L.A. DEAD

Stuart Woods is an accomplished thriller writer, and he doesn't disappoint with L.A. DEAD, the story of cop-turned-lawyer Stone Barrington. Murder mysteries often ask the reader to suspend some sense of reality; L.A. DEAD requires it. Barrington is engaged to the daughter of a Mafia chieftain and is about to be married in Italy when he is called to Hollywood to investigate the mysterious death of his former lover's movie star husband. Barrington leaves his bride at the papal altar and returns to assist his former fiancee; while investigating, Barrington seduces virtually every female character and then jilts his mob bride, whose prior husband died mysteriously. Although the abridgment loses some character development, Tony Roberts's narration paces the story, particularly his use of accents. L.A. DEAD is an entertaining listen. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]