Midwest Book Review
- Deadly Distractions
Fast-paced adventure,
September 12, 2004
The latest Stan Turner thriller revolves around a
client accused of killing an IRS agent - involving
Stan in the middle of a fight between the FBI and a
citizen's committee - and his best friend's
disappearance. With more than a single crime in his
pot, Stan must uncover many hidden truths in this
fast-paced adventure.
Library Journal - Deadly Distractions
Attorney Stan Turner (Cash Call) stretches to
cover two cases. One client stands accused of
killing a predatory IRS agent trying to confiscate
his tractor. The second disappears in Ecuador after
wiring a fortune into Stan's trust account. While
Stan flies to Ecuador, partner Paula handles the
murder case, accepting pay from a radical
anti-government outfit. Then Stan is kidnapped,
escapes, and is subsequently questioned secretly by
the FBI, which sees a dirty connection between the
radicals, the missing client, and money laundering.
Plenty of action and excitement, but the author
handles it with heavy-handed narrative and flat
dialog. For series fans only. Manchee lives in
Plano, TX. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Foreward Magazine Review of Deadly
Distractions by: Mark
Terry
Attorney Stan Turner's client, Dusty Thomas, is
believed to have murdered an IRS agent over back
taxes he owed the government. And why not? The
agent was shot by a Remington shotgun, and Dusty
was found standing over the victim with a
Remington shotgun in his hand. Turner takes on
the case, turning most of the details over to
his new associate, Paula Waters. Waters agrees
to allow the Citizen's Defense Alliance, or CDA,
to foot Dusty's bail and pay for his defense.
Turner is surprised, because the CDA is
practically a terrorist organization, a group of
fascists who don't believe in federal taxation
and would gladly throw out the government. Now
that Turner's agency appears to be in bed with
the CDA, the federal government is painting them
with a broad and wide brush. The author, who is
a lawyer like his protagonist, has written four
previous Stan Turner novels, as well as short
stories, several other novels, and a nonfiction
work for small business owners. While Turner is
dealing with this case, one of his oldest
friends and clients calls him from Ecuador,
where he is mixed up in a complicated
money-laundering scheme involving Ecuadorian
rebels and false identities. With the government
tearing apart their lives, this is the last
thing he needs; then the client disappears,
apparently kidnapped or arrested. Before a
reader can say, "This is a pretty dumb move for
an attorney to make," Turner and a private
investigator fly to Ecuador to look for the
client, but are quickly arrested. It is only
through a series of very questionable deals,
with even more questionable Ecuadorian military
officials, that they are released. Manchee has
pretty much thrown everything into this
novel-courtroom scenes, Guantanamo Bay, Texas
street gangs, insurance scams, money laundering,
murder, even a hurricane. This level of plot
complexity is both the novel's strength and its
weakness. Manchee juggles reasonably well, but
each plot point could have been developed by
itself into a full novel. The book struggles
under its own weight, which isn't helped by
Manchee's attention to trivial detail or stilted
dialogue. Still, each plot line, in and of
itself, can be riveting, and fans of legal
thrillers who have already read Grisham,
Scottoline, Martini, and Patterson may very well
want to check out this novel. (August)
Clint Hunter, Crescent Blue - Review of
Deadly Distractions
An unwelcome phone call from his new partner Paula
Waters interrupts attorney Stan Turner's family
vacation in Colorado. A long time client and friend,
Dusty Thomas, stands accused of the murder of an IRS
agent and continues to barricade himself in his barn
while holding a contingent of federal law
enforcement agents at bay. A witness who happened
upon the scene identifies Thomas as the man he saw
standing over the victim with a shotgun in his hand.
 Leaving
his family in Colorado, Turner hurriedly flies to
the scene in Texas where he meets the agents and
arranges a meeting with the accused. Thomas, known
for his long and bitter feud with the IRS concerning
seizures of his property, professes his innocence.
He swears he found the already dead agent on his
property after responding to the sound of gunshots;
however, he agrees to give himself up with the
assurance that Turner will defend him in court.
Without Turner's knowledge, Paula Waters arranges
for a radical anti-government organization called
the Citizen's Defense Alliance to post Thomas' bail
and deposit money for the defense in the firm's
account. Turner angrily speculates on the
consequences of this alliance if the firm fails to
prove its client innocent. Word of this action leaks
immediately to the press, and federal agents begin
surveillance of Turner's every move.
Before research for the trial begins, another
distraction arises. Tex Weller, one of the firm's
best clients, unexpectedly deposits more than a
million dollars into the firm's account and then
disappears. Investigation reveals documents
suggesting a link between the money and a scam
originating in Ecuador. While Waters prepares for
the upcoming trial, Turner flies to Ecuador in
search of his friend.
Left in charge of the trial preparation, Waters
uncovers evidence that the murdered IRS Agent, Bobby
Tuttle, sported a reputation as a bully who rose
rapidly in the agency because of nepotism. Tuttle
apparently maintained a "hit" list of persons and
organizations to prosecute for tax evasions, and
cultivated enemies both inside and outside the IRS.
Waters finds herself hard-pressed to keep up with
the ever-expanding list of potential suspects.
Pressure builds to piece together the puzzle of
Agent Tuttle's murder as the trial date looms. In
the meantime, Turner and Waters must work their way
past an investigation of sedition, a gang related
insurance swindle, and a charge and conviction of
felonious action. But in a courtroom climax that
would make the venerable Perry Mason stand and
applaud, stunning revelations and unexpected
connections bring the mystery to an unanticipated
and startling conclusion.
Deadly Distractions definitely belongs
on your reading list. Manchee writes an intelligent,
suspenseful, complex, and highly readable tale,
which confirms him as a wordsmith of the first
order.
DEADLY DISTRACTIONS is
a compelling novel that is filled with fast action
from beginning to end. The distinct details and
vivid dialogue guide the reader into a story that
explodes their imaginations with thrilling suspense
page after page.
Stan Turner is a very
skilled attorney who finds himself on the
rollercoaster ride of his life after he takes on a
case of a client accused of killing an IRS agent.
