Twenty-five years ago, her father was driving Lacie Wagoner to summer camp when their vehicle exploded. Her dad died and Lacie's hands were disfigured. Even after two decades, Lacie still suffers nightmares from that catastrophic event. Over the subsequent years, the only individual to get inside Lacie's heart is her teenage daughter Skyla. So it is not surprising that when her daughter fails to call for two days from her father's house, an irate Lacie races to New York to learn she never arrived there.

The police call off the investigation since they conclude the child is dead. Lacie feels otherwise because she believes she would know if Skyla died. She turns to Uncle Max, who sends her to FBI agent Jack Stein. He dislikes the news anchor but agrees to help her because he owes Uncle Max a major favor. However, neither one realizes that the culprit has no compunction to eradicate anyone who happens to get in his way. Jack and Skyla are clearly on that perilous path.

BURNOUT is a complex, multi-layered psychological thriller that derives its pleasure by forcing the reader to strip one piece at a time as if boxes were inside boxes. Events from three decades ago effect those living today as the transgressions of the antecedents impact their children. However, what truly makes Jeanine Kadow's suspense-laden tale one of the best in years is the characterizations that allow the audience to fully understand each person's motives without an unnecessary detour around the non-stop action. No one will feel burned out after this adrenaline jumper.