In the midst of the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, a senior Federal prosecutor is brutally attacked in her home on Sunday, April 12. Over the next two weeks, U.S. Attorney Mo Katz and his staff assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice. Due to the constraints posed by COVID-19, the investigative team relies upon electronics to conduct a virtual street search, online witness interviews, and teleconferences to solve the crime and untangle a tale of jealousy and deceit. Book Three of the Mo Katz mystery series combines a historical accounting of the pandemic, reminiscent of Daniel Defoe's recordation of the impacts of the Black Death, with a classic murder mystery a la Agatha Christie. The book illustrates how the wretchedness of the pandemic has ironically brought out the best in many people by recognizing the importance of teamwork and valuing personal and professional relationships, some of which were previously frayed. Despite the carnage in the story — a brutal attack and two murders while the coronavirus courses through the community —
Slaters Lane
is a book of hope, promise, and reconciliation.