Product Description

On a chilly October morning, Barrett "Bear" Raines finds himself on the campground of Linton Loyd, one of the richest men in Florida, watching Linton clean his latest catch.Barrett does not understand why he, an African-American detective for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, has been invited to the rich man's playground, but soon discovers that Linton wants something from him: Linton wants Barrett to run for county sheriff and Linton will help sponsor the campaign. Barrett doesn't know what to make of the appealing offer and decides to think about it. The following week at work, Barrett learns of a case in which illegal immigrants are being forced to bale straw under rigged contracts and the department wants to find out just how wide spread the problem is.Barrett agrees to accompany Jarold Pearson, an old acquaintance and game warden, to the woods of Linton Loyd's straw baling company. However, the men find more than a group of scared migrant workers: in a secluded tin shack, they discover the body of a young woman pinned to the wall, almost as if she had been crucified. Based on evidence at the scene, Linton's only son becomes the prime suspect, but what does that do for Barrett's chance at sheriff? In a setting mysterious in itself, where an ancient woman could really be the witch people call her, Barrett faces horrible crime and a solution that continually changes shape, as elusive as the strange lights that flicker in his native swamps. AUTHORBIO: Darryl Wimberley is a native Floridian living with his family in Austin, Texas.This is his third Barrett Raines novel and he has also published a literary novel, A Tinker's Damn.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1776821 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The highest praise you can pay Wimberley's third procedural featuring African-American policeman Barrett Raines (after Dead Man's Bay and A Rock and a Hard Place) is that it makes you want to read his first two - like now. Wimberley's north Florida setting is so alive you can smell the pine. ("Resin seeped from those ancient trunks like maple syrup. The pine cones were large. They reminded you, when opened, of pineapples.") The two principles, Raines, special agent of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and his wife, Laura Anne, are very appealing and believable. And the villain is enough to give you the shivers. The author's clear and flowing prose carries you right along with nary an extraneous word, and the suspense builds on narrative interest - what happens next - rather than violent incidents. In the course of investigating the working conditions of Mexican laborers brought in to harvest pine needles, Raines finds a young woman murdered in the woods in a manner that's viciously obscene. The suspects at first seem so obvious that it's hard to choose among them. Raines changes his mind more than once, but the logic of his thinking is always sound. In addition to the murder, he has to sort out a child pornographer, consider an offer to run for mayor and deal with a childhood nightmare - his father's murder. Laura Anne, a wonderfully bright and warm character, provides aid and comfort. This first-rate detective novel deserves a large audience. (Nov. 12).
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Barrett Raines, a detective with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, stationed in the state's northern gulf region, is offered an opportunity to run for Lafayette County sheriff against Lou Sessions. Backing Raines is Linton Loyd, a powerful businessman in the county and Sessions' enemy. Then Loyd's son, Gary, becomes a suspect in the death of a Hispanic migrant female who was shackled and eaten by a mad dog in a swamp called Strawman's Hammock. The likelihood of Raines being the first black man to run for office in his county is diminished when he finds himself caught between the sheriff and the Loyd family. Wimberley combines a vividly realized setting and compelling procedural detail with a sensitive and thought-provoking treatment of racial and social issues (the latter focusing on mistreated migrant workers employed to rake straw). In addition, the pacing is sharp, and the suspense builds dramatically (the book races to minor climaxes that fool the reader into thinking the story has come to a premature end). This third entry in the Barrett Raines series deserves to be the breakthrough book for Wimberley. Highly recommended for all lovers of mainstream hard-boiled mysteries. Gary Niebuhr
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Combines a vivdly realized setting...with a sensitive and thought-provoking treatment of racial and social issues. --Booklist Starred Review

Customer Reviews

Fascinating character study in this police procedural
To get closer to his family, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Detective Barrett "Bear" Raines transfers to Lafayette County. Influential tycoon Linton Lloyd wants Bear to run for country sheriff against his enemy, the incumbent Lou Sessions. Several years ago, Linton's son Gary impregnated Lou's daughter but did nothing except abandon the lass.

Bear wants to do it because a victory allows him even more time with his family. Though he has doubts that an African-American can win here, Linton persuades him to try. However, a brutal murder with evidence pointing towards Gary leaves the investigating Bear with quite a conflict of interest that could violate state ethics laws if he is not careful.

STRAWMAN'S HAMMOCK is a powerful police procedural that augments the investigation with the political side of law enforcement. The story line is filled with action that never lets up until the case is solved. Bear is a great character whose morality keeps him trying to do the right thing while his wife enhances the reader's understanding of his complex character. Darryl Wimberly has written a strong tale that sub-genre fans will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

Compelling mystery
I really liked this book. The characters were true to small town life and very well fleshed out. Growing up in the area that provides the setting for the book I thought Wimberley did a fantastic job of bringing all of the wonder that is interior North Florida to life. The story line was clear and very compelling - I stayed up late to finish reading because I didn't want to leave it til the next day! This was a great weekend read!