Stan is quickly thrown into the middle of a chilling
struggle of power and deceit, and it often seems
that his loyal defense of his client may very well
cost him his life. Just as it seems that the tangled
web of this plot cannot not get any more bizarre
Stan finds that his best friend, Tex Weller, is
missing in Ecuador. Stan travels to a foreign land
to try and locate Tex before it’s too late and finds
himself driven even deeper into a struggle of life
and death. Stan is faced with a devastating dilemma
as he ferociously fights to defend the innocence of
his client and desperately tries to save his own
skin.
William Manchee is an
excellent mystery writer who uses just the right
flavoring of suspense and action to create a
thrilling tale that readers will not soon forget.
William distributes his graceful talents and
displays his artistic abilities to maneuver the
written word time and time again in this excellent
novel.
I recommend that
everyone buy and enjoy the rare gifts of this unique
author and delve into the realm of a true
storyteller and writer. Thank you William for an
excellent read, and I look forward to seeing more of
your exciting work.
Book Review Cafe
Stan Turner, a successful Texas lawyer, decided
to take a two-week vacation with his family in
Colorado. Leaving his practice in the capable hands
of his partner, Paula Waters, Stan and his family
set out for some rest and relaxation. Five days into
the vacation Stan gets a frantic call from Paula
informing him that his client, Dusty Thomas, had
shot an IRS agent and was barricaded at his home and
wouldn’t surrender. The news only got worse when the
agent died.
Dusty was now faced with murder and to add
to the problem there was a witness that saw Dusty
standing over the man with his shotgun in his hand.
Stan knew his work was cut out for him and both he
and Paula needed to find some evidence to prove
Dusty was innocent as he stated he was.
About this time Stan’s secretary got a call from
another client of Stan’s stating he was wiring $1.8
million into Stan’s account, money that would turn
to be a twist in this strange and puzzling case.
Each new lead only added to the mystery and each
potiential witness seemed to disappear before the
trail.
A fast-paced story that grabs the reader and
holds onto them for the entire ride. Well worth the
read!
by Louise Riveiro-Mitchel, author of Autumn
Sky
Reviewed by: molly
martin
Pleasantly puzzling Read
Highly Recommended
Stan Turner,
Dallas based Attorney, husband and father along with
his family are on vacation in July 1986. Stan’s wife
Rebekah is looking forward to having some special
time with Stan. The kids are hoping for fishing and
white water rafting. Stan has a brand new partner;
Paula Waters who has brought some much needed cash
as well as ‘a head for business’ into the firm, and
is set to enjoy so time away from Dallas and the
pressures of his law practice. It isn’t long before
Stan finds himself flying to Texas to meet with an
old friend. Dusty Thomas, a bad luck kid from way
back, is accused of shooting and killing a federal
officer. Bobby Tuttle was just doing his job in
trying to confiscate some the Thomas farm machinery
for back taxes. The worst of it is: there are
witnesses who saw Dusty, weapon in hand, standing
over the body. Before the tale plays out Ecuador, a
radical paramilitary group known as the CDA …
Citizen’s Defense Alliance, a DC income tax protest,
scrutiny of both Stan and Paul by the press and
the FBI, soft ball sized hail stones, a woman
with a crush on Stan, 1.8 million dollars and a hit
and run all figure in what appeared at first glance
to be a simple case.
As always Manchee has a tale to
tell, and he does so in the same fast paced, action
packed thriller rounded out with a well developed
theme manner as he so known for from past works.
Manchee’s penchant for presenting an intriguing tale
wherein little is as first seemed is getting better
with each book he writes. Manchee’s writing skills
are becoming finely honed. On the pages of Deadly
Distractions there are enough twists and turns
to please and perhaps lead astray even the most
discerning reader. Action addicts will be pleased,
the lively tale has something for everyone who
enjoys a good yarn, an intriguing mystery and just
plain a good read. Manchee’s genius for taking
knowledge from his own attorney background
experience and bolstering his scenes is evident from
Deadly Distractions’ outset.
Writer Manchee’s legal thriller
brings us in contact again with Stan Turner, one of
my favorites of Manchee’s characters. Watching the
amicable, at times bumbling Stan trying to balance
family with work against a woman determined toward
more than a casual relationship brings more than one
smile to the lips of any reader who may have found
themselves in any part of the particular scenario.
Manchee’s characters are well
developed, dialogue is gritty, believable, hard
hitting at times, milieu are filled with sights and
sounds and enough description to draw the reader
into the setting. Deadly Distractions is a
gripping tale grasping the readers interest from the
opening lines as we nod in agreement with Stan
‘never call your office while you’re on vacation’
across all 300 pages and right down to the last
paragraphs where we discover Dusty’s luck remains
the same.
Excellent book for a long lazy
afternoon when you have time to savor a well written
thriller, watch the red herrings. Manchee does his
usual excellent job leading the unsuspecting astray!
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
August 2004
Murderandmayhem Book Club
Reviewed by Anne K Edwards
http://www.murderandmayhembookclub.com/deadly_distract.html
A tale of two attorneys caught between a
radical anti-IRS group and the Government law
enforcement as they (the attorneys) try to protect
the rights of their client who has been accused of
murdering an IRS agent.
Stan Turner has two cases that need his immediate
attention, one is trying to find a missing client in
Ecuador and the other is defending Dusty Thomas on
the charge of murder. He heads for Ecuador and
leaves Dusty's case in the capable hands of his
partner.
It is then things get very involved. The partner
seeks out the radical organization to pay Dusty's
expenses and bail. The prosecutors then see Stan and
his partner as supporters of the anti-IRS radicals,
a fact that does not make his job nor his life any
easier once he returns from Ecuador.
Deadly Distractions is written by a talented author
who constructs a set of interesting situations with
believable and likable characters. However, one
thing in the writing makes it a bit hard to separate
the two lead characters. They are both written in
first person without any indication from chapter to
chapter as to who is talking and this leads to some
confusion.
Barring this, the plotting is well done and balanced
with twists and turns that will keep you guessing
who the real villain is and why the IRS agent was
killed. With threats coming at him from all sides,
Stan does a creditable balancing act the reader will
enjoy.
