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Will Lee #1
Chiefs
In the bitter winter of 1920, the first body is found in Delano, Georgia - the naked corpse of an unidentified teenager. There is no direct evidence of murder, but the body bears marks of what seems to be a ritual beating. The investigation falls to Will Henry Lee, a failed cotton farmer newly appointed as Delano's first chief of police. Lee's obsession with the crime begins a story that weaves through the decades as it follows the life of a small southern town and the role of three police chiefs in unraveling the crime.
'Chiefs' is the best kind of thriller, where the investigation plays out against the drama beneath the surface of a seemingly placid community, seething with the pressures of race, love, hate, and always, political power extending from the town fathers all the way to Washington, DC.
With its 25th anniversary, there's a new foreword by the author, making it a collector's treasure for all fans of Stuart Woods.
'Chiefs' is the best kind of thriller, where the investigation plays out against the drama beneath the surface of a seemingly placid community, seething with the pressures of race, love, hate, and always, political power extending from the town fathers all the way to Washington, DC.
With its 25th anniversary, there's a new foreword by the author, making it a collector's treasure for all fans of Stuart Woods.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1981
1537 people are currently reading
4025 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Woods
408 books3,225 followersStuart Woods was an American novelist best known for Chiefs and his long-running Stone Barrington series. A Georgia native, he initially pursued a career in advertising before relocating to England and Ireland, where he developed a passion for sailing. His love for the sport led him to write his first published work, Blue Water, Green Skipper, about his experiences in a transatlantic yacht race.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 668 reviews
June 23, 2022
WARNING: Racist language and social injustice.
This work of fiction was first published in 1981. Woods was an author of whom I was familiar, but CHIEFS (Will Lee #1) was unknown to me until I read a Goodreads review conversation in which CHIEFS was listed as Woods best work.
The story opens in 1919 in the fictional town of Delano, Georgia. It’s a small town surrounded by cotton farms that have been destroyed by a boll weevil infestation. One of those farmers “gives up the ghost” and turns his farm back over to the bank and makes application to become the town’s police chief.
As time progresses, but unfortunately not common decency, the threads of the main characters run through the lives of the citizens of Delano and a couple of backstories that have consequences in 1963.
Although I rated this book 5 stars due to the impactful storyline, I was MUCH bothered by some of the racist words/conversations. Having grown up in the south I am all too familiar with hate speech and white “supremacy”. It sickens me and I certainly don’t condone it.
This work of fiction was first published in 1981. Woods was an author of whom I was familiar, but CHIEFS (Will Lee #1) was unknown to me until I read a Goodreads review conversation in which CHIEFS was listed as Woods best work.
The story opens in 1919 in the fictional town of Delano, Georgia. It’s a small town surrounded by cotton farms that have been destroyed by a boll weevil infestation. One of those farmers “gives up the ghost” and turns his farm back over to the bank and makes application to become the town’s police chief.
As time progresses, but unfortunately not common decency, the threads of the main characters run through the lives of the citizens of Delano and a couple of backstories that have consequences in 1963.
Although I rated this book 5 stars due to the impactful storyline, I was MUCH bothered by some of the racist words/conversations. Having grown up in the south I am all too familiar with hate speech and white “supremacy”. It sickens me and I certainly don’t condone it.
June 22, 2019
Set in the small town of Delano, Georgia, Stuart Woods introduces us to a tale about racial inequality and injustice and the power struggles that entails. He acquaints us with the power of the Chief of Police’s shiny new badge, and how it calls some to honor and serve, while others will become cruel and brutal with the need for domination. The racial divide in the 1920s, when this novel begins, allowed these injustices to flourish. The novel ends in the early 1960s, a time of great social upheaval in America, and in Woods novel, blacks are finding their voices.
While there is a murder mystery that creates the suspense that keeps me turning the pages, there are many stories going on in this novel. This is Stuart Woods debut novel, first published in 1981. He worked on it for eight years, and it shows. Woods has divided his tale into three books or parts that follow a different main character. In Book One, we meet Hugh Holmes, the president of the Bank of Delano. Hugh is a secondary character that we can follow throughout the book. He has the good luck of being in the right place at the right time. Hugh is the very definition of a civic minded person. As chairman of the City Council, he’s behind most of the decisions that get made about the town. He plans ahead, he knows how to network long before the term is conceived, and he’s politically inclined. When Will Henry Lee appears at the bank, Holmes assumes the man has come to ask for an extension on his loan. Instead Will Henry asks for the job as the town’s first Chief of Police. Will Henry let’s go of his failing cotton farm and take up the town’s first and in 1920, it’s only badge. I have a lot of respect for Will Henry. Because he’s a good man, he feels the burden of his responsibilities to the people weighing him down.
