Monday, March 5, 2012

Santa Fe Edge

Santa Fe Edge by Stuart Woods

Ed Eagle—the six foot seven, take-no-prisoners Santa Fe attorney—is no stranger to murder, corruption, or organized crime—both north and south of the border. His home in Santa Fe, a picturesque desert town where the wealthy enjoy the good life, seems like a welcome retreat from the grit and crime of the big cities.

But looks can be deceiving.

A puzzling murder in a golfer’s hacienda brings in a new client for Ed, but while his time is spent unraveling a complex web of sex, money, and false identity, a much more dangerous threat lurks. A ruthless and implacable enemy who has proved more than a match for him in the past has returned to Santa Fe, and this time she wants nothing less than all-out retribution.

--Santa Fe Edge
by Stuart Woods
Copyright © 2010 by Stuart Woods

My Review

Hmmm…that’s the book I would like to have read.

A more appropriate synopsis of Santa Fe Edge would read: Barbara Eagle, Ed’s ex wife, escapes from her Mexican jail and finds her way back to Santa Fe. She still has murder on her mind with Ed as her target. But when her hired hit-man fails his task, she figures she’ll finally have to take matters into her own hands and do the deed herself. A call from her lawyer, however, changes her plans. Will she finally give up her vendetta against Ed now that she’s inherited a fortune?


Okay, on with the review of the actual story…

Ed Eagle takes on a new client, a golfer whose wife is found dead in their bed. He was out of town, playing in a tournament, so it seems pretty cut-and-dried. And it is. The golfer’s story continues, but without Ed’s involvement. Oh, and the new secretary he hires—and beds—is out to steal his money.

Barbara Eagle returns and continues her machinations. She’s pretty busy throughout this story but only has one encounter with Ed, and that’s through a hit-man she hires. The rest of the time she’s bouncing from house to house and bed to bed. The truth about her now-deceased husband’s will comes out and she’s set to inherit a fortune, one that may just make her give up her murdering ways.

Cupie Dalton and Vittorio, investigator friends of Ed’s, are on Barbara’s trail, trying to keep Ed safe and alive.

Teddy Fay—a refugee from another Stuart Woods series—and his girlfriend Lauren Cade set up housekeeping in Santa Fe, all while successfully dodging one of Lance Cabot’s agents.

And…that’s about it. Nothing much else really happens in this novel. It felt more like a placeholder, something to read while you’re waiting for the next book in the series to come out.

Simple and concise like all Stuart Woods novels, this one left me scratching my head. Not because I couldn’t figure the story out…I was wondering exactly why someone wasted paper printing it and wondering why I spent my money on it.

I give this story TWO STARS.

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