From DorothyL
Gloria Feit, Long Beach, NY
If ever I get in trouble, Stan Turner
is the lawyer I’d turn to, the allotted phone call
I’d make. In this, the fifth book in the series,
our hero agrees to defend a man accused of murder
who was found standing over the dead body, followed
closely by a flight to Ecuador to try to locate
another old friend and client who has apparently
been kidnapped after
getting involved in some kind of get-rich-quick
scheme. Matters quickly worsen: another murder
occurs, there are attempts on Stan’s life, and his
partner is being set up in what appears to be a
hit-and-run scam. And with
the initial murder being that of an IRS agent, the
wrath of the Federal Government is brought to bear
upon defendant and attorneys alike, as only it can.
This was my introduction to Stan Turner and to
William Manchee, the author of several books in
addition to this series. The plot races along, with
short, punchy chapters taking us to the conclusion
of this past-paced and
well-written tale. I must admit I had a problem
with the fact that the book was poorly edited and/or
proofread, but not to the extent that it prevented
me from enjoying the book very much in spite of that
distraction. Recommended.
Tom Mayes, I Love A Mystery
 Perhaps
the readers of the world may feel that we do not
need another author of legal thrillers – especially
since there are the likes of Grisham, Bernhardt, and
Siegal. But that should not stop you from picking up
a copy of William Manchee’s latest novel,
DEADLY DISTRACTIONS; This is his fifth novel
in the Stan Turner series and his eighth overall.
DEADLY DISTRACTIONS takes the reader
into the sometimes murky legal world of lawyers
taking on clients whom they would rather not and
receiving funding from sources that can only hurt
their futures. Stan Turner and his law partner,
Paula Waters, defend a man that is a friend of
theirs, but the case is almost over before it
begins. Dusty Thomas is found standing over the
dead body of an IRS agent holding a recently fired
shotgun. He has had a long running feud with the
government over taxes and the case looks like a
slam- dunk for the DA.
Just one problem – Dusty swears he is innocent
and Stan believes him, even though the Feds were
there to confiscate what little property he had left
that they had not already taken. The big question
is: how do they get the funds to mount an adequate
defense. Along comes a group of individuals who
believe that Texas was never officially brought in
to the Union, thus they do not have to obey the
Federal laws. Calling themselves the CDA, the group
is willing to fund the entire cost of Dusty Thomas’
defense, saying that they want to get back at the
government. Stan and Paula do not want to take
their money but really have no choice. Stan also
finds that he must fly to Ecuador to try to obtain
the release of another friend, Tex, who has become
entangled in the messy dealings of politics and
money south of the border.
Stan is almost stranded down south but bargains
his way out through a deal with a corrupt general.
Upon his return, while trying to get his case going,
Paula is framed for a hit-and-run. It’s obviously
the work of those who don’t like Stan’s defense of
Dusty. The government is also shadowing his every
move and every financial transaction. Paula is
convicted, so Stan must take on the case all alone –
at least officially. As he gets closer and closer
to the truth, certain folks seem determined to
remove him from the proceedings all together.
The legal scenes are riveting. You, the reader,
are never completely sure of who is innocent. Is
Stan just Don Quixote going after the windmills of
big government, or is someone trying to take Dusty
Thomas down for their own agenda? As each day goes
by, one keeps wondering what else is going to happen
to Stan and Paula. Paula’s very strong feelings for
Stan also complicate the plot - and Stan’s mental
concentration.
One interesting method used by Manchee is that
the book is written in the first person of both Stan
and Paula. We get both viewpoints – thus adding
more clarity as to what is really going on behind
the scenes. It is a novel approach and not hard to
follow along at all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for
a few nights of enjoyment.
Bookviews - Alan Caruba
Another prolific author
William Manchee, discovered his talent as a novelist
by way of coping with his stressful life as a
lawyer. His latest novel, Deadly Distraction($13.00,
Lean Press) is a thriller in which Stan Turner, an
attorney and the main character in a series of
novels, is defending a client accused of killing an
IRS agent. Moreover, Stan’s best friend has going
missing and when Stan goes to Ecuador to find him,
he goes missing too! You will be on the edge of your
seat, reading as fast as you can, to find out how
the various strands of this story resolve
themselves.
Beverly J. Rowe,
MyShelf.Com
This story starts
off with a literal bang as Stan Turner's client is
found standing over the body of a dead IRS agent,
with his shotgun in hand. Since Dusty Thomas has had
a years-long feud with the dead agent, Bobby Tuttle,
and Bobby was killed with a shotgun, Dusty is
charged with first degree murder even though he
claims to be innocent.
Stan's new partner,
Paula Waters, handles Dusty Thomas' arraignment and
begins to get an investigation underway while Stan
is finishing his vacation. She even manages to
arrange financing for Dusty's defense. A radical
paramilitary group, the Citizens Defense Alliance,
or CDA, is doing the funding, much to Stan's dismay.
He doesn't want to be associated with this group of
anti-government radicals.
Since the CDA denies
the legitimacy of the federal income tax and has
been a target of federal prosecutors for many years,
Stan's worst fears are realized, and his office
immediately comes under the close scrutiny of the
FBI and the press. To further complicate matters,
Stan's best client and close friend, Tex Weller, has
transferred 1.8 million dollars to Stan's trust
account from Ecuador, and now he is reported missing
by his wife.
While Stan is
searching for Tex in Ecuador, Paula continues her
investigation of Bobby Tuttle's murder and quickly
discovers a long list of enemies with motive to kill
him, becoming more and more convinced that Dusty
Thomas is innocent. Her investigation is sidetracked
when she learns Stan is missing and may have been
kidnapped. As time goes by and Stan doesn't turn up,
she is forced to turn her attention back to the
Dusty Thomas case and leave the search for Stan up
to the FBI. Then Paula, herself, is charged with a
phony hit and run.
Paula, of course,
is secretly in love with a very happily married
Stan, and by alternating viewpoints between Stan and
Paula, Manchee achieves the near impossible task of
getting into the mind of each protagonist. The
action is non-stop with surprises in every chapter.
Parallel, complicated plots converge to an explosive
climax. Don't start this book until you have time to
read the whole thing...you won't want to put it
down.
Review from Myshelf.com
UNDAUNTED is the first Stan Turner Mystery
followed by the second, BRASH ENDEAVOR and the third, SECOND CHAIR. Stan decides at a very
early age that he wants to be a lawyer, but while he is at the Ventura county fair Stan
and his friend Steve wanted to have their future read by a Univac Computer which analyzes
a persons handwriting and tells their the future. Stan's card came back saying.
