April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Smash Cut, August 2009 by Sandra Brown Simon & Schuster 384 pages ISBN: 1416563083 EAN: 9781416563082 Hardcover Add to Wish List Purchase Amazon Barnes & Noble Powell's Books Books-A-Million Indie BookShop

"Good to the last page--and plan not to do anything else once you start reading."

Smash Cut
Sandra Brown

Reviewed by Sandi Shilhanek
Posted September 21, 2009

Romance Suspense

Sandra Brown's latest romantic suspense, SMASH CUT features the murder of prominent Atlanta citizen Paul Wheeler. The daring daytime crime leaves the police with several witnesses, but little if any evidence as to who committed the murder and why. Is it possible that finally the perfect murder has been committed? Will the responsible person truly get away scot free leaving an innocent person to take the fall? For those answers you will need to read Smash Cut for yourself.

Ms. Brown appears to have drawn inspiration from several different films, and uses these films to show how her villain has mixed the fantasy of films with the realities of life. He believes he is the director, and those who come into his world are his actors and actresses and that he has the one and only say in how they move and react to his "directions".

Throughout the story you are led to believe you know who the killer is, but whether he acted alone, or was manipulated remains to be seen. There are numerous plot twists that I believe you won't see coming, and they are expertly woven throughout and continue almost until the end.

It's been awhile since I read a Sandra Brown book, I have listened to some recently, but in actually reading SMASH CUT I was reminded why I became a Sandra Brown fan in the first place. I suggest if possible you allow yourself a good chunk of reading time when you begin as you will not want to set it aside until the last page is turned.

Learn more about Smash Cut

SUMMARY

THE PRINCIPALS

Paul Wheeler. CEO of the Wheeler Enterprises empire. At age fifty-two, he's a pillar of Atlanta society and a brilliant businessman. But Paul is out of the picture even before the opening credits -- shot dead during an armed robbery.

Julie Rutledge. A savvy, cultured, and attractive Southern woman, seasoned by a stint of study and romance in Paris. She owns the city's most successful and sophisticated art gallery on Peachtree Street. She was also Paul Wheeler's weekly companion at the hotel where he was murdered and was hand in hand with him at the time of his death.

Derek Mitchell. A defense lawyer of renown. Successful, handsome, and despised by the Atlanta PD for his courtroom victories, he goes to the mat to make a case for every client - and headlines for himself. A guilty verdict is not an option. Yet he's not entirely without a conscience, as proven when his life takes a terrible turn toward the cinematic.

Creighton Wheeler. The prodigal nephew of Paul. With movie-star looks and guileless blue eyes, the twenty-eight-year-old playboy has a penchant for call girls, fast cars, and designer clothes. But his passion is movies. He studies them, quotes them...and lives them. 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.

But Derek soon discovers that Julie will stop at nothing to secure justice for Paul -- and that includes preventing Derek from defending Creighton. Infuriated, Derek realizes that his hands have been tied in a way that could not only cost him the case, but ruin his entire career.

Although Creighton has a rock-solid alibi, Julie is convinced that he is responsible for Paul's murder. But the homicide detectives have another theory. 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 once again being duped...yet he burns with jealousy when he thinks of Julie with her late lover.

But the more Derek learns about Creighton and his darker side, 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 as Derek and Julie seek to learn whether Creighton's fascination with movie murders is merely a bizarre hobby or depravity. Has he begun reenacting cinema's goriest scenes...and, if so, who will be his unwitting costars? They won't know until the final SMASH CUT.

From "masterful storyteller" Sandra Brown (USA Today) comes this thrilling new novel full of jarring twists and breathless suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat.

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