Santa Fe Dead

Ed Eagle #3

by Stuart Woods

In this thriller featuring the colorful Santa Fe trial lawyer Ed Eagle, we find the tables turned on Eagle when he testifies as a witness for the prosecution in the trial of his ex-wife, Barbara Eagle. She has been a very, very bad girl.

The trial ends in a way Ed had not anticipated, and Barbara is still in a position to make his life and that of others, a living hell.

With private detectives, hit men, double crosses and billion-dollar-bank accounts involved, Ed calls in every favor and follows every lead, no matter where they take him. From posh resorts in the desert of California and the lush wine country of Napa, to the New Mexico high country and the seedy hotels of Tijuana, Ed Eagle won’t rest until he discovers the truth about what Barbara is up to – and settles the score.

Librarian's note: the Ed Eagle series has 4 volumes and the characters, settings, etc. have been done for: #1, Santa Fe Rules (1992); #2, Short Straw (2006); #3, Santa Fe Dead (2008); and #4, Santa Fe Edge (2010).

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Stuart Woods was an American novelist best known for Chiefs and his long-running Stone Barrington series. A Georgia native, he initially pursued a career in advertising before relocating to England and Ireland, where he developed a passion for sailing. His love for the sport led him to write his first published work, Blue Water, Green Skipper, about his experiences in a transatlantic yacht race.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been bingeing the Ed Eagle series by Woods. This is the third book and it takes off where SHORT STRAW left off. Ed's ex-wife Barbara is in jail awaiting the verdict for stealing Ed's money, fleeing to Mexico, attempting to kill two investigators, Cupie and Vittorio, sent there by Ed, and finally mistakenly killing a couple in a hotel who she thought was Ed and his girlfriend. Well Barbara manages to escape before the verdict but she needn't have bothered since she ends up being acquitted based on the testimony of her boyfriend who gave her an alibi. Before long, she meets a rich widower named Walter Keeler who had recently sold his electronics business for billions! Of course, Barbara marries Keeler who is then killed in an auto accident and so Barbara is set to inherit the billions. But will she? Then as an additional problem for Ed, he takes on another client, Don Wells, who may have murdered his wife and stepson to get her money. Barbara hasn't changed and is still out to murder Ed. Will she get her just desserts?

This was another fast-paced novel from Woods and is a definite followup to the previous book. Anyone reading this series should start with the first book, SANTA FE RULES, and read them in order. I now need to read the last book, SANTA FE EDGE, to see how this series concludes. I think this book was a little cliched and used a lot of coincidences in telling the story but it did keep me reading. Overall, only a mild recommendation for this one.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Jack Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars. The best of a great series. It's got action, legal issues, Hollywood, a few truly wicked men and women, some fun in Mexico, and oodles of money everywhere. What's not to love? With the help of a good alibi, not impeachable but no one looked hard enough, Barbara Eagle escapes a prison sentence for the killing of two people at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles near the end of #2 in the series, Short Straw. In an amusing twist, anticipating a loss at trial, she breaks out of the court house through a half-open window a few minutes before the jury announces, "Not guilty." Within days, she has met and married the west coast's most eligible rich widower, Walter Keeler - he of the recent sale of his billion dollar electronics firm! Again within days, Walter is killed in a traffic accident which leaves the new Mrs. Keeler a widow. She's stunned at her good luck. Yes, a few too many coincidences, but Mr. Keeler's death may be the only one in Santa Fe Dead which is either natural or accidental! Even a cold case in New York shows up which leads to a cameo by Detective Dino Bacchetti of NYPD. And yes, Ed Eagle's track record as a winning criminal attorney survives. (Fe2021/Oc2025)

[Kym Gamble]

An interesting book that details Ed Eagle, an attorney that shows up in Stuart Woods Stone Barrington books. Ed is drawn into a web of deceit while trying to stay away from his ex-wife who tried to kill him and his girlfriend. A man is wrongly accused of murder and Ed is called upon to help him prove his innocence. All the while, trying to stay out of the line of fire from his ex.

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast read. Ed Eagle can never seem to get rid of Barbara. This book has many plots going on and the way they converge is quite diabolical.

Ed is in peril and so is everyone he knows. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Barbara. She either has impeccable luck or sold her soul to Satan 😬


Off to read the last Ed Eagle book 📕

[Eileen Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one might be 4-1/2 stars. Ed Eagle must avoid entanglement with his ex-wife and try to keep her from getting away with stealing his fortune before they are divorced. He barely makes it before the money is all gone, but she is relentless and the tension continues throughout the book. She is a bad, bad person and stops at nothing. And she's clever. But Ed Eagle knows her and is more clever.

The book has Woods' trademark ostentatious settings - planes, trains and automobiles - but Ed seems a little more self-effacing than Stone Barrington.

A pretty good read.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this third installment of the series. Ed Eagle is still trying to divorce Barbara, without losing his life, the lives of his friends, and his money! Barbara hires hitman Jack Cato to eliminate whoever is standing in her way to obtain Ed’s money. The plot is full of excitement and kept me guessing throughout. Who will succeed, Ed or Barbara, and will it be resolved in this book, or the next installment? This was definitely an action-packed book!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, light read, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. It went by fast. It was set in Santa Fe, LA, SF and Mexico. So I got to see a bit of all those places in it. It makes for interesting reading.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book with Ed Eagle as the main character. I definitely liked it enough to read another story with his character.