'STRUGGLING IN A HOSTILE WORLD,
PURSUING YOUR DESTINY,
YOU WILL STAND RESOLUTE AGAINST ADVERSITY,
UNDAUNTED'
Stan did not understand the meaning then, but as he became an adult, he
would understand all to well. While Stan was at UCLA he met Rebekah whom he loves very
much, they are married Oct 18, 1968. On the way to getting a law degree, things get rough
for Stan. The Army drafts him in 1970; to avoid the Army he signs with the Marines.
While in boot camp, he unwittingly befriends a serial killer and soon finds himself
charged with the murder of his drill sergeant. Stan
desperately searches for the real killer. Helping him is nurse Rita Andrews, who wants
Stan for herself, and Virginia Stone, a journalist looking for a story.
Undaunted is a sensual chiller, involving white supremacists, a serial killer, and the
Marines all rolled up into a startling package that will keep you clinging to every word.
Undaunted proves it to me; William Manchee is a master at story telling. He has a
way of spinning a tale that will leave you breathless every time. ... Pam
Stone
REVIEW SCRIBES WORLD REVIEWS
5 Stars
UNDAUNTED, A STAN TURNER MYSTERY
Not long after OCS candidate Stan Turner arrives to begin his Marine Corps career he is
horrified to find himself both a prime suspect in a horrific murder and a resident in the
Quantico brig. The fact that Stan's fingerprints are all over the murder weapon used
to do away with his drill sergeant does look bad, really bad, for the recent college
student.
Turner is married, the parent of one child and soon to be father of the child Rebekah is
carrying. Rebekah's ever present jealousy clouds her thinking when the best hope for
proving Stan's innocence is provided by an attractive journalist and a libidinous nurse
who finds Stan every bit attractive as does his wife. Rebekah has stomped home
before either the baby is born or the murder trial Stan must undergo is completed.
Turner has always wanted to be an attorney, his joining the Marine Corps comes as
much of surprise to him as it does to others. Little does he realize that the fellow
he befriends upon his arrival at Quantico has a hidden secret.
In this introductory volume to the Stan Turner series, Writer Manchee weaves a fast paced,
tightly wound narrative filled with intrigue, deception and circumstance which are not
always as they seem. UNDAUNTED, A STAN TURNER MYSTERY proves Manchee's understanding
of the justice system; not a wholly surprising situation for this successful Dallas
attorney. This novel has it all. Love, duplicitous murder, a serial
killer, The Corps, suicide, and a bigoted white supremacist all race the reader through
the pages of this gripping work.
Writer Manchee always weaves an excellent account. Stan Turner is a 'common folk'
stumble over his own feet at times type hero. just the kind of hero most of us feel most
comfortable knowing. UNDAUNTED sets the groundwork for the novels to follow.
We meet Stan and Rebekah, get to know them and find them likeable despite their
little imperfections. In this first in the series Stan manages to evade the gallows,
complete his bar exams and remain married to Rebekah. None of this is done without
some wear and tear on our hero.
Watch for red herrings. You may find yourself caught by surprise with the ending!
Delightful read, highly recommended.
Reviewed by:
Molly Martin
 Review, Dallas Observer
Thursday, July 30, 1998
William Manchee could be Dallas answer to John Grisham.
Manchee, an author who has maintained a private law firm in Dallas since 1975, recently
published Brash Endeavor, a page-turning tale of a small-time lawyer in over his head with
some big time clients. Just like Grisham's
books, the protagonist apppears to be a thinly veiledversion of Manchee. The novel follows
Stan Turner--the character that Manchee introduced in the well-received Undaunted as he moves to Dallas to open up his own law practice
and becomes involved with an insurance scam that ends up with his wife being falsely
accused of murder. It sounds like just the kind of potboiler that Grisham is know for. Let's just hope Manchee doesn't option any of his books to movie producers.
The Review: Brash Endeavor
Stan Turner and his wife Rebekah are unaware exactly how their lives
are about to change when Stan determines to open his own law practice. Following this
decision the only steady, reliable income coming into their home is derived from
Rebekah’s work a few hours each week at the nearby Central Receiving Hospital where
she in ICU/ER nurse.
Much to the delight of Stan and Rebekah clients and the promise of
constant income do soon appear, Stan’s old friend Kurt Harrison sends the flamboyant
Gena Lombardi and her problems to Stan, Inca Oil needs an attorney to do land title
searches, Kurt introduces Dan Kelley. Things are looking up.
An offer for a percentage in an oil well rather than a fee for work
performed is viewed by Stan as a method for insuring a good steady income. The only fly in
the ointment is Rebekah’s growing dissatisfaction and plain old wifely jealousy for
the attractive women Stan meets in the course of his work.
When Stan and the nubile wife of a client are found in a clinch out at
the ‘coming in’ party held at the newly opened well Rebekah is sure her
suspicions are well founded. A short time later Stan finds himself facing the fact of his
wife’s arrest for the death of that wife of a client, caring for his four young
kiddies with the help of Rebekah’s mother and trying to unravel how it has all gone
so wrong.
Merge Robert B. Parker’s ‘Paper Doll,’ with
‘Traitorous Intent’ by Charlotte Lacey along with a generous splash of plain old
Erle Stanley Gardner intrigue for an idea of what BRASH ENDEAVOR is all about. This
mystery thriller by clever writer William Manchee is a ‘keep you turning the
page’ read.
The jealousy felt by Rebekah is plausible and the desperation driven
behavior of her husband to find answers to incomprehensible questions is as thinkable.
Stan knows no matter how upset Rebekah may have felt; the woman he has married, loved and
had four children with could not have done such a thing as to kill someone. He knows he
will have to sort it all out, find the actual murderer and rescue Rebekah from the morass
in which they find themselves. The interwoven personal issues between husband and wife,
between Stan and his clients, between Turner and the police are all very believable in
this intricately wrought thriller by Dallas, Texas attorney Manchee.
Manchee’s deftness for the human situation and his expressive
narrative draw the reader straiaght into the tale. This experienced writer has a
discernment of the human psyche many do not possess. He uses that understanding to present
an assemblage of characters so distinctive and credible the reader believes they must be
actual people.
