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Chiefs

Will Lee, Book 1

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Chiefs

By: Stuart Woods
Narrated by: Mark Hammer
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About this listen

 In 1919, Delano, Georgia, appoints its first chief of police. Honest and hardworking, the new chief is puzzled when young men start to disappear. But his investigation is ended by the fatal blast from a shotgun. Delano's second chief-of-police is no hero, yet he is also disturbed by what he sees in the missing-persons bulletins. In 1969, when Delano's third chief takes over, the unsolved disappearances still haunt the police files.

Author Stuart Woods' riveting novel spans three generations while also probing deep into Southern small-town attitudes and behavior. The residents of Delano, with their reluctance to disturb a familiar social order, provide the perfect backdrop for this tale of dark secrets and murder.

Over 40 years ago, Woods found a battered chief-of-police badge in his grandmother's house. It had belonged to his grandfather, who had been shot in the line of duty. The story of the lawman's death inspired Woods to write Chiefs, which won an Edgar Award and was made into a popular TV miniseries.

©1981 Stuart Woods (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedurals Small Town & Rural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting

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Critic reviews

"A riveting story of the Deep South that mixes murder mystery with political intrigue." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A fascinating, compelling tale." ( The New York Times)
"The homey wisdom of [Hammer's] voice, coupled with Woods's engaging story, makes this audiobook memorable." ( AudioFile)
All stars
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Excellent book with a really excellent narrator. Detailed about everyday life, with the story progressing over decades in three distinct parts. Gripping and believable social context, characters you engage with, and a hard listen at times; really excellent story.

outstanding book

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I was a bit unsure if I would enjoy the political side of this, but it is brilliantly narrated and written. I tried to make it last, but was unable to let go of the ipod as the plot unfolded.
If you do not listen to this you have missed something special.

Wonderful listen

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A more rounded story than the mini series that seems to have aged well. Not one for anyone sensitive to language, dealing as it does with life in the rural of America in the early part of the last century.

For that reason alone, and it being free to listen to (from time to time) with an Audible subscription, it’s well worth a listen before the softer generation have it banned for its language and portrayal of life back then.

Better than the mini series…

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I've not much to add to what other reviewers have said. This is a very fine book indeed, and works on three levels - as a first class thriller/detective story, as a thoughtful novel of the Deep South's painful evolution from racism, and a very convincing picture of how a town evolves and grows over time. Despite its length, the book never slackens in pace or lose the interest.

The narration is really fine too - apart from a rather clunky English accents for one of the characters, but this is only a minor point.

Strongly recommended.

A very fine book and superbly narrated

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There is nothing of this book I would not recommend: content or narration. The author's knitting together of the crime, the decades, racial issues and three of the town's police chiefs was compelling. There was no point in any of the hours and minutes of listening to this book when I did not care what would happen next. This was also thanks to the beautiful narration. Southern American accents have never been my favourate but I might now have to change my mind.

What a pleasure

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it pains me that no one I ever come across has ever read this book. it is simply the best story I have ever read. I must the 25 times in and it just gets better. the narrative is exceptional, the story never let's up. it is amazing.

My most favourite book of all time

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First rate in every respect, wonderful writing wonderful narration and a complete absence of padding. I just did not want this book to end.

Faultless!

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I have just listened to Chiefs and cannot recommend it too highly; it works both for lovers of a great detective story and those who like a very good story, beautifully narrated.

Like many of the books I've chosen since joining Audible, this is yet another author I seem to have missed - much to my regret - but I certainly cannot wait until next month when I will listen to the same author again.

A wonderful audiobook

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Over the past couple of years I have listened to a constant stream of crime and thriller audiobooks. Though most are enjoyable, there are very few that stand out as memorable. This is one. It is a well written and beautifully read. It made an impression on me to an extent that I remember the plot and characters and enjoyed the fact that not all the ends were tied up at the end. I can recommend this as a truly entertaining download.

Exceptional

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A fascinating listen. It starts gentle and entices you with the story of a small town at its origins, then just as you are drawn into the characters the vice starts to turn and the darkness underneath comes out. Three times you learn to like people then learn to fear for their lives. Three times the social history of America at the grass roots is exposed. Well worth listening to.

Soft and hard

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