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Clean Kill |
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| Clean Kill by Al Alexander Hard Shell Word Factory - 2000 ISBN 1582005435 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Sheriff Frank Quintana is no stranger to the racism of South Texas. With an Anglo mother and a Hispanic father, he’s had the worst of both worlds. His teenage plan to escape Halliburton and its social disadvantages with the girl of his dreams was shattered when he was yanked from his car and pounded with a bat, while Gina Westcott was spirited away. Eventually, he got over it and went on with his life - but he never forgot. After a stint in the military and a degree in criminal justice, it seemed right to fill the sheriff’s vacancy, especially when it aggravated Judge Wescott. The discovery of the Judge’s son, Thomas, brutally murdered and left on a trash heap in the part of Halliburton known as Tin Town, is the beginning of a whole new nightmare. Predominantly inhabited by Hispanics, Tin Town residents fear railroading - and rightfully so. The Judge wants justice, his way. Quintana is determined to discover the truth, but finds that it’s hard to walk a tightrope when someone’s constantly trying to push him over the edge. It doesn’t take long to figure out that the same guys who wanted him dead all those years ago have returned - and intend to finish the job. Alexander plans a series of Sheriff Quintana mysteries and has laid a firm foundation. CLEAN KILL establishes an accurate, if slightly exaggerated, atmosphere of small town life in south Texas. Alexander’s characters are unusually well-rounded, although they do seem to be a quirky bunch. Of course, everyone knows small towns are filled with eccentric behavior. The strength of this book lies in the structure of political corruption and Quintana’s fight to tame it. Perhaps that, too, is slightly exaggerated but there’s little doubt that the concept is founded in truth. The book starts at a good pace and continues throughout to offer a surprising but reasonable conclusion. It will definitely provoke enough interest to justify another Sheriff Quintana episode. |
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