Killer View

Walt Fleming #2

by Ridley Pearson

Tackling treacherous elements to rescue a missing skier on Sun Valley's Galena Summit, Sheriff Walt Fleming and his team are shocked by a sniper attack that leaves one of their number dead and results in Walt's best friend's disappearance.

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

535 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Ridley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.

Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel full of action and moral quandaries. I am impressed by all the places this one went as Walt tried to figure out what was going on and who exactly was the bad guy. Nature and it’s unpredictable ways also plaid a big role in this story. Big government and cover ups, wealthy people vs the have-nots, and borderline crazy people committing terrorist acts all made this a heart pounding ride. Thoroughly enjoyed this story.

[Ross Cavins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read thriller novels but after a few pages of this one, I knew I had found a real writer. You know that feeling when you've run across an author that excels at his art? To me, that feeling is a warm blanket of anticipation. You know you're reading a great book, and letting it play out before you is going to be exhilarating.

This novel, while being #2 in a series of 4, didn't feel like a series book. The characters all seemed fresh and I accredit that to the superb writing.

Thrillers have always been an enigma to me because you have to do so many things right to keep the reader involved, while not pulling what I call the "24 Syndrome." The "24 Syndrome" is the art of taking the characters into an unsolvable situation, then using sheer chance to get them out of it, much like Jack Bauer did in the television series, "24."

In short, that pisses me off. It feels cheap and lazy, and I will only give an author one of those before I put the book down and move on.

Ridley Pearson is the real deal. This guy can flat out write. He does a great job of mixing in some flotsam with real clues and devices so that when a twist comes, you didn't see it coming. A lot of times, a plot device is so evident when it's presented, you spend the rest of the novel wondering when the writer's going to come back to it to "solve the problem."

I will be reading much more Ridley Pearson. The jacket said he's the author of more than twenty novels and I can't wait to get started.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can honestly say that I've never read a Ridley Pearson book that I disliked. His writing is great, his descriptions put your right into the action, his characters are complex with real problems and his bad guys are downright evil. What's not to like?

Police chief Walt Fleming gets called out on a search and rescue mission during a nasty blizzard where his best friends brother is murdered and shortly thereafter his best friend is kidnapped. Even without knowing who or why, he knows he has to quickly find Mark Aker and unravel the mystery surrounding his disappearance and the brutal rape of his secretary. There's quite a bit of back story involving Walt's personal life. First of all his soon-to-be ex-wife is boffing his best deputy. He has custody of his twin daughters and is trying to be the best dad he can be while still working way too many hours. He is interested in the police photographer but she isn't returning his interest. And of course, Mark is his best friend and he is worrying over who has taken him and why.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Walt is one of those characters that you can really enjoy "being around". He's an all-around good guy (regardless of what his ex thinks) and a good father.

[Ned · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely worth reading. A detective novel placed in modern day Idaho, the author shows us home grown terrorists, evil businessman, billionaires, secret branches of the US Govt. all opposed to the one good local sheriff, who also is going through a martial breakup and a budding new relationship. Along with twin daughters for which he is the primary care giver....

Enough already, adding more "stuff" does not make a good novel, just develop one third of plot devices, follow them though keep them connected and wrap them up and this might have been an OK novel.

don't get me started on the bear.....


Read this only if you are stuck in a blizzard (also in the book) with no other reading material. Otherwise go back to the library and try again.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer View (Ridley Pearson)
Suspense/thriller/murder.

Sheriff Walt Flemming heads a team to find a missing skier. Shortly into the search he finds a friend dead. Is this an accident, or something more? Next his friend (who is also part of this investigation) turn out missing. Walt must piece together the missing link and find out what happened. Time is limited in his quest to save his friend and unravel the truth. Tense, read with twists and turns to keep you up late into the night. An all night read. I am fond of Ridley Pearson novels and Killer View did not disappoint.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd in Sheriff Walt's saga. A missing hiker brings out a search team in the Idaho back country. Before long, Walt is up to his neck in a mystery involving a murder, a missing friend, a possible domestic terrorism threat and a deputy who's sleeping with Walt's wife.

Some great scenes, with a hibernating bear bringing the action.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately this is the 2nd book in a series by Ridley Pearson, so I have to go back and start with Killer Weekend. That said, I really liked the main character and will defnitely be keeping up on this series.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a Ridley Pearson book in ages and nothing with this protagonist, a county sheriff in Idaho. I must admit the call of reading a book set in deep snow when I'm in Arizona heat over 100 degrees was overwhelming. The book was fast, compelling and filled with cold-related terrors and fears that were a perfect antidote to my real life. Never mind that I know nothing about real snow, reading about it was just fine with me. The story had ample parts of small town life and conspiracy-minded citizens; they made the story pop. I couldn't put it down. The mystery wasn't so much of a who-did-it but whether everyone might survive by the end. I'm ready to read another in the series, I liked it that much.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many good mysteries in this book. A vet disappears after his brother is killed, sheep are dying (what is that awful smell?), a young girl is drugged and assaulted. Lots of descriptions of beautiful mountain country in Idaho. Survival in brutally cold temperatures was described. I still wouldn’t be able to do the things, but it all added to the mysteries. The good guys prevail, and yes, it was a big coverup by the government. It ended quietly, I guess even though a novel, should remind us lots of things happen we never hear about. Oh, the smell was the result of burning sheep, contaminated by radioactive water.