I don’t want to give away much about Book Two and Three, but I think Woods is pure genius in the way he sets up the stories. By the time I got to Book Two, I perceived a change in women’s roles. Women are not primary characters in this book, but I was pleased to see one woman stand up to the Ku Klux Klan. She does it with a steely determination, yet there is a little hilarity in this episode as well.
As black people served in WWII, they became more aware of their ill treatment at home. Just as Hillary Jordan shows in her novel, Mudbound, Woods also reveals how black people, home from Europe were more cognizant of while man entitlement and privilege. They had been treated as equals in Europe. In’ Chiefs,’ Marshall Parker, a veteran is ready to set up his own business, a car repair garage. When Parker, a black man, pulls business away from the only white man’s garage in town, it’s like opening a can of worms. Marshall Parker does everything he can to be fair and acquiesces as much as possible. Will it be enough?
Some of the political intrigues had me googling to see how much of the story was based in history. Billy Lee seems to be based on Carl Sanders, Georgia’s Governor from 1963-1967. They share the same history of becoming B-17 bomber pilots and the same ambitions. Just as Sanders leads the way toward racial desegregation, so does Billy Lee. The maneuverings that Billy Lee has to negotiate on any issue that involves race and still look good to his constituents are intriguing, but also sad, as it is a huge commentary how difficult it was for whites to accept blacks as equals. There are hints in the book, that if Billy Lee is elected as Georgia’s Governor, President JF Kennedy is going to oust Lyndon Johnson as his running mate in the 1964 presidential election, taking on Billy Lee as his running mate. I found this interesting because I had no idea of this poor relationship between JFK and Johnson, which seems to be based in fact.
The ending of the book is a little sideways for me, but don’t let that keep you from reading this extraordinary book, especially for those interested in southern or political history or for those who like a good suspense novel.
While there is a murder mystery that creates the suspense that keeps me turning the pages, there are many stories going on in this novel. This is Stuart Woods debut novel, first published in 1981. He worked on it for eight years, and it shows. Woods has divided his tale into three books or parts that follow a different main character. In Book One, we meet Hugh Holmes, the president of the Bank of Delano. Hugh is a secondary character that we can follow throughout the book. He has the good luck of being in the right place at the right time. Hugh is the very definition of a civic minded person. As chairman of the City Council, he’s behind most of the decisions that get made about the town. He plans ahead, he knows how to network long before the term is conceived, and he’s politically inclined. When Will Henry Lee appears at the bank, Holmes assumes the man has come to ask for an extension on his loan. Instead Will Henry asks for the job as the town’s first Chief of Police. Will Henry let’s go of his failing cotton farm and take up the town’s first and in 1920, it’s only badge. I have a lot of respect for Will Henry. Because he’s a good man, he feels the burden of his responsibilities to the people weighing him down.
I don’t want to give away much about Book Two and Three, but I think Woods is pure genius in the way he sets up the stories. By the time I got to Book Two, I perceived a change in women’s roles. Women are not primary characters in this book, but I was pleased to see one woman stand up to the Ku Klux Klan. She does it with a steely determination, yet there is a little hilarity in this episode as well.
As black people served in WWII, they became more aware of their ill treatment at home. Just as Hillary Jordan shows in her novel, Mudbound, Woods also reveals how black people, home from Europe were more cognizant of while man entitlement and privilege. They had been treated as equals in Europe. In’ Chiefs,’ Marshall Parker, a veteran is ready to set up his own business, a car repair garage. When Parker, a black man, pulls business away from the only white man’s garage in town, it’s like opening a can of worms. Marshall Parker does everything he can to be fair and acquiesces as much as possible. Will it be enough?
Some of the political intrigues had me googling to see how much of the story was based in history. Billy Lee seems to be based on Carl Sanders, Georgia’s Governor from 1963-1967. They share the same history of becoming B-17 bomber pilots and the same ambitions. Just as Sanders leads the way toward racial desegregation, so does Billy Lee. The maneuverings that Billy Lee has to negotiate on any issue that involves race and still look good to his constituents are intriguing, but also sad, as it is a huge commentary how difficult it was for whites to accept blacks as equals. There are hints in the book, that if Billy Lee is elected as Georgia’s Governor, President JF Kennedy is going to oust Lyndon Johnson as his running mate in the 1964 presidential election, taking on Billy Lee as his running mate. I found this interesting because I had no idea of this poor relationship between JFK and Johnson, which seems to be based in fact.
The ending of the book is a little sideways for me, but don’t let that keep you from reading this extraordinary book, especially for those interested in southern or political history or for those who like a good suspense novel.
Read
July 6, 2022Stuart Woods’ award-winning first book, and my absolute favorite of everything he’s written. This book is stupendous! I have literally never recommended or lent it to anyone who didn’t love it!