BRASH ENDEAVOR offers the reader a peek inside the daily lives of
individuals who are interesting and fun and wholly plausible. BRASH ENDEAVOR is another in
a series of William Manchee’s ‘Stan Turner’ mystery thrillers. My favorite
type of book, good solid writing filled with believable characters and situations, no
graphic sex thrown in just to sell the book or to try to cover up lack of writing skill,
no silly posturing, this is just a good, well written book . We who enjoy thrillers can
only hope writer Manchee is hard at work on the next in the series and that many more Stan
Turner novels are soon forthcoming. BRASH ENDEAVOR is a tale that will grab you from the
first line and will hold you tight right on down to the last page. Very perceptive and
highly recommended.
Reviewed by: molly martin
a review from Publisher’s Weekly June 26, 2000
July Publications - Mystery Notes
Dallas lawyer Stan Turner attracts his
usual share of trouble and more in William Manchee’s Second Chair, the third in a
series. Turner must fend off a lawsuit from his CPA’s widow, who blames him and his
wife for her husband’s death, as well as defend a college student accused of
murdering her newborn child. Appealing characters and lively dialogue, especially in the
courtroom, make this an easy, entertaining read. Top, (toppub@hotmail.com), $14.95 paper
360p, ISBN#0-9666366-9-4.
a review from the
Norman Transcript
Another book added to Stan Turner
Mysteries series - a review
Jul 30 2000 12:00AM By By Barbara Quigley LifeStyle
Editor
William Manchee, full-time attorney, part-time mystery writer, has
written another addition to the Stan Turner Mysteries series.
"Second Chair" is the third volume.
Like "Undaunted" and "Brash Endeavor," "Second
Chair" takes the reader for the ride of their life. Manchee's command of the justice
system, added to his experiences in court and with clients, makes for a good read.
Stan Turner once again finds himself in financial trouble when he takes
on the case of a young college student accused of murdering her newborn infant girl.
Turner, never trying a murder case before, enlists the aid of his
criminal law professor, Harry Hertel, to play the role of second chair.
The story plays out from Sherman, Texas, to Dallas all the while set
with subplots including the death of a client at Turner's annual Christmas party, a
religious fanatic named Doomsayer and abortion protesters on the courthouse lawn during
the murder trial.
Turner and the other characters make Manchee's latest book a good
choice for a rainy day when there's nothing else to do as it's one of those books that's
hard to put down.
Manchee, who didn't start writing until his children were grown,
started penning books in 1995 as an escape from his stressful Dallas law practice.
He admits writing is his true passion in life.
He has written eight novels, five which have been published, between
1995 and 1997.
Manchee's Stan Turner series is based on his experiences as a Dallas
attorney in the 70s and 80s.
Although he plans to continue the series, he also will write stand
alone books. Manchee has plans to publish at least a book a year for the rest of his life.
The book is published by Top Productions, a publishing company headed
up by Manchee.
a review from the
Richardson News
Thursday, August 3, 2000 by Betty Bettacchi Section
B, Lifestyles
Sarah Winters, A Sherman college student, is accused of murdering her
own baby. Her current boyfriend, Greg, who is not the baby’s father, lives in
Richardson. The night of the murder, Greg was studying in the UTD library.
No, this isn’t a case for Ken Yarbrough, Richardson’s chief
of police. It’s a case for Stan Turner, author William Manchee’s fictional
sleuthing lawyer.
Second Chair is the third book in the Stan Turner mystery series.
Manchee wrote Twice Tempted, a legal thriller, before hitting on his most successful
formula.
Manchee will sign copies of Second Chair at 1 p. m. at Barnes and
Noble, Richardson Square Mall.
The Plano writer is a North Dallas Lawyer who picked up the pen as a
way to deal with the stress of the legal profession.
"When I’m writing, I’m in another world. I can totally
forget about my law practice," he said during a recent interview. "My children
are grown up now and out of the house. When they lived at home, I would go fishing with
them to relax. Once they left, I began to write.
"I had some ideas floating around in my head since college.
I’m a big movie fan, I like to see every kind of movie," he said. So, one
afternoon he played hooky to see The Shawshank Redemption, Stephen King’s gritty but
ultimately triumphant prison movie. The film inspired Manchee to finally put his ideas
down on paper.
"At the time, I happened to have a couple of clients who wrote
books, and I asked them for information. Then, I read books on creative writing, he said.
"When I first began writing, I didn’t tell anybody. I wanted to be sure I could
complete a book first."
Manchee’s first Stan Turner Mystery was Undaunted, written in
1997. That book focused on Stan Turner as a teen through his discharge from the Marine
Corps. Brash Endeavor, next in the series, saw Turner graduating from law school and
beginning his career and family.
In the latest novel, Turner has settled into a domestic life and a law
practice. Turner is a civil attorney who is persuaded to take a criminal case, the case of
the girl accused of murdering her newborn.
Manchee’s story is a page turner. He manages to keep the
reader’s interest with a serpentine plot and realistic dialogue.
"Even though I write fiction, I believe there should be realistic
aspects to it. That’s why I like to use settings readers can relate to. Almost all of
the incidents in my books are things I have experienced in some way," he said.
For instance, while in college, he worked as a bank messenger. Late one
night, making a delivery, he noticed the vault had been left open. It contained more than
$6 million.
"I didn’t attempt to close it, because I didn’t know if
my touching it would set off an alarm, so I just left. I later found out that the alarm
was not activated until after the vault was closed.
"Unbelievably, it happened a second time while I worked there.
That experience showed up in Twice Tempted, a legal thriller, which was my first novel.
"The inspiration for Second Chair came about because my daughter,
at one time, thought she was going to have to be a witness in a murder trial. I sat
through the trial with her. That planted the seed for the novel."
Manchee’s fictional lawyer always wins the war, but he does lose
battles, which makes him a believable character. In Undaunted, the hero ends up on trial
for murdering his drill sergeant. In Brash Endeavor, Turner’s wife ends up on trial
for murder.
In the latest novel, Turner manages to get himself into a few
skirmishes once again.
"I really love writing. I guess you could say I’m an organic
type of writer. The story evolves daily, even though I know ahead of time who the
characters will be and how the story will be resolved," he said.
