"Exciting crime thriller"
In his mid forties, Peter Macklin retired several years ago
as a hit man and recently married the much younger Laurie.
They are enjoying their honeymoon in Los Angeles when crime
boss Carlo Maggiore spots Peter. Though Macklin tried to
kill Carlo years ago, business is business so the
mobster "hires" Peter to complete a hit that one of his
thugs messed up. The fee is fifty large ones plus the safe
return of his wife if he kills San Antonio bookie Johns
Davis. Peter hides what he is doing from Laurie, insisting he is
going to Sacramento on business. Instead Peter goes to
Texas to complete the job. Though out of practice, a hit
feels like riding a bike to the retired professional. As
Peter works on the details of how he will execute the
assignment, Laurie realizes that her "baby-sitter" is no
friend of her spouse. She knows that she must depend on
herself to remain safe from this goon, while patiently
waiting until Peter returns to force the truth from him. The latest Macklin tale is an exciting crime thriller that
showcases the talent of award-winning Loren D. Estleman and
demonstrates why the antihero is so popular. The story
line is loaded with action whether Peter is the focus or
Laurie takes center stage. Though the tale fails to
provide Laurie's reactions to Peter's former profession
(stay tuned for that in the next novel), fans of the
author, especially of Macklin, will appreciate this
gratifying thriller. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted April 11, 2002
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Loren D. Estleman, "the absolute best in the hard-boiled
business" (Philadelphia Inquirer), is best known for his
Shamus Award-winning Amos Walker series. Walker's a P.I.;
Peter Macklin, "the ultimate in hard-boiled types"
(Newsday), is a killer--or was. He got out. He quit the
mob, left Detroit, and finally met Laurie, a gorgeous,
smart, passionate woman who makes him feel that perhaps
life holds more for him than the deadly game of his former
profession. Los Angeles. Honeymoon. Only the memories hurt, and she's
so good she knows not to ask him about what he won't
discuss. Then comes the phone call. He's got to travel to Sacramento
to take care of a business matter that he thought was
already settled. It'll just be a day, he tells her, and
then they'll continue their honeymoon. A day passes, and instead of Peter, a man called Abilene
shows up, sent, says Peter's note, to take care of her
while he's gone. But when Laurie tires of Abilene's hick,
country ways and attempts to break away from him, one hard
moment tells her that he's no friend--and that she's having
the Honeymoon from Hell. Peter loves her, doesn't he? If he did, would he leave her
with his "friend"? Peter has his own problems, taking care
of business, nasty business, in San Antonio, and it isn't
pretty. What has he gotten her into? Will it ever end? Or will he
always be a killer? Laurie just wished she could know . . .
but right now, she's not sure she wants to know. And Macklin? He's not sure of anything, anymore.
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