In The Razor Gate, author Sean Cregan has created an intense, intelligent, engaging thriller. The near-future Newport City is brought vividly to life under Cregan’s skillful hand, with the setting being familiar enough to feel real, but just foreign enough to feel exotic. Blackwater Port, a floating city within the city, is particularly intricately laid out, and its unique location and culture give it a decidedly ominous presence, making it almost a character itself. On its face The Razor Gate is a straight-up thriller, but there are also larger societal issues being addressed just under the surface, particularly the never-ending struggle between the rich and poor. And while none of us want to die anytime soon, you should definitely want to take a trip through The Razor Gate.