A Clean Kill

Read A Clean Kill Storyline:

Kate Baneberry died with a whimper, not a bang. One moment she was alive, an attractive woman married to a successful businessman. The next moment she was dead, and no one had the slightest suspicion until a lawyer got involved–and shook the legal system to its core.... Living on Alabama’s warm, windswept Gulf Coast, Tom McInnes attracts troubling cases and troubled clients. With the help of Dr. Kai-Li Cantil, a gorgeous psychologist with a knack for unraveling other people’s secrets, McInnes pries into Kate’s death and soon knows it was no accident. In a world of multimillion-dollar lawsuits, Kate Baneberry signed her own death warrant when she did her civic duty and served on a jury. Because someone out there has grabbed justice by the throat and won’t let go–until all the right people die.... From the Paperback edition.From Publishers WeeklyStewart's third mystery featuring attorney Tom McInnes (after 2000's Dog Island) again combines the suspense, richly textured plot, picturesque Alabama settings, double-crossing characters and sparkling writing that set his first two books apart from the pack. Here, Sheri Baneberry hires Tom to discover the truth behind the death of her mother, who was serving on a jury when she supposedly died of food poisoning. As Tom and his two investigators dig into the Baneberry case, they immediately run into nightmarish trouble. Tom's menaced by an elusive stranger, violent ex-con Zion "Zybo" Thibbodeaux, one of the most complex, frightening characters in recent mystery fiction. Sheri's father and his business partner try to stop the investigation. Influential politicians try to buy Tom off, wrongly accuse him of murdering another lawyer and threaten him with disbarment. The bright spot is Dr. Kai-Li Cantil, an Auburn University psychology professor, whose research contributes to Tom's case and whose friendship and physical allure boost his morale. Eventually, Tom identifies Mrs. Baneberry's murderer, but can he prove the killer did it? Then the enigmatic Thibbodeaux vanishes, perhaps to reappear in another book. A cast of devious characters, most of them hiding secrets that may or may not help Tom, populate this many-layered plot in which answers just lead to more questions. Stewart throws a curveball in the surprising conclusion that will leave mystery fans eagerly awaiting the fourth in the series. Agent, Sally McMillan. (Jan. 7)attorney to write full time. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalWhen Alabama lawyer Tom McInness (Sins of the Brother, Dog Island) looks into a woman's untimely death from food poisoning while she was on jury duty, he suddenly gains the close attention of some very unsavory types. Jeep sabotage, home intrusion, assault, and warnings not to mention the disappearance of his burly investigator and his highly competent ex-stripper assistant create daily problems. Apparently, a well-known legal firm is somehow engineering the removal of recalcitrant jurors from high-money cases. A tense, nerve-wracking narrative, nonstop action, and a tightly mortared plot keep the pages turning. A good choice.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.