorney Ted Molloy comments on the first page that Queens, the most diverse county in the country and urban space on the planet, is not a melting pot but rather a kaleidoscope of colors, classes and ethnicities. This description, along with the enticing cover, had me sold, and I was firmly on board for the ride with Ted and his colleagues.

"LOVE THE STRANGER is constantly engaging, and it was so cathartic to find myself back on the streets of Queens from a literary standpoint. There is so much to enjoy here..."

Before Michael Sears became an award-winning author, he had a career in high finance, working for 20 years on Wall Street. He also possesses a knowledge and love of the streets of New York City, especially Queens. This unique borough sings like another character in this book, which is packed with plotlines involving both murder and corporate corruption. Ted uses his free time to assist his activist girlfriend, Kenzie Zielinski, in her various projects.

Currently, Kenzie is mounting constant protests against a mega-tower called “the Spike,” which is being planned for construction in the middle of Queens. This building not only will be a public eyesore and ruin the vibe that makes Queens a melting pot, it is being built by an organization that has a reputation for their greed. Additionally, Ted and Kenzie fully support the many immigrants whom they have assisted and befriended in their work. One of them is Mohammed, a recent Yemeni resident who has become their personal chauffer and a friend. When they learn that Mohammed has been getting dealt dirty by an immigration attorney who has been milking exorbitant amounts of cash from him without so much as a receipt, they jump to his aid.

Unfortunately, Kenzie’s attempt to confront the shady lawyer on behalf of Mohammed does not go well. Once she talks her way into his office, she finds him dead and his apparent killer fleeing the scene. Ted and his partner, Lester McKinley, now find themselves knee-deep in a struggle not only to identify and bring down the culprit, but to keep Kenzie out of jail. The NYPD detectives on the case are instantly suspicious of Kenzie. While they eventually recognize that she is not the killer, they believe she is hiding something about the alleged suspect she saw escape.

Of course, this murder plotline finds a way to play into the situation with the Spike, which will cause a true snowball effect that threatens to take down Ted, Kenzie and all those individuals they hold dear.

LOVE THE STRANGER is constantly engaging, and it was so cathartic to find myself back on the streets of Queens from a literary standpoint. There is so much to enjoy here, and I look forward to my next excursion to Queens with Michael Sears.