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.
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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