In Harm's Way (Walt Fleming Novel) [Hardcover]

Ridley Pearson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2010 | Series: Walt Fleming Novel

The New York Times-bestselling author delivers another extraordinary Walt Fleming thriller.

Sun Valley sheriff Walt Fleming's budding relationship with photographer Fiona Kenshaw hits a rough patch after Fiona is involved in a heroic river rescue and she attempts to duck the press. Despite her job and her laudable actions, she begs Walt to keep her photo out of the paper, avoiding him when he can't.

Then Walt gets a phone call that changes everything: Lou Boldt, a police sergeant out of Seattle, calls to report that a recent murder may have a Sun Valley connection. After a badly beaten body is discovered just off a local highway, Walt knows there is a link-but can he pull the pieces together in time?

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Pearson's subpar fourth crime thriller featuring Idaho lawman Walt Fleming (after Killer Summer), Sheriff Fleming is honored to receive a request for help from legendary Seattle homicide detective Lou Boldt (another Pearson series lead), who's after the killer of Caroline Vetta, a woman with a history of dating professional sports figures. Fleming assists his colleague by setting up interviews with two persons of interest in his jurisdiction, sports agent Vince Wynn and former football team owner Marty Boatwright. When another person connected with the victim, retired linebacker Martel Gale, is found bludgeoned to death, Fleming's inquiries lead him to some uncomfortable conclusions. The identity of Gale's killer may strike some as a cop-out, while Fleming's romance with subordinate Fiona Kenshaw never rises above formula ("If I could wrap up all the happiness in the world into a package, if I could give you that, I would"). With any luck, Pearson will get back on track in the next installment. Author tour.
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From Booklist

It’s clear from the beginning that Idaho sheriff Walt Fleming loves Fiona Kenshaw, caretaker of a local estate and part-time sheriff’s photographer. It’s also clear that Kenshaw loves him back, but she has a secret she won’t share. Her heroic rescue of a small child pushes her face on the front pages of the Sun Valley paper, and her past finds her. But before she comes clean, she’s knocked on the head by an unknown assailant, whom Fleming thinks may be linked to a local murder and possibly to the death of young Seattle woman. As his investigation spreads out, however, he discovers Fiona isn’t the only one who has secrets, several of which are linked to the crimes. Pearson shows his talent for thrills early on in Fiona’s dynamite rescue sequence, but excitement takes a backseat to a muddied plot with some distracting, oddly stunted dialogue. Pearson has written a number of edge-of-seat thrillers, but although this novel is sufficiently entertaining, it lacks both the taut plotting and intricate excitement of his best work. --Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (August 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399156542
• ISBN-13: 978-0399156540
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ridley Pearson (www.ridleypearson.com), the first American to be awarded the Raymond Chandler/Fulbright Fellowship in Detective Fiction at Wadham College, Oxford University, is the bestselling author of over 35 novels including, Peter And the Starcatchers (co-written with Dave Barry), the young adult novel, The Kingdom Keepers, and two dozen crime novels including: Probable Cause, Beyond Recognition and Killer Weekend (July 2007). His novel The Diary Of Ellen Rimbauer, a prequel to a Stephen King miniseries, was a New York Times #1 bestseller, as was Peter and the Shadow Thieves (#1 for 6 weeks). Ridley adapted The Diary Of Ellen Rimbaurer for ABC Television; it aired in 2003.

Peter and the Starcatchers is to open as a stage play, off-Broadway in March 2011, under Disney Theatrical.

Ridley is a founding member of, and plays bass guitar in, the all-author rock band, The Rockbottom Remainders (www.rockbottomremainders.com), with Dave Barry, Stephen King, Scott Turow, Mitch Albom, Amy Tan and Greg Iles. The band has raised over 2.5 million dollars for charities over its 18 year history.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I agree with the Publisher's Weekly review..., October 8, 2010

By 

Book Diva "BD" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Harm's Way (Walt Fleming Novel) (Hardcover)

This is a frustrating read.

It's difficult to care about any of the characters, particularly the female lead, who is so unlovable and irritating that it's hard to believe the Sheriff cares about her. The most enjoyable (and realistic) character is the dog, Beatrice.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IN HARM'S WAY is a suspenseful novel that challenges armchair detectives in many ways, August 9, 2010

By 

Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Harm's Way (Walt Fleming Novel) (Hardcover)

Walt Fleming and Lou Boldt, Ridley Pearson's intrepid heroes, meet to work cases in this newest installment of the Killer series. Lou has starred in Pearson's books for years, and the younger Walt has appeared in three previous police procedurals. This one takes place in Sun Valley, Idaho, rich in natural beauty and populated by the wealthy, famous and, in some cases, infamous.

Lou, the Seattle connection, and Walt get hooked up to solve several murders. A woman was killed in Lou's jurisdiction, and he thinks a Sun Valley resident may be the culprit. Thus he calls upon Walt to help. Lou decides the best way to do this is to travel to Idaho and work beside his younger colleague.

As the book begins, the first sentence is a stunner: "Glancing out the windshield...Fiona [Kenshaw] spotted a log with flailing arms." She jumps into the fast-moving water and rescues the child, thus becoming a local hero. Fiona, a police photographer, begs Walt to keep her picture from being plastered on the front pages of the local newspapers. He doesn't succeed, and Fiona retreats into an emotional shell. She has a blackout and doesn't remember anything during that time. From this opening, the plot moves at breakneck speed with twists and turns that could give a reader whiplash.

Suddenly, in the midst of this tension, the body of a man is found on the side of a road. He turns out to be Martel Gale, a famous ex-NFL star. Walt and Lou realize that he is the link between their two cases. Sports agent Vince Wynn and former football team owner Marty Boatwright shoot right to the top of the suspect list. But without evidence, neither Walt nor Lou can move ahead with their investigations.

Meanwhile, Walt has other problems. He is trying to cope with the break-up of his marriage and take care of his twin girls. As a cop, his time is not always his own, and he feels guilty when he has to leave his daughters with sitters or break promises to them. On top of that, a series of break-ins attributed to wild bears is cluttering his calendar.

As the investigation moves along, one prong points to Fiona. Could she be the murderer? She has a ward that she is trying to help recover from a brutal rape and beating. Kira is making great progress, but she knows her mentor's secret. Can she remain quiet as the churning facts seem to put Fiona at risk?

IN HARM'S WAY is a suspenseful novel that challenges armchair detectives in many ways. Red herrings and real clues are scattered along the trail just begging readers to follow them to the unexpected outcome. This is a perfect beach, airplane, or vacation read.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good Writer Gets Lazy, December 23, 2010

By 

J. Falk (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Harm's Way (Walt Fleming Novel) (Hardcover)

This was just awful. It seems as if Mr. Pearson was barely able to pick up his pen and push it across a piece of paper. Four novels about a whiney, boring Sheriff makes me believe that the real Walt Fleming must cringe whenever a new book comes out using his name. I won't be reading Ridley Pearson again until he returns us to Seattle and the Bolt-Matthews-LaMoia gang -- he should pack up the dog, Beatrice, and send her as well since she was the best thing about this book.