Fat Tuesday
Sandra BrownPrecise details change with the ages, but you can bet that the first story ever written had something to do with revenge. Sandra Brown continues the tradition with her latest brick of a book, Fat Tuesday. After a gruff 'n' tuff New Orleans narc, Burke Basile, mistakenly blows a hole in his partner's noggin, he vows revenge--not only on the thug who was directly involved, but also on the sleazy kingpin behind it all. And in finest cop-drama tradition, he vows to do it outside the law. Fat Tuesday only begins to cook after Basile turns in his badge and--mixing charm and coercion--enlists various underworld elements in his cause. It's all a little B movie-ish at times, but for every hooker with a heart of gold, there's a fresher character like Gregory, the homosexual hustler who uses his drama degree to Basile's benefit. The villains are bad (can't go wrong with a lawyer), the heroine good, and the hero a big, wounded warrior looking for true love. What's not to like?
From Library JournalPinkie Duvall is evil, a prominent and powerful lawyer whose clients commit most of the crime in New Orleans. He met his wife when she was a child and had her educated to his requirements. He treats her as he treats his orchids but uses threats against her younger sister to keep her in line. Burke is the "incorruptible cop" who sets out to avenge his buddy's death, clean out the bad cops, and get revenge against Pinkie. Brown's forte is devising plots, spiced with blatant sexuality, that keep her readers guessing. Unfortunately, the stereotypical figures in this novel give it an uncharacteristic lack of excitement. Given Brown's best-seller status, however, libraries can expect demand and should buy accordingly.
-?Andrea Lee Shuey, Dallas P.L.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.