Manchee’s discipline is to write at his computer three to four
hours per night and on weekends.
"Once I get into a story, I find it hard to tear myself away.
There will be more Stan Turner mysteries, but I plan to write other types of fiction.
on, as well. I hope to write a book a year for the rest of my life, the
ambitious author said.
Betty Bettacchi teaches literature at Collin County Community College
and writes about authors and books for the Richardson News.
a review from
MY SHELF. COM
Second Chair is the 3rd installment of Stan Turner, The 1st was
UNDAUNTED and the 2nd was BRASH ENDEAVOR. Dallas Attorney Stan Turner and his wife Rebekah
are having a Christmas party with family, friends, and clients as their guests. During the
party the lights go out. As Stan gets the fuse changed and the lights come back on, he
hears a scream. Stan rushes to where he heard the scream come from and sees his friend and
CPA Bobby Wiggins lying in the flowerbed face up. The cause of death is massive coronary
caused by the fall on the ice. Marleen Wiggins decides to sue Stan for 2 million dollars
because of negligence in not sanding the sidewalk. This is only one of the cases that Stan
is working on. Stan is asked to defend a young woman named Sarah Winters for killing her
child, which she claims to remember nothing about. Before the trial even gets
started, Stan and his family start getting threats through the mail, the letters are cut
out of magazines so they can not be traced, the first one said:
"YE DEFENDERS OF THE DEVIL BEWARE! DEATH WILL BE YOUR ONLY
REWARD. REPENT BEFORE YOU FACE ETERNAL DAMNATION. TIME IS SHORT UNTIL THE LIVING WILL
AVENGE THE DEAD." Signed DOOMSLAYER.
After a court appearance, Stan's beautiful corvette has all of its
tires slashed and windows broken out and a message scratched on his hood saying;
" YE SHALL NOT ESCAPE THE VENGEANCE OF THE LORD. --
DOOMSLAYER.
Even after all of that, Stan decides to keep on defending Sarah
because he believes in her innocence. After the trial starts, Stan is all most run down in
the parking garage, his dog is also killed in their back yard, and his trial note book is
stolen out of his office the night before a court appearance and he must recreate the note
book in 8 hours before court reconvenes.
Stan Turner is a very pleasant guy and the kind of lawyer that we would
all love to have in our corner. All of the characters are believable and fit into the
plot. William Manchee has done it again with " Second Chair ". I have not
had the pleasure of reading the first two Stan Turner Mysteries, " Undaunted "
and " Brash Endeavor " but you can bet that I will be adding them both to my
private collection of books. I have had the honor of reading " Death Pact
" to review, and I will say that it is the best book that I have ever read so far;
" Second Chair " is a close second to " Death Pact. " William
Manchee can spin a tale that totally keeps you holding on and wanting more. You can bet
that I will read anything that this talented author puts out.
Kudos to William Manchee for a 5 star read again! --Pam Stone, My
Shelf.com 9/00
A Review of Second Chair, J. Hollingsworth
My favorite kind of mystery! Lots of action, keep you turning the page intrigue, skillful
weaving of more than one theme and no ‘obligatory’ sex scene plunked into the
mix in the mistaken belief that ‘obligatory’ sex will perhaps make up for poor
story and will sell books anyway.
Dallas Texas Attorney Manchee puts his knowledge of the legal scene to good use in this
well written tale. Little does Stan Turner, attorney, and his wife Rebekah realize when
they invite friends and business associates to a holiday party that death, lawsuits and an
ice storm will result that night. In the wake of the holiday party mishaps Stan Turner
accepts a nearly
impossible client to defend against a horrifying murder even as he finds his own life
turned topsy turvy. Writer Manchee cleverly plaits the various strands of the story and
brings them all to a satisfying conclusion.
Fuse the fast paced excitement of Les Roberts’ Pepper Pike with a
hearty slosh of good old time Ellery Queen intrigue for a notion of what writer
Manchee’s SECOND CHAIR is all about. This fifth mystery by author Manchee is a highly
entertaining read.
The consternation felt by Stan Turner is obvious as he faces an apparent madman, defends
his client and gets himself into hot water with the judge sitting the case. The interwoven
issues Turner must deal with as he struggles to discover the truth behind his
client’s problem, and his own,
are ingeniously wrought in this exhilarating thriller. Author Manchee has an awareness of
the legal scene many do not have. He puts that understanding to excellent use to present a
narrative so gripping that you will not want to put the book down until you have reached
the last page.
Manchee’s characters are imaginative and well thought out. From the enigmatic fellow
lawyer to the patient Rebekah each is singular and wholly plausible.
SECOND CHAIR offers the reader a fast paced, action packed thriller and makes me sorry I
have only now discovered this particular series. I am now most anxious to read the first
two of Manchee’s Stan Turner mysteries.
SECOND CHAIR is an entertaining yarn that will grab you from the
opening line and will carry you right on to the last page. Highly perspicacious and
highly recommended.
Reviews
Excerpt from Deadly Doses by Mary Welk
Fans of legal mysteries are enjoying the Stan Turner mysteries by Texas
attorney William Manchee. Published by Top Publications, the series
features a brash young Dallas lawyer who starts his practice on a $2,000 cash advance on
his credit card after "graduating" from the Marine Corps. The series begins with
UNDAUNTED followed by BRASH ENDEAVOR
AND SECOND CHAIR. Manchee's 2002 title, CA$H CALL,
continues the story of Stan's uphill battle to raise a family while hunting down clues to
save his clients. A modern day Perry Mason, Turner is living proof that defending accused
murderers doesn't always pay one's mortgage.
CASH
CALL A Stan Turner Mystery
By William Manchee
Top Publications, Ltd. September 2002
Trade Paperback $12.95
Reviewed by Mary V. Welk, author of the Caroline Rhodes mystery series
Penniless
attorney Stan Turner loves to fish, and when a client offers him a boat in exchange for
legal services, Stan thinks he's just about died and gone to heaven. Rebekah Turner isn't
as pleased with the deal as her husband. She also isn't pleased with some of Stan's
acquaintances, including the mystery woman who's been sending him love poems. As for Don
and Pam Blaylock, Rebekah thinks the couple is a bit too snobbish when she first meets
them, but as time goes by, she accepts the pair's presence in Stan's world. After all,
even the strong-minded Rebekah can feel sorry for two people who have been taken to
the cleaners by a conniving business partner.
