(2007)introductory volume of his new Sheriff Walt Fleming series. Ho-hum. Very pedestrian, too many characters that just muck up the story. And Pearson doesn't take the time to tell the story or develop the characters. Things just start happening. The only one I cared about at all was the villain, who has come to Sun Valley to assassinate the upcoming presidential candidate. Probably won't follow this series.Kirkus ReviewsSun Valley's plucky sheriff must head off a hired killer and save the woman he rescued eight years ago. Young patrolman Walt Fleming's scrupulous attention to criminal detail once led him to save upwardly mobile attorney Elizabeth Shaler from a murderous intruder in her vacation home. That bit of heroism put Fleming in the sheriff's seat from which, nearly a decade later, he must oversee the security of Ms. Shaler, now America's Attorney General, as she prepares to announce her candidacy for president at one of those rich-guy conferences. Fleming is trying to figure out what happened to an assassin who should have been on a plane from Salt Lake, where the locals found a fresh corpse. We know early on that the hired killer was indeed on the plane and that he is Milav Trevalian, a fake blind guy whose guide dog died en route in the baggage compartment. Who would suspect a blind guy, right? Trevalian has usurped the identity of the guy he murdered back in Utah, and he has an elaborate and fairly high-tech plan to make it past the layers of private security and secret-service agents surrounding the Attorney General. Poor Fleming has to work cheek by jowl with the deputy who's been cuckolding him and who may have his eye on that sheriff's star. But he keeps his mind on the job. There's plenty to keep him busy, with two murders in 24 hours and some concurrent cruelty to animals. Hyperactive and fairly tense fare from Pearson (Cut and Run, 2005, etc.). Agent: Al Zuckerman/Writers House LLC

Walt Fleming is charged with being a member of security team for Liz Shaler who is soon to announce her bid for the presidency. Meanwhile, a man is out to get Liz. ( )

The first time Walt Fleming met Liz Shaler was when he saved her from a man breaking into her home, wielding a knife at her. She's returning to Sun Valley eight years later as the keynote speaker of billionaire Patrick Cutter's world-famous media and communications conference, a meeting of rich and powerful business leaders. The controversial attorney general is expected to announce her candidacy for president. It's a security nightmare for Walt Fleming, now the county sheriff. Walt is informed of a horrible murder some distance away, and needs to determine if the killer is making his way to the conference with the intent of killing Liz while she's announcing her candidacy. As the conference gets under way it's soon apparent there is a real threat out there.

Pearson tells his story from Walt's perspective as well as the assassin's so you know from the beginning who he is. I thought one of the most interesting parts of the story was observing his painstaking preparations for the kill. I've enjoyed the Lou Boldt series by Pearson but this series just didn't grab me. It reminded me of a James Patterson novel. I think it has lots of potential but he definitely needs to fill in some characters development before I would go any further. ( )

I did stay to the end of this but mainly because I couldn't believe it was as boring and knew it would get better. It didn't. The plot is too silly to even capsulate. I'm only adding the book here so I'll be sure and not pick it up again. ( )

Walt Flemming outwits Secret Service and Corporate security to thwart assassination attempt on Presidential candidate speaking at tech conference in Sun Valley.
Equal to the Lou Boldt series. ( )