When the volatile mix of Mexico's social turmoil and unstable politics erupts into out-of-control violence, its devastating effects spill over it's northern border into Texas. A well-financed, right-wing group known as Los Tecos, brings its vigilante justice to Houston's streets, and homicide detective Stuart Haydon quickly finds himself in the midst of a full-scale campaign of terror waged by a clandestine Mexican death squad. When the murderous judgment of Los Tecos brutality claims the life of a dear friend, Haydon is personally swept into a smoky world of conspiracy and political assassination. Soon he is engaged in a mortal struggle with a death squad "executioner" who proves to be a formidable adversary with an intellect and conviction equal to Haydon's. Sadly, real justice is hard to find in the vortex of fanaticism, and Haydon is tempted to give in to a dangerous paradox: to step outside the rule of law in order to enforce it.

Spiral may be the only book I've written that contains a character (other than Stuart Haydon) that I'd like to bring back in a future novel. I've been tempted by this idea a number of times. I won't say which character it is, but when you read the novel, I think you'll see the same intriguing possibilities that I do. Spiral has been optioned a number of times by producers wanting to make it into a feature film. Unfortunately, no one has been successful in putting together all the necessary ingredients.