Ex-con Tyler Pierce thinks he has just gotten his life together, even though there is a temptation to do one last bank robbery. Then he gets the news that his estranged daughter has been killed by a serial killer calling himself the Sweetwater Killer. Heading to Florida to find his daughter's killer, Pierce relies heavily on the contacts he made when he was on the inside. 4 cassettes.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
There's little to surprise veteran thriller readers in Smith's new crime novel (after Karma, 1994), and not much to please them either. The villain is a familiar sort?a serial killer?as are her pursuers, aging robber Tyler Pierce, who's an ex-con, and Naomi Cohen, an erstwhile prostitute with a heart of gold. Despite rich detailing, these two heroes in fact seem chipped from any number of Elmore Leonard novels, as does the Florida setting. The set-up is strong: after ripping off an armored van shipment, Pierce learns that his daughter has been slain in Florida by the maniac known as the Sweetwater killer. Heading south to find the murderer and extract revenge, he hires Naomi as his local guide and sorts out clues, running up against a bent cop, drug runners and other oddballs. There's no mystery, since readers are told the killer's identity early on, and there's scant suspense as Smith devotes too much space to interplay, sometimes cute, sometimes maudlin, between his leads. Fierce action too rarely punctuates the narrative. The most extended action sequence?of Pierce struggling naked through lethal swamps as a hurricane sweeps by?is powerful but seems arbitrarily inserted for effect. Even the killer's motivation?rage against abortions?appears more calculated than realistic, and leads to some intrusive pro-choice soapboxing. A pat ending laced with symbolism only confirms that Smith is straining here, etching a novel that, despite some crisp lines, winds up feeling as bogus as a three-dollar bill.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Florida is being terrorized by the Sweetwater Killer, whose pattern is to slash the throats of women wearing uniforms. When the latest victim turns out to be the daughter of Tyler Pierce, a "rehabilitated" ex-con, Pierce takes matters into his own hands and embarks upon a dangerous investigation. In a bizarre change of scene, the real killer?a nurse at a woman's clinic?is slowly and chillingly revealed. Learning the killer's identity early on does not detract from the story but rather adds to the intensity and intrigue of this finely crafted tale. Full of colorful characters amazingly brought to life by reader Jay O. Sanders's uncanny ability to define personalities, the program's only drawback is that it all ends too soon. This first-rate blend of suspense, psychological thrills, and crime will be a worthy addition to any adult fiction collection.?Susan McCaffrey, Sturgis Public Sch. Lib., Mich.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tropical chills...,
By
This review is from: Sacrifice (Mass Market Paperback)
Well, I enjoyed this more than I did Karma or Stone City, both by the same author. I found the setting to be believable and learned quite a bit about illegal banking techniques and roofing. And I would read a book centering on any one of the characters in this one; they're that well-written.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In a Different Category,
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This review is from: Sacrifice (Mass Market Paperback)
I read several hundred books a year. I do not like Elmore Leonard; his material is mostly unbelievable and not especially exciting or funny. Most mysteries are formulaic and boring. Smith is a different sort of writer. He's gritty and real in a way that's hard to define. The plot isn't unique, but the treatment made the book. Can not believe the other reviews! Sooo many books are just the same thing; Lescroart, Parker, Cornwell, etc. Smith writes a mystery that's not just off the assembly line.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Extremely Likeable Anti-Hero,
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This review is from: The Sacrifice (Hardcover)
Tyler Pierce is an extremely likeable anti-hero with an odd mixture of flaws and strengths. He is a knight errant with no confidence in the law enforcement establishment and a strong preference for doing things his own way. The author is a skilled writer who introduces the reader to the killer early, but still manages to maintain the suspense to the end.
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