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)

glad I found it

Saw the movie back in the 1980's, always remembered it. This is an excellent novel, of a small town beginninning in the 1920's, needs and hires a police chief, finds mysterious deaths occurring of teenage boys. The book follows the town for decades, through several chiefs, the deaths always lurking in the under currents. Quite a good listen; I plan to listen to it again. The narrator did great.

very long book

This is a very long story but good. Kept me interested the whole time.

Chiefs

Another great book by Stuart woods. I’m looking forward to many more. Thank you so much

Truly a great novel

This was a terrific bum from start to finish. I hated for it to ever end accept for all the angst I felt in various sections. I am a fan of the performer - Mark Hammer. He is the reader for a number of James Lee Burke novels - he know the south and makes you feel you know every character.

Awesome

Will definitely be recommending this book to everyone that listen to audiobooks. The book hooked you in at the very first and all the way to the end.

Wow!

So compelling and excellently narrated. It’s 3 in the morning and I was on the edge of my seat until the end!

Great book, listened for a third time. Hammer’s narration is great, probably Woods greatest work.

From story to spoken work you can’t ask for better, well done Stuart Woods and Mark Hammer.

Stuart Woods before he Turned Bad

Woods wrote two or three amazing books before he devolved into the James Patterson-like, formulaic book a year for the money-type author (Stone Barrington-drechhhh). This book is a total classic, great characters, intricate and compelling plot line, awesome story telling and a very satisfying long length. An interesting picture of the old south in a small town in rural Georgia.

I read the book back when it first came out, and bought the audiobook recently on a whim during a down month for new titles with an about to expire credit. I was not disappointed.

fascinating story - not much mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did expect more mystery, but the multi-generation story was well-written and kept me interested through the entire 18 hours. The narrator, however, was excrutiatingly slow. His reading voice is clear and methodical, but his southern accents are so slow that it distracts from the story. (I am from Mississippi and I can say the the only person I have ever heard that speaks that slowly has had a stroke!)

Great story!

I was in the mood for a good, can't put it down story and Chiefs delivered. The narration is excellent, the characters very well drawn and the story just pulls you into the book. This is not a great literary masterpiece but sometimes I just need a riveting story to keep my attention while I move through what I usually gravitate to in a strong literary piece. This one hit the spot.