| From The Jacket:The latest thriller from "masterful storyteller" (USA Today) Sandra Brown THE PRINCIPALS: Paul Wheeler: CEO of the Wheeler Enterprises empire, is shot dead during an armed robbery. Julie Rutledge: A savvy, cultured, and attractive Southern woman, was hand-inhand with Paul Wheeler at the time of his death. Derek Mitchell: A defense lawyer of renown, he goes to the mat to make a case for every client -- and headlines for himself. Creighton Wheeler: The prodigal nephew of Paul and a playboy with a passion for movies. Even those closest to Creighton can't be sure when he exits reality and enters the fantasy world of films. STORYBOARD: The murder of Paul Wheeler has all the elements of a blockbuster: family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress. It's a case that could earn Derek Mitchell even greater star power. When the Wheeler family approaches him about defending Creighton for his uncle's murder -- even before he's charged -- he jumps at the chance. Although Creighton has a rock-solid alibi, Julie is convinced that he is responsible for Paul's murder. Caught in several lies, and keeping secrets from Derek and the police, Julie is suspected of casting blame on Creighton to cover her own crime. Meanwhile, Derek fears he's being duped...yet he burns with jealousy when he thinks of Julie with her late lover. But the more Derek learns about Creighton, the more he doubts the young man's innocence. And hiding in a squalid motel under an assumed name is the one man, a career criminal, a killer, who knows the truth. The clock ticks down toward a shocking ending that can't be known until the final SMASH CUT. |
The CEO of a large corporation, Paul Wheeler, is murdered in front of his weekly companion, in a crowded upscale hotel elevator. Who was behind it? And why? The man was a mega millionaire, but is cash the motive? Julie Rutledge, Wheeler’s escort at the time of the shooting, is positive that Wheeler’s nephew was behind it, but nobody believes it possible, since Creighton has money of his own and is more interested in watching movies than anything else in life. Brown gives us one surprise after another as the inner workings of the Wheeler family are revealed.
Derek Mitchell, a successful defense attorney, is manipulated into becoming part of the case. While the reason for the setup is a bit far-fetched, it does insure that romantic tension drives his never dull relationship with Rutledge.
In Brown’s books, the good guys and gals are complex, affluent people - many of whom have achieved greatness despite poor beginnings. They are willing to bend a few rules to correct whatever wrongs are being perpetrated. Quirky side characters live average lives and include hard-working detectives who can’t give up cigarettes as well as secretaries who look out for their friends.
Brown’s bad guys have layers of evil. In “Smash Cut,” the villain is arrogant, but marginally pleasant when he needs to be in order to achieve his goals. His sociopathic behavior becomes more evident as the book reveals the depth to which his life is based on movies. He has no idea (or doesn’t care) how far removed he is from societal norms. As all good protagonists must, Mitchell and Rutledge match wits with him in order to prove his guilt, but do so through their knowledge of favorite movie plots.
A quick read, “Smash Cut” has a surprising, satisfying ending, something Brown’s fans have become used to over the years. This book could easily be translated to a ‘movie-of-the-week,’ providing fun for a couple of hours, needing no more investment from us than that. Brown has written more than 80 books, over 50 of which have been bestsellers. She knows her audience.
Rated R for the “Mile-High Club” scene and adult themes by-Patti Phillips 2011/06/07, 07:09 AM
