• Smash Cut

  • A Novel
  • By: Sandra Brown
  • Narrated by: Victor Slezak
  • Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,611 ratings)

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Smash Cut  By  cover art

Smash Cut

By: Sandra Brown
Narrated by: Victor Slezak
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Publisher's summary

THE PRINCIPALS

Paul Wheeler. CEO of the Wheeler Enterprises empire. At age 52, he's a pillar of Atlanta society and a brilliant businessman. But Paul is out of the picture even before the opening credits -- shot dead during an armed robbery.

Julie Rutledge. A savvy, cultured, and attractive Southern woman, seasoned by a stint of study and romance in Paris. She owns the city's most successful and sophisticated art gallery on Peachtree Street. She was also Paul Wheeler's weekly companion at the hotel where he was murdered and was hand in hand with him at the time of his death.

Derek Mitchell. A defense lawyer of renown. Successful, handsome, and despised by the Atlanta PD for his courtroom victories, he goes to the mat to make a case for every client - and headlines for himself. A guilty verdict is not an option. Yet he's not entirely without a conscience, as proven when his life takes a terrible turn toward the cinematic.

Creighton Wheeler. The prodigal nephew of Paul. With movie-star looks and guileless blue eyes, the 28-year-old playboy has a penchant for call girls, fast cars, and designer clothes. But his passion is movies. He studies them, quotes them...and lives them. Even those closest to Creighton can't be sure when he exits reality and enters the fantasy world of films.

STORYBOARD

The murder of Paul Wheeler has all the elements of a blockbuster: family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress. It's a case that could earn Derek Mitchell even greater star power. When the Wheeler family approaches him about defending Creighton for his uncle's murder -- even before he's charged -- he jumps at the chance.

But Derek soon discovers that Julie will stop at nothing to secure justice for Paul...

©2009 Simon & Schuster (P)2009 Sandra Brown Management Ltd

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What listeners say about Smash Cut

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Mystery/Thriller... One of SB's Best

I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Sandra Brown read by Victor Slezak is a match made in heaven for me. Mostly it's SB's writing skills that provide the meat that Victor turns into a mouth watering meal... If you like thrillers that are not overwhelmingly filled with "blood and guts" then you will most likely like this one. It's memorable.

This story is about a murder. Two mostly likely culprits are suspicioned early on, but SB's clever writing keep you guessing. Not many sex scenes or bad language in this one. But an early chapter offers a romantic encounter involving an airplane bathroom! but it is not overly descriptive.

The bad guy in this novel is a movie buff. He loved using popular movie lines that have found a life of their own and are used frequently in everyday life. Movie lines such as: "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" which was not used in this novel but is an example of the kind of lines that this bad boy liked and used often. I loved the subtle way SB weaved the dialog from movies into the story. The characters were unique and intriguing. The twists and turns during the last few chapters of the story are superb.
The bad guy is really mentally disturbed. In this novel, he is called a sociopath but I think that he is a psychopath.

Sociopath: Any crimes committed by a sociopath, including murder, will tend to be haphazard, disorganized and spontaneous rather than planned. Psychopaths, on the other hand, carefully plans out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. Unlike their sociopathic counterparts, psychopathic criminals are cool, calm, and meticulous. Their crimes, whether violent or non-violent, will be highly organized and generally offer few clues for authorities to pursue.

I wrote all the above to help explain why the bad boy in this story is a psychopath. He is clever, charming, and he planned his diabolical doings very carefully. I am a huge Sandra Brown fan and have enjoyed quite a few of her novels.... I highly recommend this one.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A pleasant surprise

When I read the description of this novel, I wondered if it would hold my interest. What tipped the scales to buy it was Victor Slezak. I thoroughly enjoy his story telling. He reminds me of Humphrey Bower of Bryce Courtenay fame.
Smash Cut is a fast paced novel with the central evil character as real and well-defined as those of James Lee Burke. I also like the way Sandra Brown paints the background, the small, insignificant details of life often omitted in other books. Not surprising, there are many surprises as is the norm with Brown.
I also believe the inclusion of the dog, Maggie, was a brilliant stroke. The movie motif was quite creative.
This is well worth downloading.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another great Sandra Brown novel

Envy is still my favorite Sandra Brown novel, but this one is also great! Victor Slezak does another great job narrating. He could make anything interesting!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Suspense at it's finest

On one hand I wanted to hear the end to see "who really done it." Truthhfully though, I did not want it to end. The story captured my interest so much I was listening to this audiobook in my car, at the gym, in my home, etc. This is Sandra Brown at her best.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

One of the Good Ones.

Would you listen to Smash Cut again? Why?

Probably. The story has enough twists and turns that I probably forgot half of them. The characte development and the intrigue and twist of the story is enough for a relisten though.

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

Totally. When Sandra Brown writes well, she writes well. When she wants a plot to just COME TOGETHER she can do amazing things.

Which character – as performed by Victor Slezak – was your favorite?

It's been a long time, so I can't remember their names, but it would have to be the Main MC or his detective.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I love listening to Victor Slezak. He does a number of Sandra Brown's well done stories and I always enjoy them.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Too Much Romance

Smash Cut is certainly a decent book, but it contains more romance than mystery or thriller. Also, the female characters lack depth.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Listening

Some of the reviews stated there was too much romance in the book but I thought there was less romance in this particular Brown book and more drama and suspense. In any case, it is one of my favorite Brown books. I wish I hadn't listened to it so recently so that I could listen to it again!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Bad Guy With Interesting Hobby

That is about the only thing novel in this novel. It contains Brown's expected contents lovers and thrills, a twist or two a lots of fairly explicit um.... love scenes. (Sex scenes sounds so crass.) She has written so many fine books I suffer "Too high expectation syndrome" meaning when you expect the best and get above average you're a tad disappointed. (it works both ways when something you expect to be junk turns out well you give it high marks. Still, if you're a Brown fan don't pass it up. If you only have $ to spend on the BEST well, this books doesn't quite make the.uh,... cut.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite SB ever!

The book is well crafted and holds your attention throughout the entire book. I've listened to it 4 or 5 times and like it every time. My husband even really liked the book. We both enjoy classic movies, so it's great the way she weaves dialog and plots from movies into the story. And of course, anything Victor Slezak reads is always terrific.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Syrup-y Romance Novel

This is the first Sandra Brown book I've read and doubt that I would purchase another if they are all like this. I thought the book was a mystery thriller, but it is a romance novel,and unfortunately, sounds like the it was written by a teenage girl with a teenage girl's view of romance. Very predictable with many cliches. I agree with the reviewer that said the women characters lacked depth, but the main male character is just as light. Not my type of book.

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4 people found this helpful