Smash Cut [Kindle Edition]

Sandra Brown (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. This superlative romantic thriller from bestseller Brown (Smoke Screen) features a particularly memorable villain, sociopath Creighton Wheeler, who's obsessed with re-enacting scenes from films like Strangers on a Train and Frenzy. When Creighton's wealthy uncle, Paul Wheeler, is shot dead in an apparent robbery at an Atlanta hotel, Paul's close friend, gallery owner Julie Rutledge, attempts to persuade the police that Creighton ordered the hit. Creighton's father asks Derek Mitchell, a criminal lawyer, to represent the accused Creighton, but Derek declines because he had a plane tryst en route to Paris with Julie after Paul's murder. Angered by Derek's refusal, Creighton stalks Julie; targets Derek's dog, Maggie; and plots to kill the ex-girlfriend of his henchman, Billy Duke, after Billy has second thoughts about helping Creighton. Brown skillfully charts Julie and Derek's quest to catch the slippery fiend. Multiple smash cuts (abrupt scene shifts) lead to a wonderfully frenzied finish. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Most crime thrillers come from male authors. But with Smash Cut, Sandra Brown shows that she's right up with the best of the boys.... [Brown's] dialogue snaps, crackles and pops, and her characters rise above cliché. Smash Cut deserves to be this summer's blockbuster thriller." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 648 KB
• Print Length: 388 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1416563083
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (August 11, 2009)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002IFSR6Y
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,598 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Sandra Brown is the author of sixty New York Times bestsellers, including RAINWATER (2010), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), HELLO, DARKNESS (2003), THE CRUSH (2002), ENVY (2001), THE SWITCH (2000), THE ALIBI (1999), UNSPEAKABLE (1998) and FAT TUESDAY (1997), all of which have jumped onto the Times bestseller list in the number one to five spot.

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program "PM Magazine."

She is much in demand as a speaker and guest television hostess. Her episode on truTV's "Murder by the Book" premiered the series in 2008 and she was one of the launch authors for Investigation Discovery's new series, "Hardcover Mysteries."

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer's Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost in a world of sordid lust and carnal desires, August 11, 2009

By 

Lace Merlinds - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smash Cut: A Novel (Hardcover)

Sandra Brown is among the best writers that adds suspense-filled overtones to an underlining romantic plotline. Her newest book, Smash Cut, is just another example of her brilliant pen work. The book begins with the murder of a highly successful, well-recognizable CEO, Paul Wheeler. What at first seems like a simple robbery, however, is proving to be anything but.

The Atlanta businessman had romantic entanglements with one of the most successful art dealers in the Southern US, Julie Rutledge, may be the only viable witness alive.

As this case dominates the headlines, the world renown defense lawyer, Derek Mitchell, is hired by the family to defend, Creighton Wheeler, the nephew of Paul, whom has yet to be charged with the crime.

This is a bold move from the family and it raises all sorts of red flags. But laying in wait is Julie, who is committed to bringing justice to Paul, and is willing to do all she can to see that it happens -- and her first task is to prevent the incredibly handsome, Derek Mitchell, from defending the case.

This latest book by Ms. Brown moves along at a blinding pace. The book starts fast and only gains momentum. The twist and turns are so unpredictable, that you cannot see them coming. For instance: Creighton Wheeler is the primary suspect, yet has an alibi for the night of the crime. But if he is not guilty, then why did the family rush and hire the best defense lawyer in the business? And what role did, Julie Rutledge, truly play in all this? Remember, she is the viable witness?

The characters are brilliantly constructed and mesmerize the reader by inviting them into this world of sordid lust and carnal desires. I highly recommend it. Another book I would highly recommend is GE0 TIN'S masterful novel SIRENS: Sirens (Enchanted Song) it is another incredibly crafted novel the features the dual genre.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Put this one on your must-read list, October 5, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: Smash Cut: A Novel (Hardcover)

Sandra Brown is one of the few authors who is able to guarantee an enviable level of book sales with the presence of her name on the cover. And with SMASH CUT, her latest novel, Brown gives her readers their money's worth by delivering what may be her best work to date, blending characters, plot and memorable vignettes into a rapidly readable mix.

SMASH CUT begins with a murder. A daring robbery carried out on an elevator at the Moultrie Hotel in Atlanta by a ski-masked bandit ends with the murder of Paul Wheeler, the CEO of Wheeler Enterprises. A widower who is a well-regarded pillar of Atlanta society, Paul was also a highly successful businessman. And it had been his practice to meet weekly at the Moultrie with Julie Rutledge, who, despite the disparity in age between herself and Paul, had been his companion for almost two years. Julie, the owner of Atlanta's most successful art gallery, had just concluded her weekly meeting with Paul when he was murdered. The police initially have no significant leads as to the identity of the killer, although Creighton Wheeler, a thoroughly unsympathetic character, has the most to gain from his death, given that he is Paul's nephew and testamentary heir.

Despite the best efforts of Creighton's father, Doug, the 28-year-old waste of skin has absolutely no interest in the family business other than the extent to which it can be a cash cow to feed the maw of his own interests: call girls, fast cars, designer clothes, and --- most of all --- films, which he watches obsessively. When the police investigating Paul's murder begin paying close attention to Creighton's affairs, Doug looks to Derek Mitchell, Atlanta's pre-eminent defense attorney, for representation.

Derek is unaware of what has taken place when he is initially contacted by Doug as he had just returned from a vacation in Paris. And although Derek is intrigued by the case, he ultimately turns it down, telling Doug that Creighton, who has an airtight alibi, is not a viable suspect in the case. But the reader soon learns that the truth goes deeper than that. Although Derek has an extreme distaste for Creighton, the real reason he denies the case is because he is attracted to Julie, which would produce a conflict of interest. When Creighton, who has always harbored a deep dislike of Julie, becomes aware of the attraction, it puts Julie and Derek --- as well as the real killer --- in his crosshairs as Julie slowly and inexorably becomes the primary focus of the police investigation.

This state of affairs occurs as the result of Creighton's machinations. As unlikable as he may be, Creighton is a diabolical genius as well as an uncontrollable narcissist who will do anything to get what he wants. Using scenes from the classic films with which he is obsessed, Creighton blazes a trail of mayhem across Atlanta, with his ultimate target being an innocent who unwittingly holds the key to Paul's murder. As Julie and Derek race to bring down Creighton, even as they themselves are pursued by the police, they get closer and closer to a climax where they must try to stop a seemingly untouchable foe.

Sandra Brown's pacing and characterization make SMASH CUT a one-sit read. She saves her biggest surprises for the final pages of the story but sprinkles nuggets throughout with generous doses of sex and violence along the way. Put this one on your must-read list.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

46 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Uninteresting, August 17, 2009

By 

Jill Marie (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smash Cut: A Novel (Hardcover)

Lately it seems a few of my favorite authors are not writing as well as they used to. I guess after so many novels you either run out of ideas or just get lazy.

This book was OK. I skimmed a lot of it. The dialogue was sort of dumb. Just in the first chapter alone the word "culprit" was used half dozen times to describe the bad guy. In Chapter 18, Sharon Wheeler was referred to as Susan more than once. Where's the editing? The movie references with the nephew were pointless. And if Uncle Paul disliked him so much why would he (Creighton) have been the heir to the fortune?

I really had to force myself to finish this book. I would go into more detail but I don't want to spoil the story. I'm just glad I bought it at Wal-Mart for cheaper price. I should've gone to the library instead.