Chiefs

By: Stuart Woods

Narrated by: Mark Hammer

In 1919, Delano, Georgia, appoints its first chief of police. Honest and hardworking, the new chief is puzzled when young men start to disappear. But his investigation is ended by the fatal blast from a shotgun. Delano's second chief-of-police is no hero, yet he is also disturbed by what he sees in the missing-persons bulletins. In 1969, when Delano's third chief takes over, the unsolved disappearances still haunt the police files.

Author Stuart Woods' riveting novel spans three generations while also probing deep into Southern small-town attitudes and behavior. The residents of Delano, with their reluctance to disturb a familiar social order, provide the perfect backdrop for this tale of dark secrets and murder.

Over 40 years ago, Woods found a battered chief-of-police badge in his grandmother's house. It had belonged to his grandfather, who had been shot in the line of duty. The story of the lawman's death inspired Woods to write Chiefs, which won an Edgar Award and was made into a popular TV miniseries.

©1981 Stuart Woods (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"A riveting story of the Deep South that mixes murder mystery with political intrigue." (Publishers Weekly)
"A fascinating, compelling tale." (The New York Times)
"The homey wisdom of [Hammer's] voice, coupled with Woods's engaging story, makes this audiobook memorable." (AudioFile)

In my 'Top Ten' books of all time!

'Chiefs' completely blew me away -- who knew? I've read several of Stuart Woods other books, the Stone Barrington and Ed Eagle series in particular, and they were fine, nothing to really write home about. So I wasn't too excited when I saw this one on Audible. But? It was on sale, and it was long -- a prime requirement for me -- so what the heck? Why not?

Boy, was I wrong. "Chiefs" grabs you from the very first minutes and doesn't let go -- I literally cancelled two appointments this afternoon -- no way was I going to stop listening until I finished it. This was Katherine Stockett's "The Help" meets Robert Penn Warren's classic "All the King's Men", although arguably better than either. As a novel of southern culture, spanning three generations, as viewed through three very different men who served as chief of police in a small southern town, it's hard to imagine anything better than this one.

Few books draw you so completely into the character's lives as does "Chiefs". This is consummate storytelling. As each of the three segments finished, I was sad to see it end, figuring the next segment surely wouldn't be as good as the one I'd just finished. But I was never disappointed. Each was compelling in its own way.

It's really too bad it's being advertised as a "serial killer" book. Yes, that's an element, but that's sort of like saying that chocolate cake is about the sugar. Yes, that's an element, but that misses the point. This is a novel, not really detective fiction, as such. It's a story of courage and cowardice, of home and running away, of race, black and white, good men and evil scattered throughout. True, it's the 'killer' angle that ties the three administrations together, but that's really not the focus of the story.

I couldn't help comparing the whole situation to that of John Grisham. This was Stuart Woods first book -- written long before he published any of the more traditional detective fiction books he's more famous for. Yet "Chiefs" is so far above and beyond anything that Woods has written since, it's sometimes hard to believe it's the same author.

Same with Grisham. The first book he wrote -- "A Time To Kill" -- wasn't published until he'd already written and sold several other more traditional legal thrillers. Similarly, "A Time to Kill" is by far Grisham's finest work, although I'd admit "A Painted House" comes close in terms of literary merit. And also similarly, 'A Time to Kill" isn't really about rape and punishment, it's about the life and times of the people involved, the society in which these things happened. So it is with "Chiefs".

I know I will listen to this book again and again. If you haven't read or listened to it yet, you've got a real treat ahead of you. Don't miss this one. It's a classic.

Falling in Love

Yep, I fell in love with this book! With 2 of the Chiefs, with lots of other characters and a town, and especially with a narrator!

Narrator is too weak a description of what Mark Hammer accomplishes with "Chiefs". His voice seems relaxed and unhurried, but it conveys all the heart and soul of a small town called Delano and its residents. He's flat out fabulous!

The book, too, is a real find. I agree with all the reviewers who note that this is obviously a deeply felt, deeply personal work by Stuart Woods. As the section for each chief ended, I grieved and thought the next one couldn't possibly be as good, but each time I was wrong and got just as engulfed in the lives and cares of the next set of people. There are wonderful and sometimes surprising connections among the 3 stories. There's suspense, emotion, and a just-plain-good-old plot in "Chiefs". And a progression through the years which reflects perfectly the changes in all of America during the period from 1920 to 1963.