I’ll try to describe it without any spoilers.
The book is the stories of three different Chiefs of Police, at different times in a small town. Will Henry Lee is the town’s first Chief of Police. He’s a failed cotton farmer and honest man, who wants to do a good job. The second Chief whose story is told is Sonny Butts, who abuses his police position. The third Chief of the book is Tucker Watts, the first black chief.
A murder mystery runs through the story, with all three chiefs investigating bodies that turn up and missing persons. The evidence builds up for the reader as each Chief discovers different things, and wraps up with an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
One unusual thing about the book is that the reader is made aware of who the bad guy is early on. This dramatically increases the tension every time there is any interaction between this bad guy and anyone else in the book.
There is also a sort of subplot of racial tension throughout the book, as it’s kind of a backwoods Southern town. Society evolves throughout the years of the story, but “the more things change, the more things stay the same”.
If you like a book that you get wrapped up in, a book that you can’t put down and can’t wait to get back to, I would highly recommend!!
I’ll try to describe it without any spoilers.
The book is the stories of three different Chiefs of Police, at different times in a small town. Will Henry Lee is the town’s first Chief of Police. He’s a failed cotton farmer and honest man, who wants to do a good job. The second Chief whose story is told is Sonny Butts, who abuses his police position. The third Chief of the book is Tucker Watts, the first black chief.
A murder mystery runs through the story, with all three chiefs investigating bodies that turn up and missing persons. The evidence builds up for the reader as each Chief discovers different things, and wraps up with an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
One unusual thing about the book is that the reader is made aware of who the bad guy is early on. This dramatically increases the tension every time there is any interaction between this bad guy and anyone else in the book.
There is also a sort of subplot of racial tension throughout the book, as it’s kind of a backwoods Southern town. Society evolves throughout the years of the story, but “the more things change, the more things stay the same”.
If you like a book that you get wrapped up in, a book that you can’t put down and can’t wait to get back to, I would highly recommend!!
May 26, 2019
Hmmmm! This to me was comparable to reading three different books. The first Police Chief's I would have given a 4 star for sure if it was the whole onus. The Second Chief's I would barely give a 3 star, maybe 2.5 stars. And the last Chief, an even 3 stars.
Just not my style of intrusion to some of the most off putting details of the characters' lives. And also just all around mean, for the most part. There were few characters that I could connect to embedding beyond the first part of the book.
This is the only Stuart Woods book that I have ever finished. And I read here that it is different and earlier than his myriad others. If this is milder, than I know why he's not for me and hasn't been.
Gritty to an extent, yes! But more mean, unkind and just plain nasty reveals predominate in most of this. Without redeeming qualities or depth of core beyond the Chief of the first part.
Barely a 3 star read, IMHO. Seriously, I don't feel there was a window to the depth of cultural context of Delano, Georgia either- from this policing angle portrayed.
Just not my style of intrusion to some of the most off putting details of the characters' lives. And also just all around mean, for the most part. There were few characters that I could connect to embedding beyond the first part of the book.
This is the only Stuart Woods book that I have ever finished. And I read here that it is different and earlier than his myriad others. If this is milder, than I know why he's not for me and hasn't been.
Gritty to an extent, yes! But more mean, unkind and just plain nasty reveals predominate in most of this. Without redeeming qualities or depth of core beyond the Chief of the first part.
Barely a 3 star read, IMHO. Seriously, I don't feel there was a window to the depth of cultural context of Delano, Georgia either- from this policing angle portrayed.
May 1, 2013
This book travels the generations between 1920 and 1963 in a small Georgia town, Prohibition to Camelot. Showing the impact of the outside world while maintaining authenticity in the story over that length of a span makes for a huge challenge. The author succeeded. Finishing the book is saying goodbye to a close friend you may not see again.
March 9, 2024
5 Stars. An epic thriller set in the town of Delano in rural Georgia. More specifically, we follow the disappearance of a number of teenage boys through the eyes of three of Delano's police chiefs. Over a period of 40+ years. The town is fictitious but one nearby, Warm Springs, is real - the home of President Franklin Roosevelt's polio rehabilitation centre. Delano, of course, was FDR's middle name; the name is a homage by Woods to one of the giants of the 20th century. You'll find a glorious story, replete with characters who appear early in the drama and then return decades later as the father or mother of another. The first chief is Will Henry Lee. Boll weevils put him out of the cotton-farming business in the early 1920s. He suspects that a serial killer is in the vicinity but, before he can pin it down, he falls victim to the dangerous end of a shotgun. The second is Sonny Butts, a returning WW2 vet with a racist approach to policing. He is intrigued by Will Henry's notes, but he suddenly disappears without a trace! The third is Tucker Watts, the town's first black chief, in itself a great story. You're sure to enjoy murder, politics, and life in the south as much as I did. (De2022/Mar2024)
November 9, 2014
An epic that spans 50+ years that is written beautifully. I had a hard time putting this down because of the very realistic characters and the anticipated capture of a serial killer. The narration was spot on and reminded me a bit of my favorite, George Guidall. I won't reiterate the plot of the story, suffice to say I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes epics with a mystery background mixed with a bit of history. Adding this one to my favorites.
