When Death Row inmate Norman Howell drops a tidbit about how he and his father once helped the current Texas Governor get rid of competing Vietnamese fisherman with the use of high-powered explosives, Bill Travis has to decide whether to kick (and awaken) this particular sleeping dog, or whether to let it go. But then the Governor's men come calling for him, and all hell breaks loose.
Capitol Offense is the second novel in the Bill Travis Mysteries.
George Wier is the author of "Duckweed" (Lone Star Noir - Akashic Books, 2010) and The Last Call. For more information, visit the author's website at www.georgewier.com or the series website at www.billtravismysteries.com.
I was born in East Texas and spent most of my life there, principally around the Bryan and College Station area. I moved to Austin, Texas, in 2002 and shortly thereafter began writing The Bill Travis Mystery series. I currently live in Austin with my lovely wife, Sallie, along with two cats and two dogs. Writing is both my avocation and my vocation, but to add to these I play both classical violin and country fiddle, and I dabble in art (mostly drawing and painting), photography, and book cover design.
I began writing in earnest in 1986, although I have been creatively writing far longer than that, practically since I could read (at a very formative age.) I find that I have far more ideas than I could ever write down, and so I pick and choose only the best story ideas. I write what I, myself, like to read, and nothing more.
I read this based on my enjoyment of the first book in the series. This had some good moments and we learn a bit more about Bill Travis but only enough to make you have to read the next book in the series if you are still interested. I like the fact that there is some Texas history involved in this series. This particular book needed a better editor. The plot unfolded in a sputtering way that required a couple of chapters to explain it all after the story had finished. That made it feel more convoluted and complicated that it needed to be. Granted, I liked the idea and the characters but I felt frustrated by the clumsy ending. I will read the third installment to see where it goes and if Bill Travis' character will grow a bit more. I like the Texas theme and slight wackyness of the stories.
I enjoyed this book more than The Last Call. I was totally lost on who the good guys and the bad guys were. The storyline was interesting if a little far-fetched, sometimes too much detail as with the dreams and I just skimmed over a lot of it. There were so many characters and families involved and I had to look back a couple of times to get them straight. All in all a good read for a Sunday afternoon.
This is a top quality mystery. There are authors who write a good story; then there are people like George Wier, who come up with a great plot line and surround it with magical moments. The mysterious lights in the desert, the 'hairy' flight in the ancient bi-plane, and many, many more. There's no chance for the reader to lose interest; something extraordinary is happening at every turn of the page. Throughout all these flights of fancy the story keeps drawing you further into the intrigue. Highly recommended.
I blew through Capital Offense like a fast car on I-10 between El Paso and Junction. (No speed limit and no one interested in pulling you over anyway) You should probably read the first book, Last Call, before taking on Capital Offense just so you know who everyone is and what their roles are in relation to each other. This book had more of Bill Travis working alone than in a group and we saw more of Texas in a different light than the first book. I do love a Texas author who not only knows our state, but has actually spent some time on the roads traveling around the state and George Wier has evidently done that. Loved the idea of the Marfa lights being sort of a spiritual thing as opposed to some alien conspiracy!
This is my third George Wier book and there's surely going to be many more finding their way onto my Kindle. Why? Because the guy makes pages have to be turned and when I'm looking for something that has it all, George delivers every time. Capital Offense was a wild ride, it was hilarious, it was enlightening and it had wondering what was going to happen next. Someone needs to make this one into a movie because I can definitely see it making that leap. Do yourself a favor and download this one and a few others by Wier. You can't go wrong because he does everything right.
Started this one last night and finished it before noon today --- loved the characters and the flow of the story, and the action scenes that worked as well as watching it in a movie. There were a few scenes that seemed to drag it down some (characterizations that just weren't necessary to the rest of the story), but I refused to give up. Already looking for more in this series. This is #2. Now I want #1 and everything else that comes after it!
I enjoyed the first Bill Travis mystery and was looking forward to this one, but was really disappointed. It seemed like Travis was made into a combination of Superman and Sam Spade, there was a real lack of explanation in the plot, and I found the characters unbelievable.
Being a Texan, I can really relate to these stories and characters because I’m so familiar with the locales mentioned. Wire writes interesting plots with likable characters.
The 2nd book in the Bill Travis series. I'm still not connecting with Bill, but I like reading books set in Texas, so I'll pick up the next book in the series too.
Bill Travis, just an ordinary accountant, visits Norman Howell, a young man on death row, to settle a trust account before his execution. Just another day in the life for Bill. That is, until Norman drops a bombshell. Norman tells Bill something which implicates the governor. Could it be true? The events definitely happened. Bill remembers them well. But was the governor involved?
The beginning of this novel was explosive. I was on the edge of my seat praying for Norman and hoping that some good would come of the situation. The novel took a different twist when Bill turns into an undercover agent and tries to solve this mystery.
At that point, I became bored. Some of the events were so far-fetched I just shook my head. Once Bill latched onto Norman's story, he seemed to forget all about Norman. I didn't. What happened to Norman? Was he put to death? Was his sentence commuted? Bill was boring compared to Norman. I wanted to know more about Norman.
This could have been a good novel, but I think what we have here is just an outline. It needs more development.
Oh my, this entire series of Bill Travis heads the 'cannot put it down' category. Not sure what it is exactly but you just become such a fan of the main character. For all his superhuman luck and crazy full speed ahead despite the risk, he also is very human and therefore endearing. The other characters are also delightful. What a range of 'characters' they are also. Absolutely a be sure to read one.
Amazing action in this book!. The plot twists and turns will keep you engrossed all the way through. Nothing is quite what it seems as you follow the main character through the mental workout required to protect his own life for the sake of his newly acquired family.
Bill Travis doesn't need to go looking for trouble because it always comes looking for him. Sometimes the good guys aren't all that good after all. Texas is a big state, east to west, and Bill Travis covers it during the course of action here.
So many characters I was some confused at times. I liked the storyline. Are the Marfa lights real? And what happened there, that confused me also. Does the kindle edit out some of the book?
I found one critical action sequence (the blimp) difficult to follow. It may be that I was distracted or might be the result of an implausible plot element. I have one more book by George Wier to read . . .and will hope for better.
As a native Texan I identified with all the areas mentioned throughout the book. I didn't realize that the whole book was about a set-up until I was 80% or so through the book. Easy read in one sitting.
Bill gets assigned to head to the prison to get papers signed by a certain prisoner. Little does Bill realize that this simple act will involve him in a conspiracy against the governor. Who is telling the truth and how did he get to be the suspect?