BREAKING COVER

A man on the run risks death to save two lost boys.

The grainy poster shows two youngsters, brothers Evan and Earl Powell, and the poignant headline: “Have you seen us?” Virtually everyone in and around Pine Lake, N.C., has, including Sanders, who almost wishes he hadn’t. Because Sanders (not his real name) desperately needs to stay hidden from the ruthless people sworn to kill him. At a rural crossroads, a car passes his, and he sees a terrified boy through the back window. His ensuing actions mean that after four painstakingly careful years he’s broken cover. As a result, he’s convinced, the Brotherhood will pick up his scent. Having begun as a mildly offensive rogue biker gang, the Brotherhood is now a serious crime family. Johnny, Clay and Nathan Trent, who operate it like a noxious fiefdom, hate Sanders passionately, and they certainly have their reasons. He’s hurt them; taken their money; and they see him as a Judas. And now, because an ambitious, indefatigable female television reporter has told the world in dramatic detail how two lost boys were safely returned to their loving family, Sanders has a target on his back.

For all the plot holes, Rhoades (Safe and Sound, 2007, etc.) does slam-bang so well that even if you notice, you won’t care.