Chiefs

By: Stuart Woods

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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)

Great book!

This is one of the best novels. It kept your interest and had a great storyline. Author Stuart woods Kaplan did an excellent job in weaving decades into the culmination of an aged serial killer. Highly recommended

Absolutely outstanding

A truly amazing book. I did not want it to end but I couldn’t put it down. One of my all time favorites.

Great story

One of the best by Stewart Woods. I am from Georgia and could relate to the story. Love that this was narrated by a southern gentleman. I read the book years ago and I enjoyed it being read to me.

The story line kept me suspended!

Loved the story line. Author was hard to listen to on occasion. Overall a great book!

Excellent plot and pace

Moved along great from the start to the finish. The reading was very enjoyable . Fun all the way through

Absolutely Terrific!

I would have to say this is one of the best tales I have ever listened to, watched or read. The characters are authentic, realistic, engaging and compelling. The story is beautifully woven and draws you in to the suspense. Several nights running I stayed up until wee hours, not wanting to put down the player. The narrator was fantastic! He captured the personalities and emotions wonderfully. I don't usually carry on like this about a book or movie, but - if you're not familiar with this tale - don't pass this one by. (I understand it was actually made into a mini-series in the Eighties with some great stars, but I hadn't seen it at the time.)

One of the Best Ever!

If you haven't listened to this book yet, you are really missing something wonderful and unforgettable. Yes, it has been around for a long while which means there are alot of reviews. So don't just take my word for it. Look at the reviews here. (My favorites are from Karen and Linda Lou.)

But let me add a few words of my own. This is a story that engulfed me, one of those books I just couldn't remain on the surface of. The characters are so well-developed that I felt I knew them. I came to really have strong feelings about them--whether I liked them or hated them, there was so much emotion evoked. And when I really care about a character, I feel such fear when they are in danger. At one point--no, at a couple of places--I had to turn the book off, as I couldn't bear to know what happened next. Of course, I braced myself and I went back, as I had to know. I kept telling myself to trust the author and the other reviewers.

Listening to this first book from well-known author Woods was a very rewarding experience. The narration was the best you can find, in my opinion. What is this nonsense about it being too slow? Ridiculous. Mark Hammer had it down perfectly. His cadence and speed matched perfectly what you would expect of the old south. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Perhaps that is why the story was so believable. He is a genius!

Read the story description about the dead police chiefs. There is really SO much more than that here. Look at all the glowing reviews. And do yourself a favor and get this book. I am so glad I did.

Epic story, miserable narrator

This book got me thru 2 long days of cleaning house to get ready for Christmas company and when it ended I felt lonely! The story is engrossing and you really feel that you become friends with the characters. But there were many times I wasn't sure I could stick with it. The narrator sounds like he's been drinking and slurs his words and sounds like he has marbles in his mouth. I would like to read the book again but not with this narrator.
But still, if you are considering this book, definitely go for it because the story is worth the occasional agony you experience from the narrator.

Long and a little slow in narration, but worth it!

This book is a bit epic as it spans 40+ years. However, now that I have finished it, I realize that I truly enjoyed it. Yes, Mark Hammer speaks very slowly and makes everyone sound 65 years old, but since so many characters age so much in the course of the story, it is appropriate.
The story is well crafted with plenty of dramatic and even comedic points. If you are looking for a who-dunnit, this is not it.
Characters are fascinating and different and well thought out. I recommend this audiobook.

Are they ever going to catch that guy?

Read the book, or listen to get my headline question answered. This is a very good book, to start a series of novels about generations of the Lee family. It's actually about 3 separate and very different police chiefs, starting with the first police chief of Delano, Ga. They end up with one case in common.
The book spans approximately 50 years, and can be a very disturbing look at life in the old south. I found myself emotionally involved and fearful for the characters at times. That fear is well founded, as anything can happen.
It's a long narration, read rather slow, so I did skip back and forth with reading and listening, but didn't mind. It was well worth my time.