December 28, 2015
I saw the TV version first & really liked it, so when I came across the book second hand, I snatched it up. I'm glad I did. As I recall, the TV version was faithful to the novel, but there was so much more to the story. True horror without resulting to the supernatural.
December 29, 2012
For some of my "light" reading over the years I've enjoyed several murder/mystery series. I've gone through all the Rita Mae Brown "Mrs. Murphy" mysteries set in Crozet, VA (a real town where my mom once actually lived that's outside of Charlottesville), all the Rita Mae Brown "Sister Jane" mysteries with their fox-hunting themes, all the Susan Alberts "China Bayles" mysteries with their herbal themes set in the fictional town of Pecan Springs, TX, all the Michael Connelly "Harry Bosch" and "Mickey Haller" mysteries set (usually) in L.A., and now I've been reading a lot of Stuart Woods "Stone Barrington" and "Holly Barker" mysteries set (usually) in New York and Florida. Stuart Woods has been prolific and poured out over thirty books over the last three decades, and routinely these books are nothing special literature-wise, and I normally give them (and the other murder/mystery series mentioned earlier) three stars. However, this is Stuart Woods first book --- and it won the Edgar Award (given for crime fiction) --- and I was pleasantly surprised to find it a cut above all the other books he's written that I've read so far. Many would say his books are far too formulaic. But not this one. Of course, if an author's first of a great many books is his best one, and all the ones that follow it are not as good, there's a message being communicated there about the author's legacy.
March 9, 2024
Story telling at its finest along with some historical fiction. This was the first Novel by Stuart Woods that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be my last.
October 17, 2020
There are likely stories available online about the 'writers' with amazing publication numbers. A depressing topic to me. In library context, in the beginning, Stuart wasn't prolific, didn't have a team of writers ...
I've tried a few in recent decades. May have finished one or two, but when compared to 'Chiefs.' ... they tasted like warm soda pop laced with addictive excitotoxins ... compared to fresh spring water from an icy stream.
For decades, 'Chiefs' was among my 10 most favorite "mysteries" and a multiple reread.
The only Stuart Woods story I'd recommend. The historical fiction aspect.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Edgar Winner - deservedly -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_A...
Not available in regional library ... Amazon or Interlibrary loan ... local library doing Interlibrary Loans
I've tried a few in recent decades. May have finished one or two, but when compared to 'Chiefs.' ... they tasted like warm soda pop laced with addictive excitotoxins ... compared to fresh spring water from an icy stream.
For decades, 'Chiefs' was among my 10 most favorite "mysteries" and a multiple reread.
The only Stuart Woods story I'd recommend. The historical fiction aspect.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Edgar Winner - deservedly -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_A...
Not available in regional library ... Amazon or Interlibrary loan ... local library doing Interlibrary Loans
January 17, 2012
CHIEFS is probably one of the best mystery novels of all time. Set in Georgia and covering three seperate periods of time and the careers of thre very different Cheifs of the Delano police Department who all try to solve a string of issing person casing involving young boys.
The final Chief stumbles upon the answers and the grisly killer in a shocking and twisted tale of Southern Gothic proportions.
This was the first novel of Stewart Woods' long standing career and still remains his best by far with only a few approaching it's power. It is followed by several indirect sequesls including GRASS ROOTS.
Randy
The date completed I am listing is the most recnt reading as I have read the novel several times over the last 20 years.
The final Chief stumbles upon the answers and the grisly killer in a shocking and twisted tale of Southern Gothic proportions.
This was the first novel of Stewart Woods' long standing career and still remains his best by far with only a few approaching it's power. It is followed by several indirect sequesls including GRASS ROOTS.
Randy
The date completed I am listing is the most recnt reading as I have read the novel several times over the last 20 years.
June 14, 2022
A very good read!! Superb writing!
June 22, 2019
This was my first exposure to reading any of the works by Stuart Woods, and Chiefs did not disappoint. It was a highly enjoyable page turner, which uses not only elements of crime and mystery, but also has historical approach to it as the novel’s plot spans many generations.
Chiefs also is really three books in one, as each part, or book, takes place in a separate generation with the backdrop of the story taking place in Delano, Georgia. Each book follows the doings of the newly appointed chief of police (Will Henry, Sonny Butts, Tucker Watts) and their subsequent role in the community surrounding.
