Review
5 stars. This one is a Stan Turner mystery that takes place in the great state of Texas. Stan and his new partner, Paula, tell the story in alternating viewpoints. Their client is caught standing over a dead IRS agent with a shotgun in his hand that has been recently fired. The agent died of a shotgun blast...so guess who is charged with murder??? Then Stan is kidnapped in Ecuador. Nothing is as it seems, and the action is nonstop --Beverly J. Rowe, Myshelf.com
Stan Turner, a successful Texas lawyer, decided to take a two-week vacation with his family in Colorado. Leaving his practice in the capable hands of his partner, Paula Waters, Stan and his family set out for some rest and relaxation. Five days into the vacation Stan gets a frantic call from Paula informing him that his client, Dusty Thomas, had shot an IRS agent and was barricaded at his home and wouldn t surrender. The news only got worse when the agent died. Dusty was now faced with murder and to add to the problem there was a witness that saw Dusty standing over the man with his shotgun in his hand. Stan knew his work was cut out for him and both he and Paula needed to find some evidence to prove Dusty was innocent as he stated he was. About this time Stan s secretary got a call from another client of Stan s stating he was wiring $1.8 million into Stan s account, money that would turn to be a twist in this strange and puzzling case. Each new lead only added to the mystery and each potiential witness seemed to disappear before the trail. A fast-paced story that grabs the reader and holds onto them for the entire ride. Well worth the read! --Louise Riveiro-Mitchell, Book Review Cafe
William Manchee is an excellent mystery writer who uses just the right flavoring of suspense and action to create a thrilling tale that readers will not soon forget. William distributes his graceful talents and displays his artistic abilities to maneuver the written word time and time again in this excellent novel. I recommend that everyone buy and enjoy the rare gifts of this unique author and delve into the realm of a true storyteller and writer. --Terri Von Reiman, Roundtable Reviews
Stan Turner, a successful Texas lawyer, decided to take a two-week vacation with his family in Colorado. Leaving his practice in the capable hands of his partner, Paula Waters, Stan and his family set out for some rest and relaxation. Five days into the vacation Stan gets a frantic call from Paula informing him that his client, Dusty Thomas, had shot an IRS agent and was barricaded at his home and wouldn t surrender. The news only got worse when the agent died. Dusty was now faced with murder and to add to the problem there was a witness that saw Dusty standing over the man with his shotgun in his hand. Stan knew his work was cut out for him and both he and Paula needed to find some evidence to prove Dusty was innocent as he stated he was. About this time Stan s secretary got a call from another client of Stan s stating he was wiring $1.8 million into Stan s account, money that would turn to be a twist in this strange and puzzling case. Each new lead only added to the mystery and each potiential witness seemed to disappear before the trail. A fast-paced story that grabs the reader and holds onto them for the entire ride. Well worth the read! --Louise Riveiro-Mitchell, Book Review Cafe
William Manchee is an excellent mystery writer who uses just the right flavoring of suspense and action to create a thrilling tale that readers will not soon forget. William distributes his graceful talents and displays his artistic abilities to maneuver the written word time and time again in this excellent novel. I recommend that everyone buy and enjoy the rare gifts of this unique author and delve into the realm of a true storyteller and writer. --Terri Von Reiman, Roundtable Reviews
Product Description
After two tough years practicing law, Stan and his family take a well deserved vacation to Colorado. Unfortunately the vacation is cut short when a client is found standing over the body of a dead IRS agent. It appears to be an open and shut case since Dusty Thomas has had a long feud with the dead agent Bobby Tuttle, and more than enough motive to kill him, yet he claims to be innocent.
Stan's new partner Paula Waters convinces Stan to finish his vacation promising to handle Dusty Thomas' arraignment and get an investigation underway. While Stan is away, she makes good on her promise and even manages to arrange financing for Dusty's defense. But Stan is mortified when he reads in the Colorado papers that a radical paramilitary group, the Citizens Defense Alliance or CDA, is doing the funding.
Since the CDA denies the legitimacy of the federal income tax and has been a target of federal prosecutors for many years, Stan and Paula immediately come under the close scrutiny of the FBI and the press. To further complicate matters, Stan's best client and close friend, Tex Weller, is reported missing by his wife. When Stan investigates his disappearance he finds a letter that leads him to believe Tex is in Ecuador.
While Stan is searching for Tex in Ecuador, Paula continues her investigation of Bobby Tuttle's murder and quickly discovers a long list of enemies with motive to kill him. But her investigation is sidetracked when she learns Stan is missing and may have been kidnaped. As weeks go by and Stan isn't found, she is forced to turn her attention back to the Dusty Thomas case and leave the search for Stan up to the FBI and the local Ecuadorian authorities. Barely able to concentrate, she plods on and day by day and soon becomes convinced that Dusty Thomas is innocent.
Stan's new partner Paula Waters convinces Stan to finish his vacation promising to handle Dusty Thomas' arraignment and get an investigation underway. While Stan is away, she makes good on her promise and even manages to arrange financing for Dusty's defense. But Stan is mortified when he reads in the Colorado papers that a radical paramilitary group, the Citizens Defense Alliance or CDA, is doing the funding.
Since the CDA denies the legitimacy of the federal income tax and has been a target of federal prosecutors for many years, Stan and Paula immediately come under the close scrutiny of the FBI and the press. To further complicate matters, Stan's best client and close friend, Tex Weller, is reported missing by his wife. When Stan investigates his disappearance he finds a letter that leads him to believe Tex is in Ecuador.
While Stan is searching for Tex in Ecuador, Paula continues her investigation of Bobby Tuttle's murder and quickly discovers a long list of enemies with motive to kill him. But her investigation is sidetracked when she learns Stan is missing and may have been kidnaped. As weeks go by and Stan isn't found, she is forced to turn her attention back to the Dusty Thomas case and leave the search for Stan up to the FBI and the local Ecuadorian authorities. Barely able to concentrate, she plods on and day by day and soon becomes convinced that Dusty Thomas is innocent.
