Swope's Ridge by Ace Collins

Coming October 1st, 2009...

Description:

September 12, 2001. Four members of the Klasser family are found dead outside Dallas, Texas. In the wake of 9/11, the Klassers’ neighbor, Omar Jones—an American citizen of Arab descent—is convicted of their murder.A month before Jones’ execution, attorney Lije Evans searches for evidence that will prove the man innocent. But Evans’ quest goes deeper than solving one crime. He is determined to find the secret behind the dark history of sleepy Swope’s Ridge—and how it ties into his wife’s murder.Interlocking mysteries lead Evans and his team to the battlegrounds of former Nazi Germany, the dirt roads of Kansas, and a rusty cargo ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, they discover a secret that offers the promise of great power—and the greatest temptation they’ve ever faced.In the second book of the Lije Evans Mysteries series, bestselling author Ace Collins immerses readers in an intricate and deadly international plot. Racism, betrayal, and death-defying escapes compound an adventure that knows no bounds in this harrowing novel for suspense lovers everywhere.

Preview:

A legal thriller?
I guess it makes sense, considering Lije's reckless decision at the end of Farraday Road to become a criminal defender. If this book is going to be called Swope's Ridge, than it should be about Swope's Ridge, not the defense of an Arab man accused of a kidnapping. That's a completely different subject entirely.
Legal seems to be a popular genre these days, and one that can be very predictable. I'm not sure if this is the direction Ace Collins needs to take.
I very much like the idea and history behind Swope's Ridge, but I don't understand by Ace can't just focus on that. Why does he have to jump all around from one meaningless subplot to another?
I hope this does not turn into a series, but ends with Swope's Ridge. Ace Collins is a good author, but he hasn't grown up yet.