One of the focuses of Chiefs concerns the search for a killer. The crime is established early in Part 1 when a few mysterious and baffling unsolved murders take place that have Will Henry puzzled. As the years go on, this case continues to baffle and confuse.
Chiefs also has a very generational feel to it. In each section, we get to know many of the key characters and locals—some good, some very corrupt—who are the prominent members of this Georgia community.
While Chiefs might not be high literature, it certainly has themes that predominate and make it a book to ponder on as well. One of the constants prevailing throughout Woods’ work is the theme of corruption within not only the citizens, but the law enforcement. In other ways, Chiefs also exposes the nature of racism, prejudice and injustice in very raw and sometimes shocking ways. (There are several scenes that are pretty uncomfortable.)
In this way, although billed as a crime novel, Chiefs works in other ways. It represents a bit of a social commentary on racial prejudice and injustice (and those who fought against it). It is also a fascinating and gripping mystery involving a decades-long killing spree. It also has a historical-fiction element that brings in prominent key figures and lets us understand how this community functions.
If there was one beef I had with the novel is that some of the scenes and characters (particularly the villains) are a tad over the top in a few moments and scenes. This could have been toned down a bit, in my opinion.
Still, overall, I found Chiefs to be a very effectively paced and gripping novel. Even though it is nearly 600 pages, it reads very quickly. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
Chiefs also is really three books in one, as each part, or book, takes place in a separate generation with the backdrop of the story taking place in Delano, Georgia. Each book follows the doings of the newly appointed chief of police (Will Henry, Sonny Butts, Tucker Watts) and their subsequent role in the community surrounding.
One of the focuses of Chiefs concerns the search for a killer. The crime is established early in Part 1 when a few mysterious and baffling unsolved murders take place that have Will Henry puzzled. As the years go on, this case continues to baffle and confuse.
Chiefs also has a very generational feel to it. In each section, we get to know many of the key characters and locals—some good, some very corrupt—who are the prominent members of this Georgia community.
While Chiefs might not be high literature, it certainly has themes that predominate and make it a book to ponder on as well. One of the constants prevailing throughout Woods’ work is the theme of corruption within not only the citizens, but the law enforcement. In other ways, Chiefs also exposes the nature of racism, prejudice and injustice in very raw and sometimes shocking ways. (There are several scenes that are pretty uncomfortable.)
In this way, although billed as a crime novel, Chiefs works in other ways. It represents a bit of a social commentary on racial prejudice and injustice (and those who fought against it). It is also a fascinating and gripping mystery involving a decades-long killing spree. It also has a historical-fiction element that brings in prominent key figures and lets us understand how this community functions.
If there was one beef I had with the novel is that some of the scenes and characters (particularly the villains) are a tad over the top in a few moments and scenes. This could have been toned down a bit, in my opinion.
Still, overall, I found Chiefs to be a very effectively paced and gripping novel. Even though it is nearly 600 pages, it reads very quickly. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
December 31, 2017
Five years ago when I listened to it, I rated it 4-stars, in part because the narrator, Mark Hammer, did such an outstanding job. No question that the author's prose is excellent, and I recall the book rather well. The story itself was good, but I felt it was also longer (17 hrs and 27 mins) than it needed to be. It's probably better to think of it as 3 shorter, interdependent novellas about the lives and tribulations of the people of Delano in the context of an evolving southern culture, as seen through the eyes of three successive police chiefs. It spans a period of 35-40 years, and, in a sense, it may be better classified as fiction than mystery. The story is as much about the people and the town, especially the development of its police department. In fact, the reader can determain the villain(s) rather early in the book, but it's not clear how they will be finally be found out and caught. Unlike an action thriller, however, it proceeds slowly toward its resolution.
September 22, 2017
Chiefs by Stuart Woods covers the time from 1919 when the town Delano, Georgia appoints their first police chief to 1969 when they appoint the first negro police chief. Two young men are found dead and then over the years many others go missing and the book follows indirectly the investigations by the three very different police chiefs. It focuses mainly on the changes in Southern culture and politics, and the problems related to racial integration. An interesting and captivating story which draws you in so that you don't want to put it down.
July 6, 2024
This was my 1st Stuart Woods book but it won’t be my last. The plot was intricate at times and interesting. It’s a story that was told over several decades.
I never thought one character would get what was coming to him but thankfully he does in the end. Several injustices will get your blood boiling. The fact that some truths never come out and you have to be ok with that as the reader. Eeek. No need to rehash the plot in this review like most people have done. It’s history of the Georgia south with all the flaws that implies.
The end was bleak and yet I’m ready to start book 2.
