Book Review: Killer Weekend

Reviewed By: Lynn Harnett

Killer Weekend     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Ridley Pearson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Putnam, July 2007

Pearson introduces an appealing new protagonist in this action thriller featuring a wily, resourceful assassin on the trail of a principled attorney general with plans to run for president.

Idaho Sheriff Walt Fleming had saved attorney Elizabeth Shaler’s life eight years before when he was just a rookie. She’s always held him in high regard, an attitude that doesn’t sit so well with the FBI agent in charge or the private security detail supplied by rich supporter, Patrick Cutter.

Shaler plans to announce her candidacy at Cutter’s weekend business conference, a major coup for the local-boy billionaire, and “reliable intel” has been received concerning a “credible threat” on the AG’s life. Friction between the sheriff, the FBI and the private boys, exacerbated by Fleming’s hypercritical, hard-drinking father, a big shot in security, provides the usual bumbling and jostling.

Point of view cuts between Fleming and the assassin, whose plan is as ingenious as it is over the top, while Fleming’s sharp observations and concerns are brushed aside by the FBI and conference organizers while a couple of subplots provide distractions.

Far from Pearson’s best, with undistinguished characters (except for likable Fleming) and a formulaic plot, this is, nevertheless, an entertaining thriller with plenty of action, a very clever bad guy, and a bang-up ending.

Lynn Harnett

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Lynn Harnett