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There are a number of authors whose books I've wanted to read, if only they wrote about different topics, if only they wrote series stuff instead of standalone, if only they didn't write about serial killers. I know that sounds like an excuse not to read someone's work, but when I hear enough times that a writer is talented, but I just don't like what he or she writes about, it's a challenge. Ridley Pearson's one of those. I don't do most serial killer stories, stalking stories, stories about psychopaths and, well, that's what Pearson writes. Even though his series is set where I live, I don't like most thrillers; I try them every so often, but I seldom finish them. So it was worth trying when CUT AND RUN appeared; a standalone, albeit a thriller, by this author. I have a fascination with the Witness Protection program, or WITSEC or whatever it's called now. Perhaps it stems from wondering how people can re-imagine themselves, recreate themselves. I put myself in that position and wonder if it would drive me mad never to do the things I enjoy, never again to live somewhere I chose, never to see family and friends again. Roland Larson's a marshal and he's fallen in love with a witness, Hope Stevens. Things go wrong and they're separated (he was considering going into hiding with her, that's how serious it had gotten) when six years later, she reappears, and he's deeply involved in finding a threat to her. Hope now has a daughter Penny and someone grabs Penny to secure Hope's cooperation. Or death. Hope is now the only person who knows about a series of horrendous crimes, the least of which involves money. But she's opted out of WITSEC and has pretty much survived on her own, being as careful as she can be. CUT AND RUN is fast-paced, as it should be. Breakneck speed, things happening fast, the suspense is well-written and drives the book. The thing I tend to like least about thrillers is the pacing; I like more deliberate timing and most thrillers race from first page to last and this book is no exception. That's not bad, that's just taste. I can't help it, somehow thrillers feel manipulative to me, with every moment leaving the reader breathless. There were parts of this book that I would not and could not read; there's a sadistic person in this book and I do so not want to know about him, even though his personality somewhat mattered to the story. But there were parts that seemed spot on -- using modern technology to communicate in tricky situations, for example, and writing a five-year-old who was believable. I still don't like thrillers, but I can recommend CUT AND RUN. If you like the pacing and speed and style of thrillers, I can't see why you wouldn't enjoy this book. If you're like me, it's still a good book to read, so put it aside for when you're a little tired of more straight-forward mystery fiction and are looking for a book that's fast, engaging and a relatively quick read.
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, March 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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