[John Biddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer View, second of the Walt Fleming books by Ridley Pearson, was an exciting crime novel in the cold wilds of near winter Idaho. There's a lot happening, almost too much, but it holds together well, moves fast and keeps you at full attention.

It reminds me of the Walt Longmire book by Craig Johnson and the Joe Pickett novels by CJ Box. This is very good company indeed, and I hope he can keep it up.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is normally my type of thriller: a story set in a remote winter setting. However, Killer View is just OK. The author didn’t manage to grab my attention and make me turn page after page, not wanting to put the book down.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of excitement, including several risky glider flights, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in chase situations, and hiding behind a hibernating bear!

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book about Sheriff Walt Fleming. Small exclusive, resort town, Sun Valley, seems too small to have these major criminals, but I'm enjoying the stories.

Interesting to have interactions with some of the high powered, extremely wealthy residents of Sun Valley. I didn't like the political intrigue and I'm not a fan of government cover ups.

The snow shoeing and glider scenes were interesting and described so I felt like I wanted to experience them. I felt bad for Dr. Mark Aker, but he was a tough and resourceful guy. I liked the complications of his diabetes in the wilderness.

I do not like Gail, the soon-to-be ex-wife, but I do like her bedmate, Deputy Tommy Brandon. Walt does a good job keeping his professional relationship with Deputy Brandon separate from his antagonism toward his wife's lover. Tommy is good at his job and likes Walt but is caught in the middle.

Sheriff Walt Fleming is a great investigator and I wish he would work out a non-professional relationship with Fiona Kenshaw, the department contract photographer. Learned some tragic backstory about Fiona.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second (and favorite) book in the Walt Fleming series. You've got good and bad guys on snow mobiles and snow shoes navigating through mountain wilderness, secret motives and good/bad gray area. There are reclusive backwoodsmen and heroic lawmen. There's just enough hint of romance to keep you guessing but not enough to bog down the plot.

One thing I like about Pearson's characters is that they actually use their brains and never fall into the stereotypical rolls of self-aggrandized evil genius vs rambo. Every character is believable and unpredictable. Nonetheless, after about 50 pages I realized this would fit into the wilderness action movie genre and couldn't help but try to imagine who would play Walt and other characters if Hollywood every developed a screen play.

[Scott Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now like this author, I'll defintely read/listen to anoth one of his books. Suspensful, a few clever insights about crime investigation. The lead character Walt was likeable, and other characters were basically real enough to discern between. The chemical dump mystery had a few twists that I was not expecting, though on retrospect the clues were obviously set up in the preceeding chapters. Good fun with the hibernating bear when it awakes, and other animal characters were realistically involved, incl. the burning of dead sheep which was quite a visual soup.

[Tessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protagonist Sheriff Walt Fleming's sense of right and wrong is highly developed, and this makes him very heroic. His ex-wife has taken up with one of his deputies, and while we see his conflicted emotions about this, it doesn't blind him to the fact that said deputy is the best he's got. Pearson describes the terrain so well, I felt the cold seeping into my bones as I read this book. The villain is picturesque and totally worthy of the Sheriff's relentless pursuit. This book is filled with chills, thrills and threats.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer View I have to read Ridley Pearson's books because I'm going to be his 'hostess' when he comes to our Cavalcade of Authors event next spring!!!

My favorite part is when Walt, the main character, realizes that the gluten intolerant suspect has hidden money in a loaf of bread because he'd never have a normal loaf of bread! Baawahhh!!!! So clever!!!!

[Cheryl Turoczy Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually listened to this on my way home from Eastern Idaho last week and finished it up as I drove around here at home. This was a great Ridley Pearson thriller and I love that it is set in "my part of the world" with Sheriff Fleming (okay, the Sheriff in Blaine County was actually named Femling), Senator Peavy, and even the late Judge Dan Alban all included.

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cliched. Tired. Uninteresting. Full of characters who take themselves so seriously, and yet never deliver. This book is unacceptable even as a shim to level a table.

[Tim Meechan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a month of agony reading Joyce’s “Ulysses”’ this completely non-influential and without a place in history novel was just what the doctor ordered. A nice easy read, with all of the time proven elements of a good thriller. I’ve read two other Pearson books with his likable antagonist Walt Fleming, Sheriff to the “rich and famous” in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were a bit “grocery store” paperback and I was disappointed finding that they lacked the cutting edge detailed forensics that Pearson had used in his previously successful books.

