A wonderfully-written entertaining book.

Since it is divided into three major sections, it is also an easy one to actually read over three separate days and not have to stay up all night on the first day to finish it!

I have always enjoyed books written by Woods. I placed this one last on my list in great anticipation since the author writes it is his best work. I tend to disagree. I thought it was good but some of his other books are better

This story is about a small town in Georgia called Delano. The story takes you from Delano's founding in 1919 and centers around it's Police Chiefs in 1920, 1946, and 1963. Oh yeah, there is also a serial killer involved.

Stuart Woods is a great story teller who I enjoy reading as I do John Grisham. Woods takes you there into that small Southern town and you feel the moods of the people and the ways of the times. He really does a good job in telling the way a town is formed and goes about getting it's first Police Chief. You also feel the hopes and the fears that a policeman would feel.

There is political intrique and the suspense of a murder mystery. I did enjoy reading this one, but throughout I was left sadden by how cruel people can be to one another.

This is Woods' first published novel and one of his best. It begins with someone running through the woods, trying to get away from someone. They are caught and killed. Jump to the story which begins with the chosing of a new chief in the town of Delano, Georgia. A farmer, William Henry Lee is chosen. He is the first chief to investigate the murder of a teenage boy. He never solves it. In later years it is investigated by a cop who may be even more disturbed then the killer. Then, Georgia's first black chief, who holds a devestating secret. Even though the killer is pretty much figured out near the middle of the book, it is still thrilling to find out how it will all end. The pace is amazing and it is no wonder that it won an Edgar Award.

This book was read after watching the TV mini series. I really enjoyed the book.