A standalone novel from Stuart Woods, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stone Barrington and Holly Barker series...
Murder is not a spectator sport.
Chuck Chandler has choked on more than one occasion—first as a pro tennis player at Wimbledon, then as a womanizing coach at posh tennis clubs around the country. Now at Key West's Old Racquet Club, Chuck gets involved with the wrong married woman—the enticing Clare Carras, married to an enigmatic older man—and soon he is in way over his head.
Enter Tommy Sculley, a retired New York homicide detective who has just joined the Key West force, and his young green partner, Daryl Haynes, who turns out to be smarter than he looks. Up to their necks in an investigation of a bizarre apparent homicide, the two detectives barely keep afloat in murky waters. Events take them from the Florida Keys to Los Angeles and back, as a plot emerges that involves not only the dangerous Clare, but a furious West Coast mob boss determined to get back what is his at any cost.
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"I have read seveal of his Stone Berrington novels and found them to be quick easy reads. This was a stand alone book with a different hero. I liked it. It was a bit predictable and the beginning was slow, but anyone who wants a quick easy read would most likely enjoy this. I will release this soon. "
— Rebekkila (4 out of 5 stars)
“Woods knows how to keep the narrative pace in overdrive…An entertaining page-turner.”
— New York Times Book Review“A real page-turner with surprises along the way.”
— Boston Globe“Woods writes a no-frills thriller that moves right along and carries the reader with it…A fast, lively read.”
— Publishers Weekly“Readers will not be able to put this genre gem down and will probably lend it to several neighbors before returning it.”
— Library Journal" Mindless fiction with predictable ending. Always nice for a quick page turner. "
— Jay, 2/18/2014" It's a good plot that moves quickly. But Woods' books are all pretty similar: a few twists, similar characters, some sex. A diverting read. "
— Steven, 2/15/2014" Probably my second favorite book ever. Dark, twisted, hilarious. Classic Palahniuk. "
— Elly, 2/15/2014" another good stuart woods book with plot twists i did not expect "
— Peggy, 2/11/2014" I think that I have to read this one again since it seems to be liked much better by others than I and I hear it is becoming a movie. I think that it is a very male book, so I will attempt to read it from a male perspective. Then I will revise my review and be more in depth in conveying my thoughts. "
— Colleen, 1/31/2014" Read half way through this book and took a 6 month break before finishing. Still a really good story, especially with the scuba diving parts. "
— Jill, 1/27/2014" Not sure how I came across this book and why I own it, but boy is it poorly written. I can't help, but feel Woods' didn't even like the idea and therefore changed directions midway through hoping to liven it up and at the same time keep his campy, un-witty, embarrassing one line ironic conclusion. "
— Tom, 1/21/2014" An enjoyable mystery about crooks, con men (and women) and frauds in Key West. Woods' stories are always easy to read with interesting characters and locales. A pleasant way to pass some time! "
— Greer, 1/20/2014" One of his better stories. "
— Martha, 1/18/2014" A bit light on content; I predicted the main twist, but not all the ways it got there. Tennis, boats, Key West setting. Not Woods' best, but certainly worth reading. I liked the detective, Tommy Sculley and would like to see him again. "
— Mhd, 12/10/2013" its Okay so far, its slight boring but i can deal with it !! "
— 6PeterG, 11/12/2013" I like Stuart Woods because you get what you expect in his books: a good thriller, interesting characters, a tight plot. And Choke was all of this, wrapped up in a tennis background. "
— Cathy, 10/22/2013" Very good; tennis instructor meets lady black widow, lots of twists. "
— Joe, 9/30/2013" This was a great short read. I was kept second guessing the entire time and Woods truly provided an ending that I didn't see coming. "
— Christopher, 8/23/2013" A suspense novel that involves a tennis coach set on the beautiful Florida Keys. Despite the fact that there was a surprise in the plot, I thought this book was mediocre. "
— Lennie, 7/29/2013" Darn.....read the book twice and didn't remember until I registered it. It seemed familiar......oh well! "
