If the category workplace mystery - analogous to murder mystery - existed, this book would be a great example of what that looks like. Corruption in governments, large corporations, and even international sports organizations exists and is more or less well known since regular accusations and cases are well covered by the press. I admit that I am not very familiar with law firms and their potential dark machinations, so this book was fascinating for that reason alone. Lawyers are supposed to help uphold the law and make sure justice prevails, but they are also human beings and just as susceptible to crookedness as the rest of us. The other great things about ‘Whistle Blower’ are that it has wonderfully complex characters, an interesting plot with lots of twists, and a moral dilemma that is not easy to solve. Add a deliciously slow-burning romance between two men who are an entirely unlikely match, and I was one happy reader.

Jacob may have reached partner level in his firm and be financially secure, but the price he pays for staying at this level is considerable. Long workweeks, following corporate policy and billing to ensure they make a profit, no personal life, and no friends other than his personal assistant, Seong. He has never really thought about doing anything else, but when the manila envelope arrives with photos of an environmental disaster caused by one of his firm’s multimillion-dollar clients, Jacob’s world begins to unravel. He isn’t sure what is going on at first, but his curiosity is piqued, and he begins to dig for details, ending up in a northern Wisconsin fishing resort during his investigation. The decision he has to make about staying true to himself and doing the right thing by exposing one of his colleagues on the one hand and staying silent to keep his career intact is not an easy one.

Ben is a very different man. About fifteen years older than Jacob, he has lost his lover to cancer and is more than reluctant to start a new relationship. The thought of making someone else go through losing him has stopped him so far. Jacob may be a jaded New Yorker, a city boy on a mission to find the truth, but he gets to Ben in a way that makes it hard for Ben to resist. Opening up and becoming vulnerable (again) is not easy, but Ben is so lonely that I kept hoping he’d be able to let go of his worries and dive in again.

‘Whistle Blower’ is a good mystery about a couple of things. Who keeps sending Jacob information? How corrupt is his boss? Can Jacob uncover it all before it's too late? But it is also a journey for Jacob and Ben - both as individuals and as a couple. Jacob challenges the way Ben thinks about relationships, and Ben prompts Jacob to be honest about what is going on at work and enables him to deal with the mess. The addition of quirky secondary characters like Jacob’s assistant, Seong, and Ben’s sister-in-law, Miriam, provides depth and relief from the tension.

If you like stories about corruption and those who feel a calling to fight it, if a slow-burning romance between men who don’t seem to be a good match are your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that is suspenseful, a little out of the ordinary, and full of emotion and passion, then you will probably like this novel.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )