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)

Chiefs: Slow Start .... Didn't Want It To End...

Worth a listen again and again. I enjoyed this story and the length (17.5 hours) added to my enjoyment. I picked this one based on the many glowing reviews but especially on the recommendation of a member that I follow. Yes, it was a bit slow picking up speed, but when it did you knew something about the major players and their back story as well as some of the interconnected relationships .... which helped to increase my interest and elevated the mystery of the story.

The Publisher's Summary is good, but this story is more than a "serial killer" type murder mystery. Yeah, the murders that happened across three or four generations are the glue that holds the story together, but it is also about the deep cultural elements of Delano's southern small-town attitudes and behaviors. Be sure to read reviews by Jean of Sana Cruz and Richard Delman of San Francisco ... but most, if not all reviews of this story are glowing.

This mystery is about crime and deception. The in-depth character development in the early chapters helped make the people even more memorable. The mystery hangs on exposing the sexually depraved man. We learn in the very first two or three sentences that there is a sexually depraved man in town. There are lots of suspense, political dealings, and family interactions as we are drawn into the life of a small town in the racially divided South.

The mystery and suspense are intense and is maintained throughout. It grabbed me by my emotional throat and didn't let go until the end. The ending was very fitting to the overall story. There are very few novels that have captured my attention and held my interest so completely as this story. It feels like you are drawn into the town and into the character's lives. Well worth the credit and time. Highly Recommend.....

The narrator, Mark Hammer's performance was on point.

Sinister Happenings in Small Town Georgia

Would you consider the audio edition of Chiefs to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version so I can't compare, but Mark Hammer is an excellent narrator. The dialogue, the descriptions of small town Georgia, the depth of racism in the 1920s and the upheaval of integration moving into the 1960s were vividly portrayed through the audio version.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot kept my interest and there were many moments where it kept me on the edge of my seat, mostly because it was told in stages. This is about three police chiefs in a small town in Georgia who gain information about missing boys who have traveled through the area.. Beginning in the 1920s and continuing into the 1960s, each of these chiefs gains information about a predator, but his capture is a long time coming. This momentum toward resolution drives the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

The climax of the story towards which this novel had been building.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The victimization of the young boys.

Any additional comments?

This book is #1 in the Will Lee series and I liked it a lot. I chose to read it after seeing several positive Audible reviews. If I had not read those reviews, I probably would not have chosen this book, because I am not a fan of Stuart Woods "Stone Barrington" series.

One of the best listens in the last six months.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is storytelling at it's best.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Chiefs of course.

Have you listened to any of Mark Hammer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I believe this might have been my first Mark Hammer. In other authors series I would typically select Dick Hill or a name I was familiar with. But Hammer did not disappoint me at all.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yeh, I had a reaction. I hated to turn the thing off to go to bed.

Any additional comments?

Looks like this was his first book. I don't know how many revisions he went through but by golly he got it right!

Great Epic

An epic that spans 50+ years that is written beautifully. I had a hard time putting this down because of the very realistic characters and the anticipated capture of a serial killer. The narration was spot on and reminded me a bit of my favorite, George Guidall. I won't reiterate the plot of the story, suffice to say I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes epics with a mystery background mixed with a bit of history. Adding this one to my favorites.

Honest Characterizations of the Old South

I grew up in a small southern town in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Woods accurately portrayed the times and the struggles of change with the tension of a mystery. The narrator captured the cadence of Southern speech wonderfully. I was transported to my childhood. Highly recommend it.

First review... ever!

Wow! This book hooked me and led to a couple of sleepless nights. I am not a fan of the Stone Barrington books... too shallow. This book has depth and well developed characters. It made me cry, it made me laugh, and it entertained. If you are a fan of Greg Isles’ Penn Cage novels, you will love this book.

Great Story

This was a top notch story. The posted summary of this book doesn't do it justice. I bought it based upon the strength of its reviews. I've never read Stuart Woods but I'll certainly look for more. This was a good story, nice plot, good pace, interesting (if not always likeable) characters.

The narration was excellent, too.

Absolutely riveting performance!

Where does Chiefs rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Chiefs is one of the most fascinating books I have heard in a long time.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This book kept me awake all night, I couldn't turn it off!

Have you listened to any of Mark Hammer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Mark Hammer was spot-on with the voices in this story. His interpretation of the differences in dialect of the various characters was masterful. He caught every nuance.

Any additional comments?

The story comes to a very satisfactory conclusion.

Enjoyed thoroughly!

This was a great read for anyone that enjoys generational storytelling. I've never read this author before but now will add him to my list of favorites. I couldn't put it down!

The best of Stuart Woods!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a great listen.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I could hardly put it down!

What does Mark Hammer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mark Hammer's delivery was a little slow at times but his voice seem to fit the story.

Any additional comments?

This is the best Stuart Woods I've read. I didn't know he had the depth that was required to tell this story.