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)

A Great American Novel, well told

In my opinion this book qualifies as a Great American Novel. Stuart Woods's work has captivated me with its story line spanning decades of a little town's history during the 20th century. The story, the American South and the time its playing in, all come alive with a bounty of characters.
Mark Hammer is the perfect reader for this book. He understands the characters, and carries the story.

Man's inhumanity to man

This book will linger long in my mind. Intellectually I know about the easy, blatant discrimination in the south before the 1970s (I know it still exists but I hope it has become less socially acceptable). I know about the petty greed of many (not all) small town politicians. I know that bad men sometimes do good things, or at least try to, and the temptation to step beyond the law can come upon any of us when we believe in something strongly enough.

This book faces each of these issues head on. This was not an easy book for me to listen to, not because of graphic violence, but because it exposed the ugliness of men's souls.

The thread running through the book is the random disappearances of young men who may have passed through the town of Delano. The cases are not tied by time (occurring over 40 years) or evidence or anything but the gut instincts of three temperamentally and professionally divergent chiefs-of-police in the town. There is a lot more to the story than that and in large sections the disappearances do not come into view at all.

The narrator is perfect to my ear and the only complaint I have about the book is that the splicing of one chapter to the next is done very clumsily and was quite jarring to me. Imagine that someone has just said something important to you in a low tone and before they have even finished the last word, loudly says a number. "They all looked towards the door with a sense of finality16!" - not even the briefest pause before the next chapter number is spoken in a loud and firm voice. I know this is from the computerized editing process, but since there are a LOT of chapters in this book, it did become very distracting to me.

A good listen

I,d never heard of the book until they made a TV series out of it. The book is well written and superbly read. Better, as usual, than the TV Movie.

OUTSTANDING!

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Very well written, intriguing story, great characters, very well read. I am very familiar with the later series by this author, but they are short, fun, more or less a short story. This is a REAL novel! Loved it!

An Extraordinary Book

What did you love best about Chiefs?

First, the writing - absolutely beautiful. It is sophisticated and crafted. It is wonderful to listen to - not unlike listening to Dickens which also has a quality of particular lucidity and grace.

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

Yes - great plot - and interwoven with history from the periods that are covered - the 1920 to the 1960's.

Which character – as performed by Mark Hammer – was your favorite?

Mark Hammer is wonderful - he has a slow pace that is perfect for the setting - very small and rural town in Georgia beginning in the late teens and early 20's and taking us into the civil rights era but never outside the point of view of the town and its people. Fascinating, complex, disturbing and oddly understandable from the perspective of history.

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

It is deeply sad and human. And also a great detective novel with all the requisite twists and turns.

Any additional comments?

Stuart knows his subject profoundly. It all comes through the characters - there's very little "told" - this is skillful writing in that his people and the setting of the story takes us through all the threads and connections right up to the end. And it all makes sense in a way that suggests deep and intimate knowledge of the town of Delano, the area, the times and the people.

Great book in all areas!

Would you listen to Chiefs again? Why?

The book is well written with excellent narration. I wish there was a follow up to the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

So many memorable characters it's hard to say. I even liked the bad guys in as much as wishing they would continue as a part of the story line in book 2.

Which character – as performed by Mark Hammer – was your favorite?

Hard to say? He really captures the voices and personalities of each of his characters.

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

Yes, when Billy Lee came to the rescue of Tucker just when Skeeter Willis was about to do him in. Also when Carrie fought off the Klan all by herself. She's my kinda of gal!

Any additional comments?

Please write a sequel to this book or another book along the same story line. Also, it's very important that to stay with Mr. Hammer as your narrator. I'm afraid he would be the only one to carry on the story and make it come alive for the listener!

Beautifully executed expose

This book so accurately portrays life and prejudice in the changing south of the Mid 1900's that it gave me the creeps while compeling me to keep reading. I lived through that time/place .. and this book deserves the accolades it received when first published.

Stuart Woods redeems himself

Stuart Wood is known (notorious) for the B Serie of Stone Barrington (fast-moving and easy reading , but sloppy in characters development and with no so credible plots). This book surprised me by its quality of writing and a well articulated story.
"Chiefs" is the story of three police chiefs in a fast growing Georgia town. The author's knitting together of the crime, the decades, racial issues and three of the town's police chiefs was compelling.
Mark Hammer is great at bringing the atmosphere alive with his slow, southern delivery. Great added value.

Interesting read

The story followed me around every minute I could listen. I'll keep reading this series of Woods writing a real change from Barrington Stone

Excellent story

The story of 3 successive chief of police grips you. The narrator is excellent. Able to move from southern black and white accents to northern with ease, and make and female equally. The length of this book could have been shortened. there were too many superfluous descriptions for my taste. Overall a great listen.