— Susan, 6/24/2013" I 'd give this one a b+ "
— Dan, 5/20/2013" A stand alone stuart woods... entertaining! "
— Stefani, 4/7/2013" Started out a little slow. There was a lot of tennis references that threw me off, but it got better and was a great plot with a very interesting ending. "
— Renee, 9/17/2012" I thought this book had a lot of twists and turns. I'm a tennis fan so this was right up my alley! "
— Kelly, 9/5/2012" I enjoyed the book. A quick read and I guess I like the scenario of the rich behaving badly and getting caught. The plot is feasible and the scenes are realistic. The characters are interesting if not deep in substance. This book is registered at BOOKCROSSING.COM. "
— Ralph, 7/23/2012" Stuart Woods, while not a major-league writer, can still entertain "
— Rod, 7/8/2012" Chuck Chandler is a middle-aged tennis pro who once choked at a critical time at Wimbledon. He is now the pro at a Key West club and lives on a boat. He takes up with a married lady and becomes the number one suspect when her husband dies mysteriously in a diving accident. "
— Chuck, 4/15/2012" Nancy 5 stars; Ron 5 stars "
— Ron, 4/3/2012" Might of been a good story, but I'll never know... the language got very vulgar and scenes got very sexual right from the start and so I decided to put it down. "
— Jeremy, 2/10/2012" Not very good. Slow start. Banal plot - but then it is 1995 "
— John, 1/30/2012" Moved along quickly. Very entertaining Good mysery. "
— Lynn, 11/21/2011" Pretty good murder mystery with some surprises. "
— Kay, 5/4/2011" not very thought provoking, but no one reads Stuart Woods' books for that reason. It was an entertaining page turner. "
— Leslie, 12/21/2010" Fun quick read. Just what I needed after Ken Follett. "
— Fran, 11/30/2010" This was a great short read. I was kept second guessing the entire time and Woods truly provided an ending that I didn't see coming. "
— Christopher, 11/14/2010" Chuck Chandler is a middle-aged tennis pro who once choked at a critical time at Wimbledon. He is now the pro at a Key West club and lives on a boat. He takes up with a married lady and becomes the number one suspect when her husband dies mysteriously in a diving accident. "
— Chuck, 6/25/2010" Stuart Woods, while not a major-league writer, can still entertain "
— Rod, 5/6/2010" Mindless fiction with predictable ending. Always nice for a quick page turner. "
— Jay, 10/5/2009" Very good; tennis instructor meets lady black widow, lots of twists. <br/> "
— Joe, 8/25/2009" Pretty good murder mystery with some surprises. "
— Kay, 8/17/2009" One of his better stories. "
— Martha, 7/24/2009" Read half way through this book and took a 6 month break before finishing. Still a really good story, especially with the scuba diving parts. "
— Jill, 6/24/2009" A suspense novel that involves a tennis coach set on the beautiful Florida Keys. Despite the fact that there was a surprise in the plot, I thought this book was mediocre. "
— Lennie, 1/12/2009" Quick and easy weekend read. "
— Lynn, 1/12/2009" another good stuart woods book with plot twists i did not expect "
— Peggy, 4/7/2008" Probably my second favorite book ever. Dark, twisted, hilarious. Classic Palahniuk. "
— Elly, 3/4/2008" I like Stuart Woods because you get what you expect in his books: a good thriller, interesting characters, a tight plot. And Choke was all of this, wrapped up in a tennis background. "
— Cathy, 11/27/2007Stuart Woods (1938-2022) wrote more than ninety novels, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Stone Barrington series. He is a native of Georgia and began his writing career in the advertising industry. Chiefs, his debut in 1981, won the Edgar Award.
Tony Roberts is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has had roles in numerous films, many by Woody Allen, as well as his starring roles on Broadway in Arsenic and Old Lace; Promises, Promises; and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.
Jay O. Sanders began his acting career off-Broadway in Shakespearean roles then went on to appear in numerous films and television series, including Revolutionary Road, The Day after Tomorrow, and Kiss the Girls, based on the novel by James Patterson. He has narrated more than fifty audio books over the years, including the bestselling My Losing Season by Pat Conroy and Dean Koontz’s Dragon Tears and Mr. Murder. He also won six AudioFile Earphones Awards.