***side note. I read this as a real book not kindle format therefore no highlights😬😬
I never thought one character would get what was coming to him but thankfully he does in the end. Several injustices will get your blood boiling. The fact that some truths never come out and you have to be ok with that as the reader. Eeek. No need to rehash the plot in this review like most people have done. It’s history of the Georgia south with all the flaws that implies.
The end was bleak and yet I’m ready to start book 2.
***side note. I read this as a real book not kindle format therefore no highlights😬😬
July 9, 2008
Chiefs was a very interesting read for me. It was recommended to me by CP, the assistant manager of the Waldenbooks I used to work at, and a voracious reader of mystery fiction (and romance novels, but you won’t catch me reading one of those any time soon). When I left, she put four mystery novels in my hands; this is the second one I’ve gotten to (the first was Black Echo. This is a much better novel, but not necessarily as good a mystery, depending on what it is you’re looking for.
Chiefs is the story of town of Delano, Georgia, beginning in the early 1920’s and running up through the 1950’s, focusing primarily on three men who hold the office of chief of police in Delano. The three chiefs are not related in any way, but they share a common bond in that they each stumble across a series of unsolved murders that have been occurring near the town for generations. Each chief must take up the case, and try to solve it where his predecessors failed, while dealing with the changes that overtake Delano during the Depression, the Second World War, and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.
It’s a terrific novel. Woods paints a marvelously well-developed picture of a small southern town without crossing over the line into either ludicrous nostalgia or hyperbolic stereotyping. He creates a wonderful sense of atmosphere and history, so that the town itself becomes a character into itself. The inhabitants of the town are equally well-developed, and while some naturally receive more attention than others, every one of them feels like a real living, breathing person.
There’s also much more to this novel than just a simple murder mystery; the chiefs, and the town as a whole, deal with not just murders, or even crime, but the intricate politics of the South as Delano grows in power and influence. Most of the significant characters in the novel are politicians, not cops, and there’s as much devotion to the intricacies of backroom negotiations and cultural upheaval as there is to dead bodies and criminal investigations. The stories all flow together to create a single coherent, but very multifaceted tale that draws the reader in, and keeps pulling him along.
I have very little bad to say about this novel, but I will say that it’s really not much of a murder mystery, in the conventional sense. Who the murderer is becomes obvious fairly quickly; the question is not who or what is committing the murders, but hwy, and how they’ll be solved (if they ever will at all). If you are the sort of reader who reads mysteries to see how fast you can solve them, this novel may disappoint you. In addition, the ending is not entirely satisfying; the resolution itself works, but the way it’s actually set up had a little bit of a deus ex machina feel to it that doesn’t entirely work, especially given how well the novel is constructed overall.
Still, it’s a great novel despite it’s flaws; the story is rich, the characters are engaging, and Woods’ writing flows wonderfully. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of mystery, or just like a good book.
Chiefs is the story of town of Delano, Georgia, beginning in the early 1920’s and running up through the 1950’s, focusing primarily on three men who hold the office of chief of police in Delano. The three chiefs are not related in any way, but they share a common bond in that they each stumble across a series of unsolved murders that have been occurring near the town for generations. Each chief must take up the case, and try to solve it where his predecessors failed, while dealing with the changes that overtake Delano during the Depression, the Second World War, and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.
It’s a terrific novel. Woods paints a marvelously well-developed picture of a small southern town without crossing over the line into either ludicrous nostalgia or hyperbolic stereotyping. He creates a wonderful sense of atmosphere and history, so that the town itself becomes a character into itself. The inhabitants of the town are equally well-developed, and while some naturally receive more attention than others, every one of them feels like a real living, breathing person.
There’s also much more to this novel than just a simple murder mystery; the chiefs, and the town as a whole, deal with not just murders, or even crime, but the intricate politics of the South as Delano grows in power and influence. Most of the significant characters in the novel are politicians, not cops, and there’s as much devotion to the intricacies of backroom negotiations and cultural upheaval as there is to dead bodies and criminal investigations. The stories all flow together to create a single coherent, but very multifaceted tale that draws the reader in, and keeps pulling him along.
I have very little bad to say about this novel, but I will say that it’s really not much of a murder mystery, in the conventional sense. Who the murderer is becomes obvious fairly quickly; the question is not who or what is committing the murders, but hwy, and how they’ll be solved (if they ever will at all). If you are the sort of reader who reads mysteries to see how fast you can solve them, this novel may disappoint you. In addition, the ending is not entirely satisfying; the resolution itself works, but the way it’s actually set up had a little bit of a deus ex machina feel to it that doesn’t entirely work, especially given how well the novel is constructed overall.
Still, it’s a great novel despite it’s flaws; the story is rich, the characters are engaging, and Woods’ writing flows wonderfully. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of mystery, or just like a good book.
