"Santa Fe Dead" Review

by Stuart Woods

Penguin Audio
Audio CD
$29.95 or as low as $8.95 from Amazon.com

This third audiobook from Stuart Woods' thrillers featuring Ed Eagle, the attorney in New Mexico, begins with Ed and his girlfriend Susannah Wilde watching a trial on TV in San Diego in which Ed's ex-wife Barbara is charged with the murder of two people she mistook for Ed and Susannah. Just before the jury returns a Not Guilty verdict, Barabara escapes from custody. Barbara flees into the arms of a newly wealthy attorney whose only attraction for her is his bank account. He gets the escape charges dismissed and soon, incredibly soon, thereafter, they marry.

The hits just keep on coming when a movie producer hires Ed to find his wife and stepson who have been kidnapped. The two turn up murdered, but Ed is disturbed when the producer doesn't seem to feel the loss at all. All he cares about is the inheritance from his wife's estate. Hmm...

You can pick this book apart as much as you like. If you manage to truly suspend your disbelief, you'll enjoy listening to the story read by the talented Michael Kramer who gives life to these odd characters. This is not Stuart Woods' best effort by a long shot. But its just perfect for a summer car trip when you don't want to invest too much intellectual capital in anything more serious than your choice of sunblock.