Hazardous Lies

An entertaining and complex read, Stephen J. Wallace’s debut novel HAZARDOUS LIES is a combination mystery/thriller centered around an explosion at a chemical plant. Jon Barrett, depressed after a scandal in his previous job, gets assigned the investigation on his first day in his new government job, for an agency fighting to keep its funding. The company is more interested in optics than the fact that three men died, and an intern (a politician’s son) is missing. How far will they go to protect themselves? How much political and legal power do they have to flex? While the answer is unsurprising, the way Jon uncovers doggedly uncovers each piece of the puzzle while struggling with his own depression is a good read. Wallace’s knowledge of engineering and how these types of plants work add texture to a profession few people understand and many fear. The external challenges provoke internal revelations that force Jon to make difficult decisions that will affect his future.