Don
and Pam are facing bankruptcy when Luther Bell absconds with money from their Chinese
restaurant franchise. That's not their only problem, though. Their athlete son Rob has
been arrested for drunk driving, and Rob's girlfriend is pregnant by her high school
senior lover. Stan's legal maneuvering may save the Blaylocks from the poorhouse, but can
he save their son from jail?
Stan
figures things can't get much worse for Pam and Don, but then Luther Bell turns up dead
and Don is arrested for murder. It's up to Stan to use what little money the Blaylocks can
pay him to defend his client in the best way possible. With the help of a newly hired
female partner and a knowledgeable private investigator, Stan does just that. Much like
Perry Mason, Stan uses courtroom drama and surprise testimony to unmask Luther Bell's
actual killer.
CASH
CALL is the fourth Stan Turner mystery by legal eagle William Manchee. Putting his law degree to
good use, Manchee presents readers
with snappy courtroom scenes including lively dialogue between Stan and various witnesses.
Stan's private life is also handled nicely by the author, especially the scenes that
involve the Turner children. Manchee
makes his story more realistic by not limiting Stan to one case at a time. Turner's
involvement in a wrongful death suit and his possession of a Peruvian pot filled with
diamonds are side plots that may detract at times from the main story line, but they are,
nevertheless, true to life. CASH CALL has its occasional weak moments, but it passes the
test as a cozy legal mystery.
Visit
William Manchee’s website to learn more
about CASH CALL and its author: http://www.billmanchee.com/ca$h_call.htm
The Book Reader, America's Most Independent Review of New Titles
* Fall/Winter 2002
Cash Call By William Manchee, Top Publications, $12.95.
The latest in the mystery series starring lawyer Stan Turner. Manchee, a
lawyer, pulls out the stops and it’s all go as Turner and his wife Rebekah get
involved with friends who are in great trouble with an impending bankruptcy. Turner is
involved in a spiral of hounding creditors, arrests, murder, diamonds, gangsters, and a
pell-mell pace that holds readers glued to the pages. All sorts of interesting California
episodes are here–the Rendevous Club and lap dancing, a Peruvian pottery that is
supposed to contain diamonds but doesn’t, the business of lawyering by a lawyer who
is always struggling with clients’ payments, the lives of his four growing children,
the IRS, interviews with police–and engrossing attorney procedures, in court, in
documents, which Manchee knows so well. An old romantic interest complicates matters and
creates problems between Turner and his wife. The action moves forward at a brisk pace
with surprising (and ingenious) plot twists, and this deeply felt book may be
Manchee’s best work to date. The extraordinary and ordinary: "Feeling a little
better with one more problem resolved, I went home early and took the family to dinner. It
was Thursday, our bowling night..." Manchee writes a very realistic prose, exact,
viewing the sharp edges of reality wisely, and he also gives us glimpses beneath the
surface, wondering, sympathizing, fearing. There’s a special power and grace here,
about family, friends, death, and all the ties that bind one into a non-stop chase to
unwrap puzzle with puzzle.
PI Lawyer Stan Turner is back in his fourth mystery. “Cash Call”
is written in the first person with Turner’s voice leading readers through his latest
perplexing case.
Readers will discover that Turner isn’t a stereotypical lawyer, like those on
television. He isn’t part of a large lawyer group, nor is he rolling in dough.
He accepts clients who have had little, if any, money and shows compassion for those who
have trouble paying their bill. He even accepts goods instead of cash for payment.
In his personal life, he is a serious family man, intent on providing for his kids and
being with them as much as possible. He is also a loyal husband, although his eye does
wonder occasionally. Stan Turner is one of the best lead characters to come along
in quite some time.
In “Cash Call,” Turner accepts a case for a friend who seems to have made a
deadly investment. Don Blaylock hires Turner to help him when the investment invades his
financial life through a frozen bank account and bad checks. A
man named Luther Bell brought Don into a restaurant investment. In this investment, Don
and the other partners receive one too many “cash calls,” which means they were
expected to come up with cash capital each time the
restaurant has a cash flow problem or loses their interest. Someone wasn’t happy with
the way Luther was handling things and made a call of a different kind.
Once the murder occurs, the mystery begins to unfold, taking readers down various paths of
suspects and alibis. There is enough doubt and suspicion, along with other storylines to
keep the pages turning. Again, Manchee has
provided readers with an impressive contemporary mystery to test even the most experienced
sleuthing mind.
Review by Molly Martin
Entertaining read -- Highly recommended
Stan Turner again faces too little money, clients who won’t or
can’t pay, a baffling murder, friends who need his legal expertise and lots of
artifice. Turner and his wife Rebekah become friends with the Don and Pam Blaylocks.
Before long both Blaylocks are facing legal and IRS problems. A poorly thought out
investment on the part of Don Blaylock and a group of entrepreneurs in a Golden Dragon
franchise has plunged them first into financial straits which is quickly followed by the
murder of the unscrupulous restaurant promoter.
Stan is holding on to his legal practice by his fingertips as his
creditors demand money he cannot pry loose from tight fisted clients. The Turner kids are
growing up, Marsha is now 8 and her brothers are 10, 12 and 14. Stan accepts a boat as
payment in kind from one of his ‘impoverished’ clients. The
boat is another in a series of missteps Stan has made when it comes to client payments,
Rebekah is furious of course.
The Blaylock legal problems mount. Stan faces the
insistence of an old flame and Rebekah’s jealous fury. A wrongful death suit worth
enough money to bail himself out of his own money hassles given Stan a little hope for a
brighter future. Diamonds hidden in another ‘payment in kind’ set of pottery and
just plain danger all are part of Stan’s days as he tries to unravel his own problems
along with the hassle the Blaylock’s are facing.
Writer Manchee has set together another great setting of entertaining,
convincing characters, predicaments and blunders. The tale Manchee weaves in CASH CALL
brings us another great romp with full time lawyer part time sleuth Stan Turner. Turner
has a lot of Perry Mason in his methodology without Mason’s perfect record. CASH CALL
is a well written tale filled with many of the characters we have come to enjoy from the
first works in this ongoing series. As the Turner children grow up we see Stan, Rebekah
and their family much as our own. And that is in part what makes this series so engaging.
