Taking place in the 80’s, the story opens with a glimpse back at Lisa’s cross-country trip to UCLA in the summer of ’64, where she’s trapped in a deadly civil rights march. The experience motivates her to become the first woman FBI Field Agent. The most influential women in America join forces to elevate Lisa to a position of power in a man’s world. However, equally many political leaders are committed to her failure. Lisa’s challenge is determining who’s on her side.

Meanwhile, someone’s exchanging bottles of a headache reliever in a Chicago pharmacy with cyanide-laced capsules. Seven people are dead and pressure to find the culprit is mounting. Lisa’s FBI team takes over the case and she’s under pressure to end the death spree. A suspect is arrested, but his questioning leads to evidence that one of the most powerful women in the world is the mastermind behind the crime.

Lisa’s team is forced to chase the new lead and develop evidence on a case that is no longer open and shut and where limitless wealth is allowing the culprit to remain one step ahead of FBI pursuit.

On the short list to be the next Director of the FBI, failure is not an option. Lisa know someone’s head will roll and it’s likely to be her own.

James’ meteoric rise in the song writing industry falls under threat as he’s thrown headlong into an overnight adventure to London. The top touring British rock band’s new album is going off the rails and Alan Pinkerton’s recording studio needs him to write a hit song within twenty-four hours to save their top money-making tour.  The Decision shines a bright light on challenges facing every entrepreneur as they risk everything to pursue their dream versus following the more conventional path. 

The novel offers an intimate look into the youth of Lisa Bender, the main character of Angell’s first novel – Cracks in the Ceiling: Extra Strength, and James Durant as they transition from Quebec City and Chicago, respectively, to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. Though sharply divergent childhoods, their paths converge in college and they lean on each other to confront intense challenges. Having grown up on Chicago’s south side, life’s choices have never been easy for James Durant.

Torn between his passion for writing and completing college, he faces a decision that rips at the very fabric of his life with pressure coming at him from all sides. James’ song writing career matures and one of his songs is nominated for an Academy Award, where Lisa and he enjoy a night under the lights.

Welcome to Los Angeles – the year is 2028. Julie Durant, James and Lisa’s daughter, takes center stage in this story. Julie wakes in a strange place with no memory of having been there before.

Someone tried to kill her… and nearly succeeded. After which she is confronted with a bizarre video describing a surreal experience that can’t possibly be true.

Yet, it appears to be her life. She’s the CEO of one of the top technology companies in the world, whose developments in Artificial Intelligence have transformed daily life on earth. 

Harvesting the gains of AI has led to a hopeful cooperative partnership. Busy building a new world, questions arise whether humans provide value.

Julie’s AI team are working to carve out a meaningful role in the future. Hoping, but not certain they can succeed before mankind loses societal leadership.

Julie discovers an undocumented series of programs influencing outcomes in the stock market. Uncertain who to trust, she secretly modifies her AI platform seeking to root out the culprit.

It’s a dangerous game and staying alive is the prize.