From Publishers Weekly
Stroud reaches into his deep well of talent and comes up with this ferociously driven, intricately woven thriller about a New York businessman trying to fight his way out of a government frame. At center stage is Jack Vermillion, the workaholic owner of Black Water Systems, a successful shipping company. His only disappointment in life is his son, Danny, a thief and drug addict now in federal prison. In an attempt to cut a better deal for Danny, Vermillion rats out a client, former army colonel and sharpshooter Earl Pike, who wants to ship guns to Mexico. When federal officials move in to seize the shipment, several of them get shot to death by a long-range sniper. It's Vermillion, however, not Pike, who is arrested for the slaughter, ostensibly because an ambitious federal prosecutor sees an opportunity to confiscate everything he owns under asset forfeiture laws. Meanwhile, as Vermillion tries to figure out what happened, New York police detective Casey Spandau is equally frustrated. She's investigating a double murder, but can't get any evidence on the man she knows committed it: Earl Pike. Stroud (Close Pursuit; Sniper's Moon) masterfully handles the converging story lines, each drawing upon their own vivid scenery and characters so fresh they snap. Throughout, Stroud never missteps in either tone or pacing; as usual, his blunt portrayal of law enforcement as a deeply troubled institution is highly convincing he notes that "the law is a machine for processing and canning garbage meat." As for the writing, it's brawny and vigorous and seasoned with dark humor much supplied by Vermillion's business partner, the cerebral, wisecracking Creek Johnson. Stroud provides a brutally frank glimpse into government deceit, personal ambition and criminal motivation. (Aug. 15)Forecast: This excellent thriller rapturously blurbed by Tony Hillerman and Jonathan Kellerman, among others has the potential to be Stroud's breakout book, but sales success will depend primarily on word-of-mouth publicity.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Library Journal
In this fast-paced novel, a shadowy ex-soldier approaches container ship company owner Jack Vermillion with a business proposition. The soldier wants to send a shipment of arms overseas without alerting the ATF. This deal solves a personal problem for Jack, who agrees to turn the soldier and the arms over to the ATF in return for a reduction of jail time for his problem son. However, the tables are turned on Jack, who finds himself on the run from a drug smuggling charge while trying to find the person who set him up. Stroud's (Sniper's Moon) story, read by Bruce Reizen, holds the listener's interest and contains many colorful characters, ranging from a cold-blooded federal lawyer to a handful of New York City cops. The dialog features many excellent one-liners as well. Not a great work of art but a fun summer diversion; for larger audio collections. - Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. at Parkersburg
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an alternate
Audio Cassette
edition.
