Tough Customer

June 28, 2010
Introduced in 2009's Smash Cut, Atlanta PI Dodge Hanley makes this entertaining, if slightly talky romantic thriller from bestseller Brown a must-read for anyone who appreciates a tough guy hero with a heart of gold. Late one night Dodge receives a phone call from his lost love, Houston realtor Caroline King, who asks him to come to Texas to help catch Oren Starks, a creepy over-the-top stalker who's out to kill Dodge and Caroline's 30-year-old daughter, Berry Malone. Dodge hasn't seen Berry since the day she was born. When Starks takes a shot at Berry in Caroline's house, hitting a work associate of Berry's instead, Dodge rushes to the rescue. While Merritt County deputy sheriff Ski Nyland, who falls for the equally smitten Berry, is no slouch on the case, the relentlessly ruthless Dodge plays the most crucial role in the effort to stop the bad guy. Brown fans will want to see more of the irresistible Dodge.

This mystery wrapped up in a double love story follows the steps of a deranged killer as he seeks revenge. With a backstory that stretches over 30 years and a broad cast of characters, there are plenty of plot strands to weave together. Narrator Victor Slezak does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. He approaches one of the key characters, tough-talking, tough-living Atlanta investigator Dodge Handley, with particular relish. Slezak successfully portrays the female characters as well, using a more gentle reading style. Given the substantial portion of romance in the story, Slezak's ability to switch seamlessly between the pursuit of an unstable killer and the romantic plotlines helps to ensure a credible listen. K.J.P. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine