Slow Burn [Hardcover]

G. M. Ford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 1998

Ford's unconventional private detective, Leo Waterman, jolts the P.I. scene like a double shot of espresso from a sleek Seattle coffee bar. When a prestigious global restaurant convention hires Leo to monitor the movements of two adversarial steak house competitors, the detective finds himself served up as the prime suspect in a murder Print ads. 5-city author tour. .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his fourth outing, Seattle PI Leo Waterman (The Bum's Rush, 1997) is hired to save Bunky, a $360,000 prize Angus steer facing death and barbecue by a desperate steak house owner. Jack Del Fuego hopes to generate publicity for his bankrupt eateries by serving Bunky at his Seattle grand opening. Sir Geoffrey Miles, an overfed authority on food, hires Leo to head off Del Fuego's plan, which threatens to spoil an international gourmet society meeting in Seattle. When Mason Reese (no, not that Mason Reese), a tawdry food critic whose approval Del Fuego needs, is found murdered, the cops think Leo did it, so he must catch the real killer to clear himself. Atop his suspect list are a rival steak restaurateur, Del Fuego's avaricious ex-wife and suites full of greedy hangers-on. For assistance, Leo once again recruits "The Boys," the cadre of aging drunks who stand?or slouch?at the ready to help him with his offbeat cases. Ford pushes credibility by deploying The Boys to snoop around Seattle's finest hotel, but, placed next to the snooty, vengeful rich on the premises, Leo's boozy geezers seem downright genteel. A thoroughly wacky climax in the center of the city involving helicopters, a bull on a pallet, a mammoth barbecue pit and thermodynamics seems just right for Ford's latest, a hugely entertaining, over-the-top caper. Author tour. (Mar.) FYI: In simultaneous publication, Avon will issue the paperback edition of Bum's Rush. Ford's previous Leo Waterman novels were published in hardcover by Walker.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Hired as a security liaison for an international food conference by an eminent food critic, Seattle's Leo Waterman, private investigator, steps into the middle of a food feud between two rival American steak-house chains. Leo taps family connections in city government for information, dolls up some of his usual group of homeless alcoholics to infiltrate a fancy hotel, and even breaks a thumb or two but fails to prevent the murder of his pontificating client. Ford (Cast in Stone, LJ 4/1/96) conveys the larger-than-life suspects, rag-tag operatives, and exaggerated situations with delightful finesse. For most collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (March 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380975564
• ISBN-13: 978-0380975563
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,337,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny and outrageous!, August 21, 2000

By 

nikkib (Redmond, Wa.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Burn (Hardcover)

Even though I figured out "who-dunnit" and why long before the ending of this book, it was still time well spent. I don't believe that I have ever read a book with a such a funny and vivid ending. I woke my husband up at 1:30am laughing while trying to finish this story (hubby, however, did not find it amusing to be woken up by a kackling wife armed with an itty-bitty-booklight :o).

G.M. Ford has won over this reader with all of his Leo Waterman books. He paints Seattle's downtown life with humor, stinging wit and a big heart. Keep them coming!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Slow Burn Never Catches, August 18, 2002

By 

sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Burn (Leo Waterman Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mr. Ford's excellent "Fury" led me to purchase this book, my introduction to Leo Waterman. It was a disappointment. Leo seems like a pale imitation of James Crumley's Milo Milodragovitch with a little of Robert Parker's Spencer thrown in for good measure.

The plot is confusing and depends too much on visuals; nice in a movie but a strain in a book. Leo is hired to protect the good name of the La Cuisine International who are holding their first non-European convention in a five-star Seattle hotel. Employer Sir Geoffrey Miles feels some of the member/participants are in "mortal danger." Two competing magnates of chain steak houses are briskly skirmishing in the courts, a food critic of enormous influence is playing a ruthless game of "who gets the five-stars." Except for the fact that all the characters in "danger" seem uniformly disagreeable, it is difficult to see a compelling reason to kill them. Leo employs his Army of the Homeless for surveillance purposes, much chasing around ensues, great efforts are made to keep one of the steak house owners from having a giant barbeque in downtown Seattle and the food critic is knocked off. The reader solves the mystery about 100 pages ahead of Leo leaving not much but a series of anti-climaxes.

There are some bright spots: Sir Geoffrey Miles is deftly characterized as a Nero Wolfe par excellence and is amusing and entertaining. Mr. Ford does Seattle very well, as I noted in "Fury." He makes it sound so attractive I have to keep repeating to myself "Remember the Rain, remember the rain!" The homeless characters and their lifestyles are interesting and handled with sensitivity.

Perhaps Mr. Ford just had a bad outing. I will try another book, probably without Leo, and hope it rekindles my enthusiasm for Mr. Ford's books. Give "Slow Burn" a pass.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Only in Seattle, April 21, 2002

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Slow Burn (Leo Waterman Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Leo Waterman is a P.I. with independent means who employs an odd assortment of associates. He discovered that the best people to use on a stakeout are the street people who are a normal part of the cityscape. He also gets help from his relatives scattered throughout the city's civil service thanks to the nepotism of his late father.

Leo is hired to defuse a situation between two rival steakhouse chains whose actions might disrupt an international convention at one of Seattle's leading hotels. A side issue is saving Bunky (a prize bull) from being turned into pit roasted beef for the opening of a new steakhouse. Events start to explode when a food critic caught between the rivals gets a bullet in the head.

The action is confined to about one week as events rapidly develop. Along the way, you will obtain some sidelights on Seattle and an overview of the homeless who live their own lifestyle. I won't reveal the ending, but it could only happen in Seattle. It would make a wild motion picture.

The author is correct about the afternoon traffic jam developing at 2:30, as this reviewer discovered to his dismay during a recent visit. It extends from around Everett on the northside to Tacoma on the southern edge. Driving was easier before they built the freeways.