The lavish wedding celebration of British rock star Colin Elliot and American lawyer Laurel Chandler, is brought to a somber conclusion when word comes that the bride's invalid father has died in a New Jersey rest home. Honeymoon plans are abandoned in favor of a rushed trip to the States to oversee funeral arrangements. Tragedy reaches cataclysmic proportions within hours of their arrival on western shores and sets off a series of revelations that rewrite certain elements of the history surrounding the death of Colin's first wife, Aurora. These revelations may even cast light on the true origin of Colin's extended period of unresponsiveness following the unlamented loss of Aurora. Hoople Jakeway, avowed avenger of perceived wrongs done to Aurora, his high school crush, has by now eliminated several wrongdoers, with Colin and Laurel still at large as the main prize. A stunning setback tempers Hoop's relentlessness, but not for long. By taking unprecedented risks and accepting unthinkable hardships, he is able to keep his eye on the prize within an atmosphere of breathtaking tension. Mayle has done it again in this third and final installment of the Second Chances Trilogy. Her ability to sustain suspense, manage an engaging cast of characters, and render believable dialogue never falters. Retribution ends with a merging of multiple quests during a terrifying night of widespread disaster that enables closure on one front and raises eternal doubt on another . . . An altogether unforgettable reading experience.