Therefore I was happily surprised to find that this third book in the “Killer” series was more of the Ridley Pearson I remembered from his earlier works. If I had any guts I’d rate it a four, it really was a fun read, which I often say is as important as the quality of the literature.

Pearson returns to his strengths with this story, using two or three very clever methods of forensic detection, including a favorite of mine. Walt rounds up three local teen gamers to align Google satellite images with evidentiary photos, knowing they would accomplish the task in a fraction of the time comparable to his deputies. Secondly, the factual description of that areas underground aquifer, its connection to a nearby bottled water plant, the consumption of that same water supply by area livestock, all possibly being affected by nuclear waste ground contamination created a very timely, real, and horrific vision of poisoning our underground water systems. The effects could be devastating and last 50-100 years. Watch HBO’s new doc on Chernobyl. It scared the crap out of me (not literally).

The water supply angle is really intriguing to me. I have a friend who spent his life as a hydrologist for a world leading bottled water company. You would be surprised at the minimum requirements to bottle and sell ground water in the USA. Pearson takes it a step further including eco terrorists, the Idaho National Laboratory where nuclear waste is disposed/stored (meaning buried and forgotten-again scary), and plenty of politicians, both local and national. Their coverup explanation is as always - “we’re doing what’s best for the country”. (Once again-scarrry!!)

So praise to Pearson for a timely, thought provoking thriller with good characters, a simple but interesting plot, and the pace this type of story requires. I blasted through it in one day.

Enjoy.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer View is the second book in Ridley Pearson's series featuring Sheriff Walt Fleming of Sun Valley, Idaho. When his office receives an emergency call that a skier has been lost in the snowy Galena Mountains, he quickly calls a rescue group together. They can't seem to find the skier but one of his rescue squad is now missing.

As he continues his search he discovers evidence of mysterious, contagious animal deaths and possibly related human illness at a nearby water bottling plant. Then, during their investigations, Walt and Deputy Brandon register "hot" for radiation.

I really enjoy mysteries set in the western US. Walt is a likeable character. His ex-wife left him for one of his deputies and he has twin daughters. He's trying to be a good dad, a good friend, and a good sheriff. He doesn't have the depth of character that surrounds similar western heroes like Joe Picket or Walt Longmire. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read, and I would read another.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in Ridley Pearson's series featuring Sheriff Walt Fleming of Sun Valley, Idaho. It took me about 1/3 of the book to get drawn into the story. There seemed to be too many threads to the story. The story is set in a remote area of Idaho during the winter. The lead character Walt was likeable. His ex-wife left him for one of his deputies; he is conflicted emotions this is his best deputy . This book deals with domestic terrorists, the kidnapping and rape of a young woman, the potential contamination of the water supply, and a missing persons case. They all come together.

[SueChor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, including Walt Fleming, the gifted sheriff who barely manages to hold it together, then pulls off a miraculous save. His marriage has fallen apart, his wife living now with his best deputy - how’s that for dilemma? He can’t fire the guy because he could be sued, and he partly doesn’t want to, because he needs his best deputy. This is the kind of detail at which Pearson excels. In this case, we view a scary deep-winter search, some local to national politics, and family guilt, all in the Sun Valley setting.

[Alison Pashos · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked this up I didn't realize it was the 2nd in the series, but you really don't need to read the first to understand this one. This was a continually twisting and turning mystery that ended up much different than I expected, but I thought the plot and pacing were done very well. I also really liked the Walt wasn't infallible, and actually almost really messed stuff up a few times because he wasn't a perfect person. I will probably look for others in this series to read.

[Joe Romaella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Walt Fleming series, is a fast paced story of a missing person, Walt's best friend & his search to find him during a harsh winter setting. Murder, environmental toxins, cover -ups, and the area rich, famous, and politically powerful may be involved..It's up to Walt & his associates to figure out what is going on. Another detailed plot that's fun to unfold. Interesting how author Pearson gets his environmental concerns brought to light in this story.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story takes place in mid winter in Idaho. I always like it when the author uses real places and this one includes a map of the area which includes Sun Valley and the Idaho National Laboratory. The intense winter weather and huge amounts of snow play a role in the plot. There are a few side plots but Pearson does not stray far and suspense builds. Near the end comes a huge brown bear…

[Lucretia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walt Flemming and his staff and neighbors kept me reading for sure! This is not a new book but when I found it, I remembered how I'd enjoyed other Ridley Pearson books. It's Wild West with a modern twist!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual type of book but I read this while in Sun Valley and I liked all the local connections- INL, Arco, Challis National Forest. It’s suspenseful and intense, although not super believable.

[Alan Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. I like the Walt Fleming books; I find him both a credible and sympathetic character. The plot line is both intriguing and relevant to current ecological concerns. The setting is very appealing, as I love the Rocky Mountains. Highly recommended.

[Frau Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read for me. Well written and I was led to believe the wrong instigator until the very end. I enjoy reading mystery when mixed with a bit of science as well as a bit of faith in humanity!