YOU NEVER LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE

In Milligan’s fourth mystery series installment, a troubled detective faces off against cartel kingpins.

Cutter is a suspended State Bureau of Investigation operative and a former Miami cop with a tragic past. He’s been known to take matters into his own hands, even if that means secretly running an unauthorized Black Ops mission. However, after a successful internal affairs hearing, he’s reinstated as a Miami detective with a specific mission to down a drug cartel operation threatening the city. The stakes escalate with the introduction of biological warfare threats and turf wars between rival Mafia factions. Cutter’s pursuit of justice takes him into the darkest corners of the city’s criminal underworld, exposing his vulnerabilities while showcasing his relentless determination. His journey is as much about solving the case as it is about rebuilding his shattered personal life. The antagonists, particularly the cunning and ruthless mobster Anthony Rizzoni, bring depth and danger to the narrative, creating tension that will keep readers engaged. Milligan masterfully balances the grit of hardboiled crime with moments of introspection, allowing readers to see Cutter not just as a run-of-the-mill cop, but as a deeply flawed but relatable human being. The narrative shines in its atmospheric depiction of Miami, from the “blinding lights” of downtown streets to shadowy cartel hideouts. Action sequences are sharp and cinematic; in the aftermath of one, crime-scene techs are said to have found “so many shell casings…that they ran out of markers.” The intricate plotting features unpredictable twists that challenge Cutter’s alliances and morality. Every encounter, whether it’s a gunfight or a quiet moment of reflection, pushes the protagonist closer to a reckoning with his own demons.

A taut, immersive, and lively crime thriller.