Exitus

by Thomas Gifford

A journalist searches for the true story of his glamorous sibling's deathWhen rock star J. C. Tripper died, only his brother Lee was by his side, and in the decades since, Lee has been deviled by questions of what really happened that night in Tangier. He thinks he knows the truth, but his recollection of that final drug-soaked bender is about to be called into question. An old acquaintance mails Lee a Nazi pistol and four Polaroid pictures of a dead body--an invitation to reopen a long-cold murder investigation. Lee then reconnects with Sam Innis, onetime best friend to the brothers Tripper, who urges him to track down J.C.'s former bandmates and music industry contacts. That night, Lee's girlfriend, a bestselling conspiracy theorist, is tortured to death in her tub. As his brother comes back to haunt him, Lee must unravel the mystery of J.C.'s last days, or risk joining him behind the velvet rope at the great after-party in the sky.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Thomas Eugene Gifford was a best-selling American author of thriller novels. He gained international fame with the suspense novel The Wind Chill Factor and later with the Vatican-based thriller The Assassini .

After graduating from Harvard he moved to the Twin Cities, MN where he and his wife, Kari Sandven, had two children (Thomas Eaton, Rachel Claire). Divorced in 1969, he went on to marry Camille D'Ambrose, a local actress. They moved to Los Angeles for a few years, then returned to Orono, MN. Novels continued to flow from his fountain pen through the years. Gifford eventually moved to New York--a city he loved whose people were of infinite importance to him.

In 1996, he turned his attention to renovating his childhood home in Dubuque, spending more time in Iowa than New York during his last years. He embraced the community of Dubuque, as they embraced their prodigal son. Featured in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Gifford recounted his every day occurrences, from learning the pleasure of getting a dog (Katie Maxwell, the Scottie) to peeves and pleasures of the town.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer in February, 2000, Gifford spent his remaining months reading, watching old movies, and chatting with friends and family. He passed away on an unseasonably warm Halloween, just as the ghosts and goblins started their tricks.

Gifford lived life large, had friends throughout the world, and lived life by his favorite credo--we're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time.

Gifford also published under the names Dana Clarins and Thomas Maxwell.

Reviews

[Toralf Saffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exitus – oder nicht Exitus

Lee Tripper ist der Bruder eines großen Rockstars der 60iger Jahre welcher vor 20 Jahren unter einigermaßen mysteriösen Umständen starb. Doch dann kommen Zweifel am Tod des einstigen Idols auf und gepusht durch einen Verlag und eine Plattenfirma macht sich Lee auf die Suche. Dabei „begleiten“ ihn recht undurchsichtige Personen, die attraktive Heidi und Fleury, ein abgewrackter Ermittler. Die Suche führt Lee zunächst durch die USA, dann weiter nach Europa und Nordafrika und findet auf den sturmumtosten äußeren Hebriden ein fulminantes Ende.
Ich habe schon einige Bücher von Thomas Gifford gelesen und schätze ihn als guten Erzähler spannender Geschichten.
Spannend war auch dieses Buch und der Schreibstil passte auch – aber das war`s schon. Die Story war völlig verworren und unplausibel, der ganze Plot stimmte hinten und vorn nicht, ständige Wendungen sollten wohl den Spannungsbogen hochhalten, verwirrten aber eher noch mehr.
Auch die „große Überraschung“ am Ende hat sich schon lange vorher angedeutet und verpuffte somit im Sturm der über die einsame Insel fegte.
Fazit – ich war ziemlich enttäuscht, 3 Sterne für die Spannung und die Erinnerung an bessere Werke des Autors.

[Halalilodri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obwohl ich die letzten Seiten schon gelesen habe bleibt die Geschichte für mich spannend. Mir gefallen die angedeuteten Vorgriffe nicht ("was ich dann später blablabla")

[Justine Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult to follow goes on and on. I do not recommend could not figure out exactly what the Heidi character was doing


Too many characters to try to keep track of and figure where they fit
in the plot probably will not choose this author again

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but at times a little confusing!