SANTA FE DEAD
Stuart Woods
Putnam Adult
Thriller
ISBN: 9780399154904

Attorney Ed Eagle relaxes in his Los Angeles hotel room while waiting for the summation and the jury’s verdict in his former wife’s murder trial. She had targeted him for extinction but mistakenly shot and killed the occupants of an adjacent hotel room in San Diego. A slight possibility exists that someone besides Barbara is responsible for the deaths. Readers will be hooked at the end of the first chapter when informed that Barbara has escaped from a court conference room. Ed is once again in line to become SANTA FE DEAD, an appropriate book title.

The action switches to Barbara’s whereabouts. She has undergone a hair and makeup makeover and is lounging by the pool at a private spa. She’s on the prowl for a new provider, a man with a hefty bank account. An excellent prospect turns up poolside --- wealthy widower Walter Keeler. Using her utmost feminine charms, Barbara becomes the next Mrs. Keeler, heir to his fortune.

Meanwhile, Ed and his girlfriend, actress Susannah Wilde, gear up for a confrontation with his former bride. With Barbara, threats are second nature, and Ed knows she’ll follow through. Susannah’s ex-husband poses an additional danger. To complicate matters, the jurors in Los Angeles have acquitted Barbara of the murder charges. Ed hires private investigator Cupie Dalton to locate his ex-wife and carries a gun for protection. But livelihood calls and Ed takes on a new client, Don Wells.

Don is a Hollywood producer and owner of numerous residences, with one in Santa Fe, Barbara’s hometown. His wife and son are reported to be kidnapped, and he calls Barbara from Rome to check out the Santa Fe residence. “It smelled like a butcher shop” is the chilling description that author Stuart Woods uses to paint the scene. Donna Wells is heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, but she and her boy are very dead. Police focus on her husband for a motive, yet his alibi is solid.

The novel moves back and forth between major characters and various locations, yet interest remains strong because of masterful writing. Near-sympathy is achieved for Barbara when her new husband is killed. But she does not disappoint when her ulterior motives resurface. Her attorney throws a wrench into her plans when the will is read, putting her rich-widow status in doubt.

SANTA FE DEAD moves quickly through its clever storyline and strews numerous bodies in the path to its conclusion. Personalities become entangled when complications link greed, murder, cover-ups and intrigue. The author streamlines the action and interlaces some romance with a bit of homicide. His storytelling ability surpasses the mundane detective/lawyer mysteries common to the genre.

From California to Mexico to Santa Fe, Stuart Woods describes colorful settings with an economy of words. His experience as a pilot is clear when he puts his characters in the air. He has researched the movie industry and displays his knowledge in writing about stunt men and back lot scenes. Less than 300 pages, SANTA FE DEAD is a quick read and looks to be a vacation favorite for the summer.

    --- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad

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