A Clean Kill

by Mike Stewart

Book Overview

With his first two mysteries Sins of the Brother and Dog Island, Mike Stewart proved himself an authentic Southern voice (The Charlotte Observer). Now he's back with a third novel of murder, suspense, and legal intrigue--this time set along the affluent Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399148043
• ISBN13: 9780399148040
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Stewart scores another hit!!

Another great work by Mike Stewart!! I won't go into the plot, which has been summarized before. Unlike some other authors, Mike Stewart is sticking with the same basic formula that has made him successful with his previous books - the book is well written, interesting, and, full of action. Zybo is a character that you'll immediately become fascinated with. Overall - GREAT book!! Highly recommended!

A Sparkler

Mike Stewart fulfills the promise shown in "Sins of the Brothers" with this beautifully crafted thriller. He grabs you on page one and doesn't let loose until a few days after you have closed the book. Even then, his puzzling client and the multi-faceted contract criminal, Zybo, will stay with you.What begins as a suspicion of highly imaginative jury tampering expands to include Mobile's judiciary, a blue ribbon law firm, and law enforcement. None of the characters are quite centered. There is not always a clear line between the good guys and the bad. We get answers that open new questions and drive this highly charged story from climax to climax. Tom McInnes is a likeable protagonist, but contradictory enough to keep engaging us. It helps to keep in mind Tom is a member in sometimes not-so-good standing of an Alabama time honored and influential family. His daddy is a man to be reckoned with and is an important, if unseen, part of Tom's makeup. I liked the reality of Tom being a reluctant lover. In spite of psychologist Kai-Li Cantil's awesome perfections, Tom is understandably gun shy from a recent bruising romance. When plot considerations dictate Kai-Li's hiding out in his house for protection, Tom is faintly irritated at too much togetherness.Mike Stewart brings to mind James Lee Burke's power of describing lush southern scenery. The tempers and moods of Mobile Bay are part and parcel of this fascinating yarn. "Clean Kill" is an excellent offbeat thriller sure to win Mr. Stewart many new fans.

A "MUST" Read Book

Mike Stewart is definitely a fresh new southern voice on the literary scene. "A Clean Kill" held my interest with every turning page. This book yielded even more of the mysterious, suspenseful, "must-keep-reading" feeling than John Grisham's "The Firm". This book is so easy to follow, yet so intricately woven that each page leaves you guessing and second guessing. The plot is orchestrated in such a way that you never know what the protagonist, Tom McInnes, will face next. Twists, turns and unexpected scenarios play out to yield a masterfully crafted story. I enjoyed "A Clean Kill" so much that upon completion I HAD TO purchase his first 2 books, "Sins of the Brother" and "Dog Island". This is truly an excellent book which I highly recommend.

exciting and stimulating legal thriller

Kate Baneberry, tired after a long day of jury duty, only wants to get home, eat and go to bed. She manages to convince herself that nobody is in the house with her after hearing strange noises. The next day she is taken to the hospital suffering from symptoms of food poisoning and with treatment she seems to be on the road to recovery until she suffers an unexpected fatal heart attack. Kate's daughter Sheri hires Alabama attorney Tom McInnes to investigate why her mother died when she showed signs of a full recovery. Once Tom takes the case his life changes dramatically. He's followed everywhere he goes by very dangerous looking men, an arrest warrant is issued with his name on it and he attends a bar hearing to see if he's still able to practice law. All his problems will go away if he just drops the case but Tom is a crusader who won't rest until justice is served. Fans of John Grisham's THE FIRM will find this novel even more exciting and stimulating because it doesn't look like the hero is going to obtain justice for his client or himself. MIKE Stewart is a natural born storyteller as evidenced by his work A CLEAN KILL that keeps readers turning the pages to see what happens next.Harriet Klausner

Stewarts writing takes a new, just as good, direction

In this book, Mike Stewart, changes away from the plot that he used in Sins, And Dog Island, to take a more legal/lawyer approach. He still retains his southern authencity set in southern Alabama. The plot still contains more twists and turns than a country road with a new, different direction. You don't run into the characters getting worn out, like you did in Dog Island, because of the new and different plot. 5 star good.