June 9, 2013
Stuart Woods first and favorite book. Following the creation of Delano in 1920, William Henry is the first police chief which pisses off Foxy Funderburke to no limit and starts a lifelong blood feud with authority and a psycho killer. William Henry is killed in a cluster fuck shooting and Willie Cole escapes while his father is caught and fried. Sonny Butts takes over and cannot escape his deep hidden avorice toward violence. When he suspects Foxy of kidnap/torture and confronts him at his home, he and his bike are buried on the back hill side. Billy Lee supports a black MP for the next police chief and points for the Governor job. Tucker runs afoul of the klan and good old boys, but takes his suspicions about Foxy to the FBI. The subsequent search, gunfight and excavation reveal the demented Foxy's victims.
This book won Woods' a well deserved newest novelist award, and it is a true rock classic. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANY STUART WOODS' FAN. The storyline would appear to be in some large part autobiographical, and I think that contributes to the richness of the storyline. This is an incredible read for any late night page turner!
This book won Woods' a well deserved newest novelist award, and it is a true rock classic. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANY STUART WOODS' FAN. The storyline would appear to be in some large part autobiographical, and I think that contributes to the richness of the storyline. This is an incredible read for any late night page turner!
September 5, 2016
This debut novel by the prolific author Stuart Woods has been on my reading list since the late 1980’s. I don’t know why I procrastinated, because this is a stunning work. Woods traces the history of racism in the fictional Georgia town of Delano by focusing on the tenures of three defining police chiefs. Given the re-emerging racial tension of the past several years, CHIEFS is as relevant today as it was when it was written in 1981. My only disappointment rests with the literary direction that Woods chose after writing this masterpiece. Like James Patterson, he became a book factory, churning out formulaic fiction instead of focusing his creativity on crafting opus works. Had he elected to think big, I believe that he would be regarded in the same strata as A-list novelists such as John Irving, Richard Ford, John Grisham, John Hart and James Lee Burke. Of course his mass-produced fictional series has made him a very wealthy man. But it must be tough to live with the fact that his first novel was his best effort.
July 6, 2019
Having just polished off a work of verrry literary fiction, I was ready for something light and unchallenging. CHIEFS did the trick. A tattered, heavily foxed copy of Stuart Woods’ first novel from way back in 1981 made for an entertaining, easy read, but one with lessons to teach, which still remain relevant 38 years later. (Given how far we still have to go in 2019, one can imagine the levels of readerly discomfort it may have provoked in the early ‘80s.) It is billed as a murder mystery about a serial killer of young boys. But within half-a-dozen pages, readers already have an uneasy feeling about who might’ve dunnit, and it isn’t long at all before those suspicions are confirmed. If you’re looking for a game of CLUE, this book isn’t for you.
Mystery and murder constitute very minor plot features in a book whose real mystery concerns how a small Georgia town will adapt to social upheavals between the end of World War I and the Kennedy assassination in 1963. It tells its story chiefly through the eyes and lives of 3 generations of police chiefs in the fictional town of Delano, GA, for whom the serial murders serve as only an occasional distraction from more immediate concerns—at least until the book’s final chapters. In the meantime, the challenges of racism loom largest, aided and abetted by good ole boys, politicians, and police. (It’s worth remembering that ¼ of the Atlanta police force were believed to be Klan members at the end of World War II. And readers should brace themselves for frequent and realistic uses of the N-Word, even by a few good guys.)
It may seem a little far-fetched that the third of Delano, GA’s police chiefs should turn out to be black in 1963, whereas Charlottesville, VA would wait another 50+ years for a black police chief, and given that other southern towns and cities were just beginning to think about hiring any black police officers at all by the early ‘60s (and often forbidding them to arrest white folk). The book optimistically suggests that it only takes a handful of capable and honorable people to make things happen, but also realistically suggests how political pragmatism may play a large part in the process. A few other plot twists may strain credibility, but as the plot starts rattling towards its conclusion, it’s easy enough to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride.
Mystery and murder constitute very minor plot features in a book whose real mystery concerns how a small Georgia town will adapt to social upheavals between the end of World War I and the Kennedy assassination in 1963. It tells its story chiefly through the eyes and lives of 3 generations of police chiefs in the fictional town of Delano, GA, for whom the serial murders serve as only an occasional distraction from more immediate concerns—at least until the book’s final chapters. In the meantime, the challenges of racism loom largest, aided and abetted by good ole boys, politicians, and police. (It’s worth remembering that ¼ of the Atlanta police force were believed to be Klan members at the end of World War II. And readers should brace themselves for frequent and realistic uses of the N-Word, even by a few good guys.)