[peter f mathias · Rating 5 out of 5]

ED EAGLE

ED EAGLE stories are always worth pursuing. How else would we remember to beware of the evil inherent in the Barbara Character?

[Lawrence Levine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual mystery thriller. It is breezy, fast paced, well devieoped characters and a lot of twists and turns and filled with humor Not great but fun to read

[Walter Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of Woods' better stories.

[ALVARO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting story

I recommend this book to actionw movie lovers, it is more interesting than many movies I've seen before.

I love of the chapters of this book. That Barbara is someone to take good care about, I'm warning you.

Regards
Álvaro Terrazas Arzubialde

[4oclockguy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book read by Michael Kramer
I enjoyed listening to this audio book, lots of twists and turns and subplots.
At the beginning, Barbara Eagle, Ed Eagles' ex-wife is on trial for 2 murders from the previous book. She is found not guilty, but while the jury is deliberating, Barbara escapes. She hides out at a fancy spa and meets billionaire, Walter Keeler. She woos him and a week later they are married. This is unbelievable to me because a guy smart enough to become a billionaire wouldn't marry so quickly IMO.
Subplots are Susanna Wilde, Ed Eagles' girlfriend shoots her ex-husband thinking it is a hit man coming after her. She also shoots and kills another woman who has been hired by Barbara to kill both Ed and Susanna. Ed's client, movie producer, Donald Wells, hired stuntman Jack Cato to murder his wealthy wife and step-son so he can inherit her fortune.
After Walter Keeler dies in an auto accident, his lawyer talks to Ed Eagle about Barbara and then Wylan changes the will to limit the financial benefits to Barbara. She is furious and hires Jack Cato to murder the Wylan and Wilde. Jack is successful in Wylan's case but not with Wilde. She is injured but survives. Cupie and Vittorio are hired by Ed to keep an eye on Barbara and eventually Ed forms a plan to capture Barbara. All is wrapped up neatly in the end.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

There used to be a television show called "The Rookies" (not the singular "The Rookie" airing on ABC these days) in which the major plot mechanism was to push a personal relationship with someone related to the criminal activity. It could be a victim, a witness, or an accomplice having second thoughts. Kate Jackson, playing the wife of one of the officers, could meet and befriend this person in her job as a nurse and thus move the plot forward. Or one of the rookies could have an old friend. This personal involvement stretched the limits of even my imagination.

So when I read Santa Fe Dead by Stuart Woods-- I marveled at his use of personal involvement and coincidental meetings. I was unimpressed with the flat - one dimensional characters. The plot was curious enough, and I enjoyed the finale--- being especially glad it was completely over. The idea for the novel was interesting as Ed Eagle's ex-wife is something of a Black widow and is very, very good at what she does. Following her path and the path of those trying to watch out for her and be on guard was interesting... but the interest pretty much faded there. What we have here is a good idea for a novel with a mediocre/bland presentation and nothing for the reader to relate to.

I would avoid this one.

[Genie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although not one Stuart Woods best, it is a light, quick read. As the story begins Ed Eagle’s ex-wife, Barbara is on trial for murder. In a previous novel we know that Barbara is a psychopathic serial killer. The fact that she is found not guilty during the trial in spite of the vast amount of evidence and eye witness testimony is questionable. She escapes while the jury is deliberating and suffers no repercussions. From then on, the body count begins to mount. Barbara has a hand in some while others are unrelated sub-plots.
Ed’s actress girlfriend, Susanna Wilde, shoots her ex-husband. Ed’s client, movie producer Donald Wells, hires stuntman Jack Cato to kill his wealthy rich wife and her child. Barbara marries billionaire Walter Keeler, who dies in an auto accident. After talking to Ed, Walter's lawyer Joe Wylan changes Walter's will to limit the financial benefits to Barbara. In revenge, Barbara hires Jack Cato to kill Susanna Wilde. Susanna is injured but survives. Sound complicated? It is but all the lose ends are tied up in the end.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two starts is generous for this pretty awful book. My first Stuart Woods mystery (if you can call it that) and if this is typical, it will be my last. Told almost all through dialogue, which I have no problem with, being a William Gaddis fan, but the dialogue here is flat, pedestrian, without nuance or cleverness of narration. The characters too are flat. I really could not care much at all about Ed Eagle, who married a sociopath, and now has to try to avoid getting himself and his girlfriend killed by her. Girlfriend is shot with a sniper rifle, but it only grazes her skull, of course; she is up and at 'em the next day. The guy the baddie marries is conveniently killed in a car crash a week after he marries her and changes his will. On and on with preposterous crap--hired killers just happy to get another job, and old lezzie girlfriends happy to try to kill Ed, just for fun.
Read as recorded book, well enough read by Mark Hammer.
I hope I remember to ignore any more recorded books written by Stuart Woods.