Everyone can relate to this story and to these people. And that's pretty much what a good book and a good listen should be, isn't it?

A 2 lane highway in the hills

This book is like a 2 lane country highway through the hills, you can't go fast, but whenever you get tired of the pace, a hill appears and you have to know what's on the other side.
The narrator does a very nice job - reminds me of George G.

I'm sure if I'd read this in hard copy I would have "cheated" and skipped ahead to see if the fox gets his ears pinned.

Genius! 5 Stars!

This is only the second five star book I've listened to (All The King's Men by the great Robert Penn Warren was the first). It is a masterpiece. First off.. the plot is watertight. A thriller murder mystery, political drama, and police procedural that holds your attention rigid throughout. But... while good enough, this novel is so much more than well crafted... it borders upon being one of the Great American Novels.

These characters are so spot on perfect. Deep yet simple... Good smack up against evil. Each side scores devastating punches. Frequently I gasped.

And the historic sweep is essential to every nuance of the developing ensemble. In fact the sense of place and evolving moment are.. well part of the ensemble each sewn together into a tapestry of emotion.

When the pitch-perfect reader Mark Hammer muttered... "The End"... I moaned, close to tears. "NO!" I exhaled, "You've got to take me farther along the development of the town of Delano. I need the next generation. Don't leave me." And yet... yet.... Stuart Woods ended at the perfect moment for my imagination and emotions to continue to ride the story arc on my own. I'll wonder now for the rest of my life about the Chiefs, their friends, and their enemies.

Art without wonder is merely craft.

Stuart Woods is our Robert Penn Warren. Hmmm... did I write "Borders upon being one of the great American novels?" Thats a very very very thin border. Yeah.... 5 stars!

Just an Amazing Story of Southern Crime

This is a GREAT story. . . filled with great characters and a plot that just won't let you go. That said, I must confess that at first, I had a hard time adjusting to the slow, methodical narration. But once I accepted it, Hammer's plodding southern inflections and varied voices actually made the story. Listening felt like being there in the south, in that time. You could sense the humidity, the tension.

Prepare yourself for some heart wrenching listening. The story is true to the racism and hatred that the south foster(ed?) for eons. And there is some, but not a lot, of graphic sexuality and sexual violence as well as brutal killing. But the good guys and really good and they prevail when all is said and done.

The thread that captivates is that this story takes place in the little Georgia town of Delano (and where the citizens of Delano go,) and is filled with well-developed southern characters that you will come to know intimately.

It is worthy of your time and credit! Highly recommended.

Southern Sounds

Well-told, interesting story about 40 years of a small Georgia town. I'm impressed with the narrator's seemingly limitless accents for each of the characters.

Good book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is not so much a mystery as a multi-generational story. It's about the change that happened in the South from a cotton based segregated economy to an integrated industrial based one, and the social changes that took place along with that change. (Of course, I'm an accountant, so I see most things from an economic point of view.)

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I liked that the author is not graphic with the violence. I like murder mysteries, but I don't want to hear about the details of blood flying all over, or the mental anguish of a victim.

Any additional comments?

I am a northerner, but I thought the reader did a good job of the slow drawn out speech of the South.

So timely!

Racism in our country against blacks make me sick. This novel was based in Georgia and gives a perfect description of how things were. This novel reminds me of how people thought in Ft. Worth when I grew up.

This book is also a great story and mystery. You will be rooting for the good guy. Also a little surprise twist at the end that will make you think.

I loved it.

If theres a book that should be a movie this one is it

If you could sum up Chiefs in three words, what would they be?

You know when that question is ask. you set and think, then you try to think of what words would work and mostly you can't not for a book like this so I have to say I don't know what three words would works not without using more then three. Not happen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Chiefs?

mmm that a really good questions I have to say when the deputy pull over the new chief will the fourth one and they fine out later the he was the new chief and he was a man of brown skin I really don't like the word BLACK.

What about Mark Hammer’s performance did you like?

I really like hearing him he knows how to make a book sound good and keep your interest in the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I movie to the South as a child from the north you don't know the culture change.

Any additional comments?

Now that I've said that this book should not be change or anything take out if it made into a movie.

Love it!

One of the best books I have ever read!
Love the characters and the narration.
Have read it numerous times and listened to it through Audible a few times.