Free Fall

May 1, 2000
The race is on when a law school dropout unearths an explosive FBI file that catalogues the tawdry indiscretions of several leading politicians, including the Republican presidential nominee. Soon the student's mutilated body is found in the van of his ex-girlfriend, a world-class rock climber. As suspicion is thrown on the elusive girl, Mark Beamon, a suspended FBI agent whose career is hanging by a thread, is brought in by an anonymous party to track her down. Also in pursuit is third-party presidential candidate David Hallorin, a megalomaniac whose pockets are as deep as his determination to achieve his own political ends. Actor Shea defines the individual characters well, from nasal underlings to booming politicians to classically sardonic agents. The abridgement causes some unpolished transitions, and listeners may be surprised to find characters extricated from dicey situations with a flip of the tape, but mostly they will enjoy this quality production of a classy and well-plotted political thriller. Based on the HarperCollins hardcover (Forecasts, Mar. 6).

March 15, 2000
In Mills's third political thriller featuring FBI agent Mark Beamon, the presidential campaign season is complicating Mark's life in more ways than he knows. Because of the leak of incriminating tapes Mark found, politicians on all sides are out for his blood. Faced with a legal battle that he can't afford, Mark reluctantly agrees to an offer of $300,000 to find mountain climber Darby Moore, whose ex-boyfriend was found brutally murdered. A suspect in his death who finds herself in possession of an FBI file that incriminates one of the three presidential candidates, Darby goes into hiding. Mark knows that any of the three would kill to gain possession of the file. The suspense generated by the hunt and the political battle is immense. Unlike many other authors, Mills has not fallen into the trap of writing a story that is only suited for a movie screen; there are no cookie-cutter characters or inexplicable action scenes. Instead, Mills, like David Baldacci, knows that a great story comes first (and then, one hopes, a great movie). Recommended for all collections.--Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2000
In Mills's third political thriller featuring FBI agent Mark Beamon, the presidential campaign season is complicating Mark's life in more ways than he knows. Because of the leak of incriminating tapes Mark found, politicians on all sides are out for his blood. Faced with a legal battle that he can't afford, Mark reluctantly agrees to an offer of $300,000 to find mountain climber Darby Moore, whose ex-boyfriend was found brutally murdered. A suspect in his death who finds herself in possession of an FBI file that incriminates one of the three presidential candidates, Darby goes into hiding. Mark knows that any of the three would kill to gain possession of the file. The suspense generated by the hunt and the political battle is immense. Unlike many other authors, Mills has not fallen into the trap of writing a story that is only suited for a movie screen; there are no cookie-cutter characters or inexplicable action scenes. Instead, Mills, like David Baldacci, knows that a great story comes first (and then, one hopes, a great movie). Recommended for all collections.--Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 3, 2000
Mills turns his attention to the world of politics in his third thriller (after Storming Heaven) starring black sheep FBI Agent Mark Beamon, a man with an utter disregard for politicking of any kind, an attitude that has jeopardized his career. As the book opens, he faces not only dismissal from the FBI, but also possible criminal charges for his successful but politically inexpedient handling of a previous case. Anticipating an expensive legal battle to save his job, Beamon--against his better judgment--accepts $300,000 from an anonymous client to find a rock climber, Darby Moore, whose boyfriend was discovered chopped to pieces in the back of Moore's van. Everybody thinks Darby is guilty, despite the lack of a credible motive. Beamon tends to buy that theory, too, until he learns that the dead man had recently unearthed a secret FBI file detailing all sorts of sordid behavior committed years ago by many now-prominent political leaders. The file appears to be in Moore's hands, and it quickly becomes apparent that Beamon is not the only one looking for her. During his hair-raising search, one name keeps popping up over and over again: David Hallorin, the smooth yet devious senator from Maine who's in the midst of a heated run for the White House. Mills blends fine character work with a high-torque plot that splits time between the halls of power in Washington, D.C., the climbing peaks of Wyoming and the dank, smelly prisons of Thailand. Beamon, a wholly human figure nimbly engineered for maximum reader allegiance, is at his best--as is the story--while the hunt is on. The book loses some of its spark down the stretch when the thrill of the chase is replaced by the predictable machinations of politics. 75,000 first printing; regional author appearances; 25-city radio campaign.