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Lt. Hastings #20
Calculated Risk
In this chilling mystery, the terrifying specter of AIDS combines with blackmail and murder to overshadow the surreal world of California politics - and the secrets long buried in a senatorial candidate's past.
As the young, vital, and self-centered Charles returns - after escaping for a few hours to his local bar - to the home he shares with his dying lover, Randy, he rails at the injustice of his situation and wonders how much longer it will be before he is free. His reverie is interrupted - permanently - when a vicious young man steps from the shadows armed with a lead pipe. Though Frank Hastings at first believes the murder to be a random gay-bashing, he soon discovers a complex trail of motives and money leading into the political arena and finds he must step warily through a maze of not-so-veiled threats.
As the young, vital, and self-centered Charles returns - after escaping for a few hours to his local bar - to the home he shares with his dying lover, Randy, he rails at the injustice of his situation and wonders how much longer it will be before he is free. His reverie is interrupted - permanently - when a vicious young man steps from the shadows armed with a lead pipe. Though Frank Hastings at first believes the murder to be a random gay-bashing, he soon discovers a complex trail of motives and money leading into the political arena and finds he must step warily through a maze of not-so-veiled threats.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
13 people want to read
About the author
Collin Wilcox
57 books3 followersAka Carter Wick
Collin Wilcox was an American mystery writer.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, his first book was The Black Door (1967), featuring a sleuth possessing extrasensory perception. His major series of novels was about Lieutenant Frank Hastings of the San Francisco Police Department. Titles in the Hastings series included Hire a Hangman, Dead Aim, Hiding Place, Long Way Down and Stalking Horse. Two of his last books, Full Circle and Find Her a Grave, featured a new hero-sleuth, Alan Bernhardt, an eccentric theater director. Wilcox also published under the pseudonym "Carter Wick".
Wilcox's most famous series-detective was the television character Sam McCloud, a New Mexico deputy solving New York crime. The "urban cowboy" was played by Dennis Weaver in the 1970-1977 TV series McCloud. Wilcox wrote three novelizations based on scripts from the series: McCloud (1973), The New Mexican Connection (1974), and The Park Avenue Executioner (1975).
Collin Wilcox was an American mystery writer.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, his first book was The Black Door (1967), featuring a sleuth possessing extrasensory perception. His major series of novels was about Lieutenant Frank Hastings of the San Francisco Police Department. Titles in the Hastings series included Hire a Hangman, Dead Aim, Hiding Place, Long Way Down and Stalking Horse. Two of his last books, Full Circle and Find Her a Grave, featured a new hero-sleuth, Alan Bernhardt, an eccentric theater director. Wilcox also published under the pseudonym "Carter Wick".
Wilcox's most famous series-detective was the television character Sam McCloud, a New Mexico deputy solving New York crime. The "urban cowboy" was played by Dennis Weaver in the 1970-1977 TV series McCloud. Wilcox wrote three novelizations based on scripts from the series: McCloud (1973), The New Mexican Connection (1974), and The Park Avenue Executioner (1975).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 10, 2015
Lt. Frank Hastings finds himself involved in a case which leads him to confront shadowy power.
This is book 20 in the Lt. Hastings series and the final book in the series.
A gay man has been murdered in the Castro but what looks like a random gay bashing is revealed to be a calculated murder. A murder which brought the dealings of a blackmailer to an end.
Hastings is forced to confront his own attitudes to gay men when one of the main witnesses is found to be the partner of the dead man and is dying from AIDS.
And the trail from the dying man leads to shadowy pay offs which ensure that murder is done but is untraceable. Hastings dedicates himself to tracing the murderers and solving the case even though the murderers hold immense power and influence.
Hastings is also forced to confront his love for fellow detective Janet Collier, the impossibility of this relationship, the cost it would have to his career and to his quiet relationship with his girlfriend and her two children.
And so he chases down the murderers until he comes face to face with power in his public life, and in his private life his need for love.
