Book Review: The Putt at the End of the World

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Putt at the End of the World     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
James W. Hall
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Lee K. Abbot, Dave Barry, Richard Bausch, James Crumley, James W. Hall, Tami Hoag, Tim
O'Brien, Ridley Pearson, Les Standiford
Warner, May 2000, $23.95, 242 pp.

Computer mogul Phillip Bates proves he is the richest person in the world when he invites three former golf greats to play a round at his new course. If Senior pro legend Alfonso Zamora, women’s great Rita Shaugnessy, and amateur champion Billy Sprague comes to his course at Rathgave Castle, Scotland, Phillip will pay them several hundred thousand dollars each. Alfonso may be losing his eyesight, Rita may be turning into an alcoholic has-been, and Billy may have gambled away his future, but each agrees to join the pro-am event along with many world leaders and celebrities.

However, an uninvited guest sees this tournament as an opportunity to cause massive destruction by blowing up a list of who’s who. An anti-terrorist law enforcement team hopes to thwart the activist before the planned explosion makes a deep divot that wrecks havoc on the world scene. However, their bumbling reactions seem to only encourage the enemy whose goal is a special hole in one.

THE PUTT AT THE END OF THE WORLD is more than a golf thriller. The story line is a crazy eighteen holes punctuated by a group of weird characters with different agendas. Nine highly regarded authors contribute chapters to the novel. Though their styles vary, not one of them wavers from the main plot. In other words, readers gain a satirical anthology within a novel environment that is fun to read.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner