First Drop [Hardcover]

Zoe Sharp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2004

'I tried to remember my own emotions, to put my actions down to extreme fear, or anger. Anything but the cold calm deliberation with which I'd shot him.' It should have been an easy introduction to Charlie Fox's new career as a bodyguard, working for the close protection agency run by her ex-lover, Sean Meyer. Their trip to Florida together should almost have been a working holiday - and a chance to build on the fresh start they promised to make when they last worked together. All Charlie has to do is to baby-sit Trey Pelzner, the gawky fifteen-year-old son of a rich computer programmer in Fort Lauderdale. The last thing anyone expected was a determined attempt to snatch the boy, or that Trey's father and their entire close protection team - including Sean - would disappear off the face of the earth at the same time. Now somebody out there wants the boy badly and they're prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. Evading them, alone in a strange country, takes all the skill and courage Charlie possesses.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Sharp's aim is dead on in her stunning U.S. debut, the fourth book to star ultra-cool biker chick Charlie Fox. The no-nonsense, 26-year-old Charlie, a former British Army soldier (and survivor of a gruesome gang rape) has joined the protection agency of her ex-lover, Sean Meyer. On her first assignment, Charlie finds herself on a too thrilling roller-coaster ride in Florida, guarding geeky 15-year-old Trey Pelzner, son of Keith, a computer whiz working for a small software company specializing in accounting and data manipulation. After an attempt is made on Trey's life, Charlie calls for backup that turns out to be anything but and soon discovers that Keith;the developer of a faulty stock indicator program;has vanished, as has Sean. Action-packed, tightly plotted and with an irresistible first-person narration, this crisp, original thriller should win Sharp (Hard Knocks, etc.) plenty of American fans.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This high-voltage adventure should signal the beginning of a beautiful relationship between British author Sharp and American readers. Heroine Charlie Fox is a bodyguard hired to protect spoiled and surly teenager Trey Pelzner. Charlie accompanies her boss (and lover) Sean, from England to South Florida for what appears to be a low-key security job. Not exactly. Her trip to Florida begins in an amusement park, where Charlie and Trey are ambushed. Whisking Trey to safety just in time, Charlie learns that she can trust no one--not even those who hired her--and goes on the lam with the boy, killing a few bad guys and becoming one of America's most wanted in the process. Sharp combines nonstop, heart-pounding action with a poignant relationship story: how Charlie and Trey finally are able to trust each other is as important as unmasking their enemies. Here's hoping First Drop will not be the last we see of the inimitable Charlie. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus (January 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749906618
• ISBN-13: 978-0749906610
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,589,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie Fox is One Tough Cookie, January 23, 2010

By 

Beth Saboori (Santa Monica, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Drop (Mass Market Paperback)

Sexy British ex-soldier and Bodyguard Charlie Fox is in Florida, guarding fifteen year old Trey Pelzner, son of software geek Keith Pelzner, who has designed a program that will set stock trading on its ears. She's not very happy about being stuck with the openly hostile lad, but when someone tries to kidnap him at an amusement park, she realizes she's really going to earn her money as she barely gets away with her charge, dodging bullets all the way. Now it looks like the bad guys want her and Trey dead and Charlie isn't keen on dying.

She leaves Trey safely at a diner, goes to the house where they had been staying, only to find her boss and ex-lover Sean Meyer gone. All her and Trey's belongings and clothing are missing as well. The only thing she finds is Sean's pistol under his mattress. She believes the worst. She'd thought she'd lost Sean, thought she'd found him and now again he is lost to her. But she has a job to do. She has been charged with guarding Trey and nothing will stop her from doing that. It's spring break and they head to Orlando where they sleep on the beach. In the morning they are attacked. It won't be the last time in this thriller where Charlie has to defend and protect Trey. But from who? And why?

I can't say how much I enjoyed this book. Plenty of shoot-outs. Lots of double crossing, high tech good and bad guys too. There is action and adventure here. Plus I didn't come close to figuring out the ending. And to make it even better, I really like a book with a strong female character and Charlie is one tough cookie. Dirk Pitt and Indiana Jones look out.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Weakest of the Charlie Fox Mysteries, March 25, 2008

By 

Mavis (Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: First Drop (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm working my way thru the Charlie Fox Mysteries. So far, First Drop is the weakest link. It's a good read, but not a great read. If you are just starting the Charlie Fox Mysteries, Riot Act and Hard Knocks are much better.

Zoe Sharp does a good job describing the Florida landscape. I just didn't care for Charlie being in the U.S. I also thought the American character dialects and slang were a bit off. I really missed the characters that appear in other Charlie Fox books...Sean and Madeline. Anyways, Sharp stays true to form in First Drop with clever dialog and vivid action scenes.

I will continue to read the books in this series and recommend them. You can start with any book as each one is written as a stand-alone. However, Charlie is someone you'll want to know from the beginning.

My rating system: *Crapfest,**Very Disappointing, ***Decent, ****Good book, *****Excellent will give copies to friends

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charlotte "Charlie" Fox walks the walk, August 26, 2005

By 

Ross A. Hugovidal (Portland, ME USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Drop (Hardcover)

OK, I confess, the cover art had me from the get-go. Instead of some variation on the standard "damsel in distress", First Drop's says "go ahead, make my day...". Fed up with fem jep? Had enough of women in thrillers as victims/targets/cardboard cutouts? Check out First Drop.

Because the best news is that Zoe Sharp has crafted not only a compelling female action sleuth, which is something unusual right there, but given her a twisting, turning lightning fast plot in which to shine. This is a classic, high octane thriller that I could not put down until the last page. You'll be hearing more about the Fox in this henhouse!