One-Way Ticket

by William G. Tapply

Book Overview

Boston attorney Brady Coyne has a generally placid life with a nice house, a stable relationship, and the occasional fishing trip with old friends. But one balmy June evening, that quiet life begins to fall apart after Brady receives a frantic phone call from his friend and client Dalton Lancaster. Dalt is in the emergency room, having been severely beaten by a group of thugs who warned him that he has a week to pay off his debt. Even worse, the message...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312358296
• ISBN13: 9780312358297
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Flawless book about flawed characters

The title here seems to refer more to the romantic subplot than to the mystery. Evie is at least temporarily leaving Brady Coyne's life and this would be the main point of the title.However, this also deals with gambling addiction and that could metaphorically be called a one-way ticket. Anyway, this is the 2nd recent Brady Coyne book I've read, having read THE DUTCH BLUE ERROR long ago. I found it more engrossing and memorable than HELL BENT. I enjoyed the use of what may be the end of a relationship used as a counterpoint to the case at hand.Well, case may not be the right word since Coyne isn't really acting as a lawyer in this, but as the go-between in an unreported kidnappingas a personal favor for a former classmate and friend. The former friend crashed and burned as a gambling addict and now his son is following the same road owing a tremendous sum to a Boston mobster. He gets kidnapped apparantly for ransom by the mob,but Coye grows to suspect there's more to it than meets the eye.There's fair suspense here and sharp characterization of the victim's family including the guilt-ridden father, his present wife, the boy's mother, and his grandmother who just happens to be a judge. There's also an effective conlict between the judge and lawyer Coyne as to how the kidnap situation should be handled. Mystery fans won't fnd this a great challenge as a mystery puzzle, but the trip is exhilarating and not a one-way ticket at all, not for me. I will be awaiting the next Brad Coyne novel while I catch up on the previous ones in the meantime.

Great Read!

This was my first Brady Coyne novel and I so enjoyed it. Tappley is laid back and brings the action on at a steady pace. It made me buy more!

one way ticket

As usual William Tapply kept me on the edge of my seat. His standards never seem to lessen thank goodness. So r reading his books are not a waste of time.

Is Brady channeling Spenser?

As a long-time Brady Coyne fan, I look forward to each new volume. This time I was not disappointed. Tapply writes flawlessly, creating believable characters and evoking scenes of New England in all its glory. Brady is just a likeable guy, a lawyer who created a career and lifestyle that couldn't be closer to perfect. A few super-rich clients pay for that in-town house and leave Brady time for all those fishing trips. One-Way Ticket is neither a legal procedural nor a police thriller nor even a classic murder mystery. Brady gets roped in (as usual) to help a client in a jam. He finds himself negotiating with Tony Soprano's Massachusetts counterpart - and sounding a lot like Robert Parker's Spenser. Up to now, Brady has always been the smooth sophisticated lawyer. Now he hangs tough. He even talks like Spenser at times, in those clipped tough sentences. Not a problem for me. What is a problem, though, is Brady's relationship with Evie. She comes across as an attractive woman of an appropriate age, but she just doesn't have a spark that would get us interested. She indeed goes through a personal challenge, but I her response seems a little odd. Hopefully the author was looking for a way to write her out of future installments. I could see Brady with that cute police officer. Or I could see him becoming a confirmed bachelor. And ultimately that's the challenge of the series. Brady Coyne may be a smooth lawyer to the rich, but he's presented as a realistic, plausible guy who just gets caught in a lot of situations as he tries to help his clients. Spenser, being larger than life, can attract a partner who's his equal in charisma. We can't let the woman outshine the hero so ... well, who cares? Tapply still writes some of the best murder mysteries around. When I need to curl up on a rainy afternoon, I appreciate that.

In fine form

I am so happy to report that William Tapply is back in fine form with this newest book. Coyne somehow manages to get himself involved with the mob, gamblers and general mayhew ensues. While Tapply's books are always billed as mysteries, I would have to say that One Way Ticket is definitely a mixture of mystery and thriller. It had me reading anxiously and I could not wait to get to the next page. The storyline was excellent and, as always, the writing perfect. One side note: Evie really got on my nerves in this storyline. Tapply really made her sounding line an egotiscal shrew. I have mentioned this in previous reviews, its time to GET RID OF EVIE. She does nothing for the storyline (or the relationship for that matter) and frankly, she kind of dragged down some of the story for me. I think Brady needs to be on his own for a loooonnnggggg while. RUN TO BUY THIS ONE.