Fair Warning (Connelly novel)
| Company type | News outlet (fictional) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Journalism |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Consumer-focused news |
Fair Warning is a thriller novel released in 2020 by American writer Michael Connelly. It marks the third installment featuring Jack McEvoy, an investigative journalist based in Los Angeles working for the consumer-focused news outlet Fair Warning, alongside former FBI agent Rachel Walling. This story serves as a continuation of events introduced in Connelly's 2009 book The Scarecrow. Central topics explored include the erosion of investigative journalism, the emergence of misinformation, the misogynistic incel subculture, and dangers linked to unregulated DNA data commerce.
The narrative is predominantly told through McEvoy’s first-person viewpoint, with occasional shifts to third-person accounts from antagonists Marshall Hammond and The Shrike. Additionally, two chapters are formatted as news reports.
The characters of McEvoy’s employer and editor, Myron Levin, are inspired by the actual news organization FairWarning, which ceased operations in February 2021.
Plot summary
A woman falls victim to an assailant who identifies himself as "The Shrike." Soon after, journalist Jack McEvoy discovers that Tina Portrero—whom he had a brief romantic encounter with months earlier—has been found dead under suspicious circumstances involving atlanto-occipital dislocation. The Los Angeles Police Department interrogates Jack and collects his DNA sample.
During his investigation, Jack uncovers several other deaths with similar patterns connected to individuals who submitted their genetic material to an ancestry service named GT23. Reuniting with ex-FBI agent Rachel Walling, they hypothesize that sex addiction might be a shared trait among the victims.
Jack learns that GT23 has a history of selling DNA data to a company called Orange Nano and attempts to interview board member William Orton, whose background is contentious. Before leaving, Jack is detained on charges of obstruction but is subsequently released.
Marshall Hammond, a laboratory technician monitoring Jack’s case, is murdered by The Shrike after an intruder steals DNA profiles of women carrying the DRD4 gene from Hammond’s residence. Jack and Rachel discover Hammond’s body and find out he operated an illegal website selling female genetic profiles to incel groups; The Shrike exploited this resource to select his victims.
Collaborating with editor Myron Levin and fellow journalist Emily Atwater, they share their discoveries with the FBI and pursue Hammond’s associate. The Shrike murders a man mistaken for Hammond’s partner Roger Vogel. When Vogel offers assistance in tracking down The Shrike, he too falls victim shortly afterward.
Several months later, public interest in the case grows due to novels and podcasts produced by Fair Warning staff. After Rachel becomes the target of a suspicious stalker, Jack and Rachel coordinate with the FBI to neutralize this threat; the individual is believed to be affiliated with The Shrike.
Subsequently, The Shrike attacks Jack while he is in his vehicle. Following a high-speed collision where Jack deliberately flips his car to prevent additional murders, The Shrike is killed but his identity remains unknown.
While recuperating from his injuries, Jack proposes partnering with Rachel to investigate crimes directly themselves, frustrated by the limitations of reporting alone. She consents.
Reception
Barry Forshaw of the Financial Times described Connelly as a "shrewd observer of American society," emphasizing the novel’s commentary on fake news and its influence across political and social spheres. Critic Marilyn Stasio writing for The New York Times commended Connelly’s ability to weave genre elements into contemporary concerns surrounding commercial genetic testing. Sandra Dallas from the Denver Post highlighted the book’s examination of the multi-billion-dollar DNA testing industry, noting its scant regulation and oversight gaps as an ideal backdrop for Connelly’s mystery narrative.