PALMETTO PARDON

In this thriller, a Navy Special Forces veteran and ex-assassin helps his friends when gangsters become a threat.

Years ago, Cody Houston, just out of the Navy, was mourning the father he lost. He decided to tackle an unorthodox job. Cody became a contract killer for a corrupt syndicate based in Spain, assassinating “crime lords of one sort or another.” But he’s done with that now and ready to live a quiet life in Central Florida. Woodworking—once a cover job—is his full-time gig. But when his friends Tom and Jenny Jennings, who are siblings, run into financial trouble with their family-owned marina, Cody soon attributes it to a group of Russians in town. It seems that the Russians want that marina and are clearly up to no good; their misdeeds involve drug deals and counterfeit money. Cody devises a clever scheme to shake up the Russians’ entire organization. But he must keep himself and others safe; from his new romantic interest, Shirley, a pharmaceutical sales representative, to Jenny’s free-spirited niece, Karen. Stewart’s riveting series opener offers the quintessential rugged hero: Cody rides a Harley, smokes cigars, and washes down his brownies with cold beer. But he uses his wits much more than his bulky muscles, and to great effect. In one scene, Cody, to ensure no one gets the drop on him, enters his own home with such methodical skill that potential invaders won’t likely stand a chance. While it’s fun to watch Cody settle into his new life, his romance with Shirley lacks depth. On one of their dates, for example, Shirley’s mind is more on hopping into bed than engaging in any meaningful conversations. Cody also seems fixated on sex on a subsequent date. Regardless, Cody’s proficient ways of staying ahead of criminals (and maybe the authorities, if necessary) can easily fuel an engrossing series.

A worthy, gripping introduction to a chiseled hero who flaunts his strengths.