Grass Roots [Mass Market Paperback]

Stuart Woods (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2, 2002

Will Lee has returned to his roots to kick off his campaign for the Senate. A prominent lawyer, he has come back to his hometown of Delano, Georgia, to plan his strategies, and to argue an explosively controversial case that could seriously damage his fledgling political career. For Delano is a town with a dark secret -- a smoldering hotbed of racial hatred and moral outrage, held in the thrall of a sinister group called The Elect. Its violent, evil forces will stop at nothing to keep the candidate out of office. But Will Lee isn't about to back down, even though it may cost him his career -- and his life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three compelling plot lines are woven into a tautly drawn suspense novel by the author of Chiefs ; not a whodunit or a howdunit, but a how-does-it-all-connect. After years as chief of staff for a venerable Georgia senator, Will Lee decides to run for the seat himself when a stroke cripples his mentor. Standing in his way are an ambitious governor in the Democratic primary and, possibly, a far-right fundamentalist in the general election. In addition, Will must interrupt his campaign to serve as the defense lawyer in a controversial race-murder trial, while elsewhere, a dedicated ex-cop pursues the head of a Klan-like vigilante group that's been carrying out gangland-style killings. Woods builds these plots to reach their climaxes--an election, a verdict and a shoot-out--simultaneously, and links the stories with an ingenuity that runs out of steam only in the final few chapters. Nonetheless, his headlong storytelling style is stoked with enough sex and violence to ignite a TV miniseries. Major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

When Georgia Senator Ben Carr has a stroke, his chief of staff, Will Lee, decides to run for Carr's seat. Concurrently Lee has been appointed public defender for a white man accused of murdering a young black woman--a case full of explosive racial tension. The election campaign is a nasty one involving a militaristic right-wing group, a TV evangelist with a mission, and a power-hungry governor. The various plot lines, though a little too contrived, move the story at a smart pace. A consummate storyteller, Woods ( Under the Lake , LJ 6/1/87) demonstrates his narrative ability by intertwining contemporary southern politics and the murder trial into a most satisfying tale.
- Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Avon (April 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061014222
• ISBN-13: 978-0061014222
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,093,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stuart Woods is the author of forty-four novels, including the New York Times-bestselling Stone Barrington series and Holly Barker series. The last twenty-eight of them have been New York Times best-sellers. He is an avid private pilot, flying his own jet on two book tours a year. His latest novel is Santa Fe Edge,to be published on September 21st. You may see his tour schedule and learn more about the author on his website, www.stuartwoods.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling reading...just great., April 22, 2000

By 

nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grass Roots (Mass Market Paperback)

I do not think that Stuart Woods has ever disappointed me. "Grassroots" is intricately plotted with absorbing parallel stories that work their way to the same bad guys. Mr. Woods writes in a way that makes the pages fly by. It's easy to pull for the good guys and it is impossible to work up any sympathy for the villains. The protagonist (Senatorial candidate Will Lee) is scheduled to reappear in Mr. Woods' next novel ("The Run"). After reading "Grassroots" I shall be first in line when "The Run" hits the stores sometime in May. Mr. Woods has a most entertaining series currently going with bon vivant lawyer Stone Barrington that I find to be great fun.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, August 25, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Texas, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grass Roots (Mass Market Paperback)

I really did not expect to like this book by Woods, but as I began to read it, it was wonderful!!! I was so intrigued by the plot and the introduction of the new characters, it was impossible to put the book down. Will Lee happens to be under extreme pressure during this campaign, while at the same time, Michael Keane, retired cop, is under pressure trying to find a ruthless killer. Unknowingly, these two men are very closely tied to each other......I would very much recommend this book for a very good weekend read

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Grass Roots, August 20, 2004

By 

R. L. Nelson (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grass Roots (Mass Market Paperback)

Other reviewers have reported this book as Grisham-like. I agree. The characters are neither developed nor particularly likeable. Reference to the main character's (Will Lee) love interest throughout the book is by first and last name. This is indicative of the real emotional attachment. Stone Barrington isn't the greatest character in crime fiction, but he certainly beats Will Lee.