The story was ok but seemed to lose steam toward the end. It had a detailed plot and some interesting twists and turns. At first there is a mounting build up and Hastings and his colleagues chase down witnesses and pressurise them into revealing all they know. The story kind of loses this build up at about 70% when the identities of the shadowy murderers is revealed and we see them plotting and how they have planned to cover their tracks.
The rest of the story shows the murderers and the police each trying to get the upper hand.
My only criticism of the story is that it would have been good to have this kind of reveal right at the very end. Having said this it doesn't spoil the story just spoils that final surprise as the reader finds out who did it.
I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt and it would have been good to have final scenes from some of the other characters especially Randy and Harold Best.
All in all it was ok and a good read.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is book 20 in the Lt. Hastings series and the final book in the series.
A gay man has been murdered in the Castro but what looks like a random gay bashing is revealed to be a calculated murder. A murder which brought the dealings of a blackmailer to an end.
Hastings is forced to confront his own attitudes to gay men when one of the main witnesses is found to be the partner of the dead man and is dying from AIDS.
And the trail from the dying man leads to shadowy pay offs which ensure that murder is done but is untraceable. Hastings dedicates himself to tracing the murderers and solving the case even though the murderers hold immense power and influence.
Hastings is also forced to confront his love for fellow detective Janet Collier, the impossibility of this relationship, the cost it would have to his career and to his quiet relationship with his girlfriend and her two children.
And so he chases down the murderers until he comes face to face with power in his public life, and in his private life his need for love.
The story was ok but seemed to lose steam toward the end. It had a detailed plot and some interesting twists and turns. At first there is a mounting build up and Hastings and his colleagues chase down witnesses and pressurise them into revealing all they know. The story kind of loses this build up at about 70% when the identities of the shadowy murderers is revealed and we see them plotting and how they have planned to cover their tracks.
The rest of the story shows the murderers and the police each trying to get the upper hand.
My only criticism of the story is that it would have been good to have this kind of reveal right at the very end. Having said this it doesn't spoil the story just spoils that final surprise as the reader finds out who did it.
I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt and it would have been good to have final scenes from some of the other characters especially Randy and Harold Best.
All in all it was ok and a good read.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.
August 14, 2007
CALCULATED RISK (Police Procedural-San Francisco-Cont) – G+
Wilcox, Collin – 17th (last) book in series
Henry Hold and Company, 1995- Hardcover
*** Lt. Frank Hastings is investigating a case of gay bashing that became murder when the victim died. But as the case evolves it leads to a trail of money within an unknown source and one of the most powerful families in California. At the same time, Frank’s personal life is unraveling as he is distancing from the woman with whom he lives due to his attraction to one of his female officers.
*** Collin Wilcox was a very good author of books primarily set in San Francisco. He also created the character of McCloud. “Calculated Risk” was Wilcox last book and, unfortunately, not his very best. Frank and his officers are an interesting mix. The relationship issues are handled realistically. I liked watching the investigation unfold but wasn’t completely happy with the way he ended the case. And, of course, being his last book, you didn’t know what happened with the relationship. I miss Wilcox’ writing and will always be glad to have his books in my collection. I’ve even a couple of his earliest books I’ve not yet read.
Wilcox, Collin – 17th (last) book in series
Henry Hold and Company, 1995- Hardcover
*** Lt. Frank Hastings is investigating a case of gay bashing that became murder when the victim died. But as the case evolves it leads to a trail of money within an unknown source and one of the most powerful families in California. At the same time, Frank’s personal life is unraveling as he is distancing from the woman with whom he lives due to his attraction to one of his female officers.
*** Collin Wilcox was a very good author of books primarily set in San Francisco. He also created the character of McCloud. “Calculated Risk” was Wilcox last book and, unfortunately, not his very best. Frank and his officers are an interesting mix. The relationship issues are handled realistically. I liked watching the investigation unfold but wasn’t completely happy with the way he ended the case. And, of course, being his last book, you didn’t know what happened with the relationship. I miss Wilcox’ writing and will always be glad to have his books in my collection. I’ve even a couple of his earliest books I’ve not yet read.
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