Gangland

Wood's engaging investigative thriller starts off with a bang, as beloved Sacramento police officer and local hero Tommy Ensor is killed in a late-night hit-and-run in front of the California state capitol building. The driver is charitable and good-natured Judge Frank Stevenson, who happens to be preparing for a meteoric rise through the ranks of California's justice system at the time of the accident. With so much to lose, Stevenson exhausts every available option at his disposal in an attempt to cover his tracks, but detectives Terry Nye and Rose Tafoya-along with the rest of the city's police department-are determined to track down the assailant. Meanwhile, assistant chiefs of police Jerry Nishimoto and Lou Altlander vie for the soon-to-be-vacated spot at the head of the department, threatening to turn the investigation into a political charade. Wood (Stay of Execution) is a must-read for those who love a classic, hard-boiled detective novel. (Feb.) for Sudden Impact

"A unique legal thriller . . . Wood knows the ins and outs of prisons, courts, government witness programs . . . Gangland demonstrates graphically the tensions, frustrations, and personal dangers often endured by the families of crime victims." --Deltona Enterprise (FL)

"Compelling . . . a bloody showdown between manipulative killer and dedicated prosecutor from which no one emerges unscathed . . . Wood knows the intricacies and ironies of the legal system. He also knows how to employ them to weave a compelling story, convincingly plotted and crisply told." --San Diego Union

"The nonstop action and relentless pace will satisfy fans of the hard-boiled thriller genre." --Publishers Weekly

"Suspense-filled . . . Realistic, fast-moving . . . Molina is the kind of criminal that you love to hate." --Daily News (Newport News, VA)