It may seem a little far-fetched that the third of Delano, GA’s police chiefs should turn out to be black in 1963, whereas Charlottesville, VA would wait another 50+ years for a black police chief, and given that other southern towns and cities were just beginning to think about hiring any black police officers at all by the early ‘60s (and often forbidding them to arrest white folk). The book optimistically suggests that it only takes a handful of capable and honorable people to make things happen, but also realistically suggests how political pragmatism may play a large part in the process. A few other plot twists may strain credibility, but as the plot starts rattling towards its conclusion, it’s easy enough to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride.
March 18, 2018
A little “Criminal Minds”-ish. Well-drawn characters. Deals with the sadly timeless topic of racism, although it leaves room for hope. Could be a good book for discussion.
July 4, 2021
I have read (and for the most part loathed) several Stuart Woods novels, most of them involving his incredibly obnoxious, misogynistic attorney/detective Stone Barrington. I would have given up on him completely until someone reminded me that he also wrote the novel "Chiefs", a book that I read and enjoyed years ago.
The book follows three generations of police chiefs in a small Southern town, each of them dealing with the socio-political upheavals and changes of their particular eras. They must also deal (or not deal) with a local serial killer plaguing the region, a particularly gruesome killer who, over the course of forty years, has been killing young boys and men.
I remember this also being made into a decent made-for-TV miniseries starring Billy Dee Williams as one of the chiefs.
The book follows three generations of police chiefs in a small Southern town, each of them dealing with the socio-political upheavals and changes of their particular eras. They must also deal (or not deal) with a local serial killer plaguing the region, a particularly gruesome killer who, over the course of forty years, has been killing young boys and men.
I remember this also being made into a decent made-for-TV miniseries starring Billy Dee Williams as one of the chiefs.
March 16, 2020
Interesting story of 3 generations at the police station of Delano, GA. My first Stuart Woods. I enjoyed it as I always do with well written, multigenerational sagas. It also reminded me that not too long ago, blatant racism was accepted and those who weren’t racist were truly decent people who went against the grain. A great story.
May 12, 2010
For years I've resisted Stuart Woods. I've always considered him more of a "man's" author and just didn't think I'd enjoy his books. I started "Chiefs" on Wednesday and stayed up verrryyy late on Thursday finishing it. Now I'm hooked!
October 4, 2016
This is a crime story that developes through 30 years and three different generations, but it is not a typical murder mystery. It is more the story of a town and about America growing into a modern country. Exciting and highly recommended
May 30, 2013
I read this over 30 years ago and still remember most of the story. Tells me how much of an impression this book made on me back then.
December 27, 2019
The First Chief: Will Henry Lee: The novel opens in 1919, when the growing town of Delano, Georgia hires its first police chief. The city council, led by banker and prominent investor Hugh Holmes, chooses farmer Will Henry Lee over Foxy Funderburke, an eccentric, wealthy, dog breeder and gun collector, for the job. Will Henry is unschooled as a policeman but is honest and determined to do the job well. Not long after he assumes his new responsibilities, the dead body of a young man is found naked at the bottom of a cliff. A medical examination concludes that the boy died from a broken neck as a result of his fall but also that he had been tortured—cuffed and beaten with a rubber hose—for some time before his death. The medical examiner tells Will Henry that the crime had a strong sexual component, and that while the boy had not yet been sodomized, the assault on him could have gone further had the boy not evidently escaped. Will Henry conducts a thorough investigation but is frustrated in his attempts to locate the killer, not least because the uncooperative Skeeter Willis, the sheriff of Meriwhether County, of which Delano is a part, insists that the boy was killed by some of the many transients in the area at the time. Will Henry is unconvinced, but eventually runs out of leads. He believes that a second murder, taking place some four years later and just outside his jurisdiction, is connected to the first but has no real proof and no real authority to pursue the matter. Finally, Will Henry hears from Skeeter Willis about a young runaway who might be passing near Delano and also learns that someone with a Delano PO Box had attempted to purchase a pair of handcuffs from a police supplier..........
March 1, 2022
Rakst á þessa af einskærri tilviljun á Amazon útsölu og vissi ekki alveg við hverju ég mætti búast... Þetta er frábær bók. Sú besta sem ég hef farið í gegnum í þó nokkurn tíma.
December 23, 2013
If you picked up this book looking for a Stone Barrington type deal you came to the wrong rodeo! As a mildly educated observer I would say that this 1981 Edgar award winner is part of the inspiration for Grisham's A Time to Kill. Three connected stories about a little town in Georgia called Delano. The politics, families, secrets and more are all interesting intertwined here, based around the position of police chief. I guess this was a limited hardback release back in '81 and was issued in paperback in 2005 as Wood's career was really starting to take off. The first 1/3 starts a little slow, but by the time you get into the second and third stories we are on a fun roller coaster. It is fascinating to me to read this and then try to understand how Stuart Woods has evolved into the writer I know him as today.
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