http://www.book-blog.com/2008/03/pear... ( )

Ridley Pearson has written a love story to the people and town of Sun Valley, Idaho, disguised as a murder mystery. He fictionalizes real denizens of Sun Valley, including the sheriff Walt Femling (who becomes protagonist Walt Fleming in the book). Mark Aker of the Sun Valley Animal Clinic even gets to keep his real name in the book. Pearson loves these people and it shows. In fact, he must assume we know them as well as he does, since he doesn’t provide much character description.

In mostly very short chapters, Pearson guides us through a whirlwind weekend centered on a famous yearly conference for VIPs. New York State Attorney General Elizabeth Shaler is the keynote speaker and is expected to announce her run for U.S. President. Fleming knows her, since he saved her life eight years previously. Now she’s in danger again, and we all know that only Super Boy Scout Walt Fleming can come to the rescue.

A hired killer, who we meet right away, has several disguises. The plot is a race to see if Walt and other security agents will discover him before he can do away with Shaler. A potential romance between forensic photographer Fiona and the recently divorced Walt spice up the proceedings a bit.

I like Pearson a lot, but I’m glad I read his other books first, especially his Lou Boldt series. This book doesn’t show the same intelligence or depth as his others. Nevertheless, his love for the characters brings warmth to the story, and it was still diverting if not exceptional.

(JAF) ( )

http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.co... ( )

One of the wealthiest men in the country, Patrick Cutter, is hosting a conference in Sun Valley that will culminate in the announcement of Elizabeth Shaler's candidacy for President. Sheriff Walt Fleming, responsible for saving Elizabeth's life once before, is working with the Secret Service and an assortment of private security personnel to make certain Elizabeth's announcement comes off as planned. When Walt is informed that a unidentifiable body was discovered in the Salt Lake City Airport, he is certain that the murder is tied to Elizabeth. As evidence builds and points to an assassin hired to terminate the future Presidential candidate, Walt has his work cut out for him to find the killer in time. While Pearson's Lou Boldt is still this reader's favorite, future titles featuring Sheriff Walt Fleming may join the list of popular police characters.