96 TEARS

by Doug J. Swanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1996

More felonious fun for Dallas p.i. Jack Flippo, who's hired by wealthy widow Sherri Plunkett because she fears the stalker who's after the infant daughter she gave up for adoption not knowing she'd grow up to be a TV starlet. Who wants to hurt Sandra Danielle? Answer: pretty much everybody, including Jack, by the time he wraps up the case. Dean Dudley, the brand-new husband Sherri's already sick of, is plotting to kidnap his nubile stepdaughter, who likes to make love on things that move really fast (cars, boats, trains). Teddy Tunstra II, the half-wit ex-con who's made a beeline to Dallas to get even with Jack for dropping a dime on him in Big Town (1993), has wanted to get a piece of Sandra ever since she bailed Jack out of his first encounter with Teddy by dropping an eel down Teddy's shirt. So would Teddy's large, loyal, intellectually-challenged sidekick Fredrick Mertts (another eel victim), who's very sensitive about his name to start with. Even Norton Luttrall, the retired arsonist Jack unmasks as Sherri's father, is none too pleased about his connection to Sandra (though even less pleased to be dug up by Jack, whom he last saw trying to convict him of an ancient felony murder). When Teddy decides to deal Mertts and himself in on Dudley's kidnap scheme, the stage is set for one of those joyous double-triple-quadruple crosses that Jack seems fated to specialize in. In only his third time out, Swanson (Dreamboat, 1995, etc.) has already established himself as the John Travolta of the comic caper: He makes it all look light and easy, and seems to be having a great time too.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1996

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 208

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1996

Categories: FICTION