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"Sun Valley, Idaho -- playground of the wealthy and politically connected -- is home to an annual wine auction that attracts high rollers from across the country, and Blaine County Sheriff Walt Fleming is the one who must ensure it goes off without a hitch. The world's most elite wine connoisseurs have descended on Sun Valley to taste and bid on the world's best wines, including three bottles claimed to have been a gift from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams. With sky-high prices all but guaranteed for these historic items, it's no wonder a group of thieves is out to steal them." (From the Uncorrected Proof of Killer Summer
)I haven't been accepting many ARCs lately, but when I was asked if I would like to review Ridley Pearson's third and newest Walt Fleming novel, I couldn't pass it up. I'm still mourning the end of his Lou Boldt series, but I'm warming up to Walt and I definitely wanted to keep up with his story.
If you decide to pick this one up, hold on to your hats! The plot moves so quickly that more than once I had to check to make sure I hadn't missed a page somewhere. It read like an action movie. It wasn't overly complicated, but there were enough twists to keep things interesting. Walt's personal life gets tangled up in the mystery which results in a few of his relationships being brought to a new level, some better, some worse. It will be fun to see where those go in future installments.
I'm still not as sold on this series as I was on Lou Boldt, but as I've said before, that is not the fault of Pearson's writing. Killer Summer is a very entertaining read and a perfect beach book. And when I give you my thoughts on the next Walt Fleming novel, I won't even mention Lou Boldt. I'm finished whining. I promise! :-)
and it's predecessor, 
, and while I have enjoyed the stories very much, I am having a hard time getting used to the character of Walt Fleming. I find his personal life distracting, with his estranged wife dating his best deputy, his difficulties being a cop and a single father to his two young daughters, and his awkward crush on Fiona the photographer. I admit that this is my own bias. I am a huge fan of Pearson's "Lou Boldt" series, and I want Lou back. I was all wrapped up in his personal life, and I want to know how he's doing. My problem, not Pearson's. I have no idea if I'll ever get my wish or not. In the meantime, I'll continue to follow Walt as long as he keeps on working interesting cases. Maybe he'll work his way into my heart as well as Fiona's!