[Janet Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf since 2011 or so when I started keeping track of my books on Goodreads. After a while I noticed that they were mainly mysteries, and I was getting tired of them, so I never got around to reading this. I was recently in the mood for a mystery, so I finally got to it. It wasn't a mystery in the truest sense, because you know all along "who dun it" but it was enjoyable enough.

Some of the dialogue felt pretty unrealistic. Here's an example:

"The other couple I mentioned in my card who were meant to join us are having sitter problems and won't be coming." Who talks like that?

It doesn't take away from the story, but it certainly kept me from getting lost in it by reminding me that I was reading a book.

[Neelanjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is neither full of twists and turns that will leave you agape, nor is excitingly unpredictable. It is a simple, easy to guess, story of a Santa Fe lawyer who faces deceit and life threats. Yet it manages to keep the readers engrossed and keep turning pages! For those who like to read crime thrillers would like to give it a shot.

However, this was my first pick of the Ed Eagle novel(Third in the series) by Stuart Woods. So, in case you are planning to read the book, you would want to start with Santa Fe Rules, followed by Short Straw and finally Santa Fe Dead. It'd certainly make it more interesting!

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I would characterize as an airport read, I.e. To be read while waiting for your delayed plane. It's a very easy read, incorporating two stories that zip along at a great pace while detailing the lifestyles of the rich and famous in Santa Fe and Los Angeles. Ed Eagle's ex wife is trying to kill him (again) - how can that be prevented? Wait, Ed has a team of dedicated and resourceful detectives to take care of it. At the same time, another rich guy calls Ed asking for his help in finding the killers of his wife and son. The cases end up overlapping, and all is resolved. It's a quick read, an easy read, but no real thought required

[Pen Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I liked the story, I found the poor narration annoying because the character voices all sounded pretty much alike. The female voices all sounded the same, like they were sexually "purring" (even Eagle's secretary which is ridiculous) while most of the male voices sounded like they were grunting. The problem with using different narrators when adding characters from earlier books is that the narrator uses a completely different style voice, which just sounds wrong. Wood's writing style has eroded or perhaps evaporated. The constant brand name dropping at every opportunity (to impress?) is boring and shallow. Sadly pathetic.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#3 in the Ed Eagle series. This 2008 entry follows the plot arc of Ed's criminous ex-wife, Barbara. The Ed Eagle series will coincide with author Woods Stone Barrington series in Cut and Thrust (2014).

Ed Eagle sees his ex-wife acquitted in this sequel to "Short Straw". She embarks on a vendetta against him. He is engaged by Don Wells, of the Centurion Studio, to represent him when he is of interest to the police in the murder of his wife and son. Although he was in Italy at the time of the murder, Wells may have hired the murder of his wealthy wife.

[Pammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this one ages ago, and for some reason or another, it became lost....went to the bottom of the pile, so-to-speak.
I am familiar with the author and dove in with modest expectations. The cover says: "A taut tale of a very bad woman out to fleece a very good man". Yep. It certainly is...and along the way I find the author's clipped dialogue and matter-o-fact writing style is quite effective as this thriller plows through some implausible situations.
I enjoyed it... a quick read and entertaining.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Stuart Woods book that I have ever read & I am going to be reading much much more in the future. The story was very well written & the characters were so believable. I really enjoyed Woods' writing style & had a hard time putting the book down. I could easily see the story as a movie. Since this is book #3 of the "Ed Eagle" series & I am looking forward to reading the other 3 very soon along with his other series as well.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

#3 I don't understand why anyone would not enjoy reading about Barbara and how she received her just rewards, and Don Wells, how he received his just rewards! ! And next I can't wait to see what happens in book #4 -- since Julia and Leah and a few other characters have received their just rewards! How do writers picks their characters names? Put them in a big bag and the next one picked gets that name. Cutie? Vittorio (only one name) lololol

[Mysteryfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series features a Santa Fe criminal lawyer instead of Stone Barrington. Ed Eagles' ex-wife is acquitted of trying to murder him and she decides to try again. The body count is higher than in the Barrington books - seven murders, three attempted murders, and an accidental death in this book alone. Still a pretty good read. Not exactly a mystery or even a suspense, as readers know exactly who is doing what.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not read any of the previous Ed Eagle books, but it didn't seem to matter. Sure, I might have know that Babs was a psycho from them but Woods did well enough establishing that so not an issue.

It was light, it was fairly decent. Nothing to rave about. Nothing to choke over (if you're just looking for a popcorn book). I'd probably read another one at some point but I'm not breaking down doors to get one.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This time I did NOT buy a Wood's book but rather borrowed it. This one is a little bit better with less mistakes than he usually makes [proof reader was better I guess]. I like the Ed Eagle character better than Stone Barrington too. It's a quick read, but not worth the sticker price. Go to the library or borrow a copy and save your $$$$$$.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a fun read, but the reader has to suspend disbelief a lot and often! Pretty convenient for the main characters that they are so wealthy and even have their own planes. Otherwise they would never be able to carry out all their schemes. The characters are a little flat and I would not really recommend this book.