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As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. When his boss, Hank, suffers a heart attack, Scott Anderson is thrust into the role of head honcho at the construction site. Similarly, Tim Lusk has a whimsical innocence best observed in his daily coffee run just to visit Janna, the barista he cannot stop thinking about. Both central characters stare down the barrel of their own internal pressures, whether it is getting the raise to provide for a family or paying off student loans. Yet, what makes Posey's work intriguing is the idea of temptation and how it's got such a strong gravitational pull to completely disorient one's moral compass.
The lighthearted tone of the opening quickly turns tense when the fire inspection runs into an unanticipated hurdle: a city ordinance requiring the main water lines that feed the fire hydrants to be sixteen inches. The outcome would be a devastating six-figure setback for the company that, coincidentally, has appointed Scott as the primary decision maker. In almost parallel fashion, Tim's fire inspection of a mayor-led, low-income housing unit reveals inconsistencies with the fire suppression line.
What ensues is a testament to Posey's ability to spark internal conflict so strong that the path forward becomes incredibly unclear. With the story's themes rooted in unconditional faith and redemption, it is interesting to see where both Scott and Tim are willing to draw the line in the sand. Without question, guys like Jeremy Spokes and Charlie Ferguson are the classic "I'm out for myself" archetypes, always ready to divert one's faith. Throughout the novel, Posey demonstrates a strong understanding of character development to simultaneously deliver an entertaining and thought-provoking narrative rooted in moral dilemmas and how one's response to these dilemmas can entirely shape the direction of one's life.