Copyright 1998 by Stuart Woods. Published by HarperCollins Publishing Inc, New York.
This was my second try at a Stuart Woods novel. I hated the first one. This one is considerably better. There is no question that Woods is a talented writer. Crisp dialog, rapid movement of the plot, short chapters. It is really a question of how ridiculous his plot and/or characters are. In this book the characters are very believable. The plot, not so much, but not too over-the-top to ruin it. The book is a very pleasant read.
The protagonist in this case is Holly Barker, an Army brat with MP experience who decides to leave the army due to a sexual harassment problem. Fortunately her father is old war buddies with the Chief of Police in Orchid Beach FL. She is offered the job of Deputy Police Chief. But when she arrives to take up her new post she learns that the chief was shot just the night before. She becomes, at the moment she is sworn in, the acting police chief.
She struggles to learn her new job and her new town while trying to unravel the shooting of her boss. And her bosses’ best friend who was murdered the same night. She learns that Orchid Beach is home to Palmetto Gardens, a very mysterious and very exclusive enclave of home for the super rich. It becomes apparent that something nefarious is going on at this resort for the rich and famous. Discovering the link between this resort and the shootings is her challenge.
The ending falls into the “mildly unbelievable” category, but it is still an enjoyable read.
7 out of 10.