The reader is hooked immediately in the first sentence of this
gripping, creative story theme. Transitions are handled well, with plot and sub plot all
tied together in a believable manner. Manchee’s main characters are natural. Dialogue
is not contrived as the characters work to resolve conflicts. Climax and conclusion are
handled with usual Manchee skill. I can easily believe that Stan would have handled the
situations he faced in CASH CALL exactly as is set down by writer Manchee.
Poor Stan and his ever present cash flow problems does manage to again
prove his clients are not guilty of the murder of the smooth talking scoundrel who was the
cause of so many of their money and other problems. The ongoing joke in the books
concerning the ‘payment in kind’ fiascoes are just plain fun.
Writer Manchee continues to grow as a writer. Cash Call is a well
crafted novel in the manner of the best of Ellery Queen, Gardner and Gresham. Dialogue is
fast paced. The narrative moves smoothly from Stan and his personal situation to his
interaction with clients, the romantically inclined gal who just will not accept no and
even a mobster or two. It is posted at http://www.wordweaving.com/reviewjul39_02.html
Cindy Penn editor@wordweaving.com
Senior Editor, http://wordweaving.com
Reviews of Death Pact
Attorney Richard Coleman is asked by client Franklin Fox to be the legal trustee for his
17-year-old daughter Erica Fox if anything should happen to him. Less than a week later,
Richard gets a call in the early morning hours from a John Paul Moitz with the American
Consulate in Berne, Switzerland, telling him that Franklin Fox had been killed in a skiing
accident, and that Erica was quite distressed and claiming that Richard was her guardian.
Richard goes to Switzerland and brings Erica home. Shortly after they return to the
States, Erica seduces Richard and even though he knows that it is wrong, he lets it
happen. Before long they are in love. Richard knows that he could lose his license if word
of their liaison gets out; they are able to keep it quiet for quite a while until Erica's
Aunt Martha finds out. Aunt Martha really only wants the money. She could care less about
Erica's feelings so she decides to start a lawsuit against Richard and have him removed as
trustee of the estate.
Before Aunt Martha can reach her son Arnold about the lawsuit, she is murdered in her
hotel room and Erica's purse is found in the room. At about the same time Richard is found
unconscious in an alley. The next day when he comes to, he remembers nothing about what
happened to him. While he is watching a news broadcast, he hears that Erica has been
arrested. He knows without a doubt that Erica could not murder anyone; he has to leave the
hospital and find the real killer. Erica convinces Richard that if she is convicted they
should make a death pact. Richard really doesn't want to die, so he knows that he must
find the killer before it's too late. This is where the storyline really takes off!
Death Pact is so wonderfully written with plenty of surprises. I was guessing till the
very end, and what an unexpected, shocking end it was! The setting is in Dallas in the
1980's, and from the author's descriptions, I felt as if I was there.
The characters are really well defined and believable, especially Aunt Martha -- The more
that I read about her meanness, the less guilty I felt that she died so she couldn't cause
any more trouble. The romance was very fiery and passionate between Richard and Erica. You
could almost feel the warmth radiate through the pages.
Death Pact is a grand read. My highest score is a 5 and this book definitely
deserves a HIGH 5 rating. ---Pam Stone, MyShelf.com
Ree
Twice Tempted, Review by Shannon Sutlief, Dallas Observer
Dallas lawyer-turned-author William Manchee has been compared to
John Grisham enough times in the past two years since his first novel, Twice Tempted,
was published that his next book just might feature a lawyer-turned-author who starts
knocking off reviewers who compare him to Grisham. The comparison isn’t unfair
though. Manchee’s stories are suspenseful and most involve lawyers. And he’s as
proficient as Grisham. However, Death Pact, Manchee’s latest, seems a
bit racier than standard Grisham fare. It involves a tryst between a 17-year old girl and
the older trustee of her estate, lawyer Richard Coleman. When a relative who discovers the
affair is murdered, the lovers become prime suspects and vow to take a cyanide pill if
either is convicted. Sounds a little rash. Guess we know who’s wearing the pants in
that relationship. --
DEATH PACT. By William Manchee. Top Publications,
$19.95. Be careful what you wish for. Especially if it involves love and money. You might
get too much of each. Then life’s too good and people get suspicious. As they do
about the relationship between Dallas attorney Richard Coleman and Erica Fox Franklin, a
17-year-old for whom the middle name is appropriate. Daddy gives her a new Porshe for
college, then dies in a ski accident, leaving Erica millions. Coleman, as the trustee of
the estate, rushes to calm and counsel Erica. Then Cupid gets ideas. They have an affair.
Wait a minute! Coleman's messing with a minor? One who's a client? Erica's West Texas aunt
Martha wants to be appointed guardian, gets snoopy and finds out about the romance. She
wants Coleman disbarred, thrown in the slammer. And she's got just the attorney to handle
it: son Arnold. Before she gets her wish, she gets her ticket to Heaven. The death isn't
accidental. Whodunit? Well, Rich and Erica had motives, and the cops pin it on Erica.
Circumstantial? Erica admitted being there and having had an argument. The author weaves
his engaging plot through Swiss chalets, Caribbean marinas, Texas court rooms and
captivating characters before twisting readers toward a curious conclusion. In this
romantic mystery, Manchee's killer seem's so certain. Then a sail from the Bahamas turns
it upside down. But what a ride along the way. Terrific take on temptation and
contemporary consequences in Texas. --The Book Reader.
Move over Grisham. As John Grisham has climbed
higher on his political soapbox with each new book, it is only a matter of time before
another writer comes along to take his place on the best-seller lists. That writer may be
William Manchee, author of "Death Pact," a story that involves a lawyer, a large
trust fund and its 17-year-old beneficiary, and the complications that can arise when the
17-year-old sets out to compromise the young attorney but then falls in love with
him. Add the murder of the young girl's relative, cast blame hither and yon,
sprinkle with a suicide pact, and you have a real page-turner. Kim Cool
|
Settle
down to a good mystery from an excellent writer,
September 18, 2005