Exile Trust

by Vincent H. O'Neil

Book Overview

Things are about to heat up in the sleepy town of Exile, Florida. When fact-checker Frank Cole is asked to help the Exile Bank update its safe-deposit records, it sounds like a nice, simple job. With the aid of retiree Gray Toliver, Frank starts tracking down bank customers who left the area without emptying their safe-deposit boxes. That's when the temperature starts to rise. Frank learns that an impostor tricked his way into the safe-deposit room...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031238064X
• ISBN13: 9780312380649
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 213 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Mystery News review of Exile Trust, 2008

Mystery News review of Exile Trust, October-November 2008 edition. Frank Cole is grateful when his friend, Exile (Florida) Police Chief Denny Dannon, throws a little work his way. The new job is with an Exile bank anticipating an audit of its safe deposit boxes by a regulatory agency. It seems the records have not been well kept and the bank would like to find the whereabouts of some of its box-holders before auditors swarm in. Frank is not a licensed private eye, but a former software developer/entrepreneur, now a "fact-checker," who works with insurance and investigation companies - so the job's right up his alley. Susan Wilmington, the bank's new manager of the safe-deposit box department, is at first on the defensive but soon figures out that she and Frank will work well together. Susan confides in Frank that she has misgivings about a man she recently allowed into Dorothea Freehoffer's safe deposit box without going through all the proper procedures ... and asks Frank to check it out for her. As it turns out, Mrs. Freehoffer is dead and the man who supposedly accessed the box - her husband Andy - died a year before she did. One thing leads to another and soon Frank is hot on the trail of ... of what, he doesn't exactly know. I love the character of Frank Cole. He's in the Panhandle of Florida after his software development company up north folds, leaving him in an ocean of debt. His lawyer/friend convinces him he needs to lay low for awhile, taking on small jobs for small pay and hoping to convince his creditors he's not worth pursuing. (In that, he's a bit reminiscent of Elaine Viets's protagonist in her dead-end-job mysteries.) I also love the name of the fictional town of Exile, Florida. How perfect! Exile Trust is well paced, well written, and had me cheering Frank on starting with page one. Great secondary characters abound - including Gray Toliver, a retired navy chief petty officer Frank hires to help with the bank job. Exile Trust has soooooo much to like, readers will be praying for more. By Diana. First published in Mystery News, October-November 2008 edition. [...]

You gotta love Frank Cole

Frank Cole is living a life of exile in Exile, Florida, but it is a life he is getting used to although at times he feels the need to take his life on a different route. Frank lost his business and endured a very bad bankruptcy. Mark, Frank's friend and attorney, has advised Frank that he needs to keep a low profile until hopefully some better decisions can come down from the bankruptcy court. In Exile Trust we find Mark Ruben visiting Frank in Florida. Mark is contemplating a move to Florida with his family, but Frank isn't so sure this is a good idea and is not being very encouraging. Denny Danton, Excile's Chief of Police, approaches Frank. Denny has recommended Frank for a job that has come up at the local bank. It seems that auditors will be at the bank soon and the records on the safe deposit books are incomplete. After checking out the situation Frank asks his friend Gray Toliver to help out, and Gray is more than willing to take on the job. One safe deposit box of most interest is owned by a Dorothea Freehofer who was just recently found dead in her home. Dorothea's husband Preston passed away several years ago. Someone with the key to the safe deposit box shows up with Preston's passport for identification and a bank employee gives this person access to the safe deposit box. Now that the bank knows that it could not have been Preston, all stops are pulled out to find out what really is going on. Frank lucks onto an elderly woman in Dorothea's neighborhood who seems to be the only friend Dorethea had. Dorothea left an envelope with the neighbor and now Frank is in possession of the contents of this envelope. Frank's investigation will lead him into old real estate schemes and even murder. This is a great addition to the Frank Cole series. I enjoyed Exile Trust as well as Reduced Circumstances. I haven't read the first book in the series Murder in Exile but I do intend to that soon. Armchair Interviews says: Nice addition to the series.

Fun fast summertime read

Another great book on the misadventures of Frank Cole and his colection weird Florida people! No hi-tech speak like some current TV and books. More about the characters and life in a small town. When is the movie?

fine investigative tale

In Exile, Florida, bank manager Ollie Morton is concerned that the auditors will find discrepancies especially with the safe deposit boxes as the owners have vanished and payments not received. Police Chief Denny Dannon recommends Ollie hire Frank Cole, who needs work due to REDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES, to find the missing clients. The bank's safe-deposit manager Susan Wilmington also informs Frank how a strange person with proper identity claimed to be the husband of Dorothea Freehoffer and emptied her box; soon afterward, they learned Dorothea just died in an accident and her spouse was buried two years ago. Frank investigates the Freehoffer scam that leads him to a real-estate swindle and a two decade old cold case homicide. He begins digging deeper angering those who want illegal activities including fraud and murder to remain a concealed scam. Frank is terrific as he always is (see MURDER IN EXILE) although the plot is so linear, a reader can see the ending almost from the beginning; on a cloudy day you can see forever (or at least the ending) as there are no twists or red herrings. Still Frank is at his best as his simple tracking job turns into an investigation into fraud and murder. Fans of the series will enjoy his latest efforts in Exile. Harriet Klausner

"Trust" me this is good

O'Neil continues in a string of powerful novels with great twists and turns in the plot. Frank Cole is fast becoming my favorite character in the published world. I won't spolil the story but I read this in one sitting. Just could not stop turning pages. You can "Trust" O'Neil to keep the plot moving and the action too. Mr. O'Neil, please keep them coming! and soon!