Choke

by Stuart Woods

A standalone novel from Stuart Woods, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stone Barrington and Holly Barker series...

Murder is not a spectator sport.

Chuck Chandler has choked on more than one occasion—first as a pro tennis player at Wimbledon, then as a womanizing coach at posh tennis clubs around the country. Now at Key West's Old Racquet Club, Chuck gets involved with the wrong married woman—the enticing Clare Carras, married to an enigmatic older man—and soon he is in way over his head.

Enter Tommy Sculley, a retired New York homicide detective who has just joined the Key West force, and his young green partner, Daryl Haynes, who turns out to be smarter than he looks. Up to their necks in an investigation of a bizarre apparent homicide, the two detectives barely keep afloat in murky waters. Events take them from the Florida Keys to Los Angeles and back, as a plot emerges that involves not only the dangerous Clare, but a furious West Coast mob boss determined to get back what is his at any cost.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Stuart 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.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's too bad there are only glimpses of the writer Woods used to be. This '96 story has plots worth following, engaging and shady characters with interest start to finish. 8 of 10 stars

[James Thane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chuck Chandler choked on the most important point of his career as a professional tennis player. Through the years that followed, he's been slipping gradually down through the ranks, and now, at forty-four, he's reduced to giving tennis lessons at a small club in Key West. Chuck lost his last job by playing around with the wife of the club's chairman, but having not learned his lesson, he's soon involved with another married woman in Key West, the sexy and mysterious Clare Carras.

Tommy Sculley is also new to Key West. The retired NYPD homicide detective has taken a job on the Key West force and Sculley is immediately interested in Clare's older husband, Harry. Sculley thinks that there's something off about Harry and begins checking out his background. The problem is that Harry seems to have no background at all--it's as though he simply materialized out of thin air. But then Harry winds up dead, and the obvious suspect is Chuck Chandler who's been sleeping with Harry's wife.

The story unfolds from that point with a lot of twists and turns, some of which are more believable than others. The plot is not especially fresh, and the characters are somewhat thinly drawn. But the story moves quickly along, catching the reader up in the action. As a genre novel, this is a good quick read, just about right for a lazy summer day at the beach.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the whole book one rainy evening. I'll have to read more by this author to really get a feel for his writing. The ending had a bit of a rushed feel to it, and this was back in the days when people knew they should have safe sex but didn't, which always makes me question their judgment. Still an enjoyable read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chuck Chandler has a blown career as a top touring tennis professional and a series of teaching jobs at plush clubs, usually because he has been unable to keep his hands off the female students, especially the married ones. At Key West’s Olde Island Racquet Club Chuck yields to temptation, again, with the beautiful Clare Carras, who is married to an enigmatic older man with no apparent past, and who turns out to be a great deal more than the tennis pro can handle. Suddenly the easygoing Chuck is in over his head, suspected of murder.

Enter Tommy Scully, a former NYPD homicide detective, augmenting his pension with a job on the Key West force, and his neophyte partner, Daryl, who may be smarter than he looks. The two detectives find themselves barely afloat in a shark infested investigation that stretches from the Florida Keys to Los Angeles and back.

Fun read with a couple of great twists I didn't see coming!

[David Lucero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Stuart Woods since reading 'Heat' back in the 90's. I've read that book 3 times and plan on doing so again in the future. I liked this book as a contemporary suspense, but it wasn't as fast-paced and taut as some of his other books.

Chuck Chandler is a one-time tennis pro who missed the big-time when he 'choked' in a match that could've put his name on the map. Now he spends time coaching tennis to the rich at a hotel in the Florida's Key West. Living on his boat, he sponges off rich peoples' money and beds lonely wives whose rich husbands have little time for their trophy wives' carnal desires.

He meets Harry and Claire Carras, a wealthy-beyond-your-dreams couple who invite him to their boat. Chuck befriends them quickly, teaching Claire the ropes on the tennis court, while she teaches Chuck the ropes in the bedroom. While on a boat trip on their expensive yacht, Harry mysteriously ends up dead, and Chuck is the prime suspect.

Detective Tom Sculley, formerly of NYPD now working awaiting his retirement in Florida, is on the case, but senses Chuck didn't do it. Only he doesn't have much time to prove his innocence as the top brass want an arrest and indictment right away. With Chuck's love interest, Meg, waiting for her not-so-faithful boyfriend to be free of this crime, Chuck struggles to find out who the killer is, and why they chose him for the pit-fall.

If you're a Stuart Woods fan you'll enjoy this book. He's a good writer and his stories and style is true to form. After reading several of his books I eventually moved on, but he remains a favorite of mine, and I admire his skill as an author.

[Dawnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this book while looking for another book entitled Choke. I'd say my real rating is probably somewhere between 3.5-75, but its getting the round up. Believe it or not, this is my first Stuart Woods book and I am hooked. This one is set in Key West (which I love reading about places I've been and loved) and is a murder story where one of our main characters is on the hook for the whole deal. Great story!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pure pulp. Enjoyable and fast reading, but pulp. Picked this one up after a deep and very enjoyable book, needing something simple and speedy and this fit the bill. Lots of sex, violence, money and backstabbing set in a tropical paradise in the keys, with the requisite boats and tennis pros abounding throughout. I read it in a day so definitely not one you pore over for long periods of time and while not going to win any prizes, does the job. Good beach book.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner, good mystery, and great setting of Key West

Great mystery, and page turner. Plot had a lot of twists. One of Mr. Woods’ better books. I find his standalone books are more tightly plotted than the Stone Barrington books.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started out a little slow. There was a lot of tennis references that threw me off, but it got better and was a great plot with a very interesting ending.

[Chrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic short story and the ending was unpredictable

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The abridged version - my first experience with the author. Maybe because of the abridging process, the story was pretty "fluffy". Lots of convenient coincidences.
However, once I was finished with this book, I immediately went to my local library to get another- "Heat" - (on tape) by this author. The convenient coincidences were still there, but yet again they didn't irritate me.
Back to this book - the reader on the tape? Obviously hadn't read the book before. While it didn't sound like a 4th grader's book report in front of the class, it was obvious that the reader was just *reading*. Sometimes the inflections (especially in conversational sequences) were amusingly "off". Kind of like putting the em-PHAS-is on the wrong syl-LAB-ble.

[Bill Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read from Woods. The first one was his first book, Chiefs. I love that book, which is a sweeping epic spanning decades with many characters and multiple themes. I avoided anything else by him only because I knew compared to Chiefs his other books would seem small. I have to admit, this turns out to be true. However, taken on its own merit without comparing it to his first book, Choke is a taut thriller, a who-done-it that moves along at an exciting pace. He is a hell of a good writer, and this book has encouraged me to read more of his books. He's written like a bazillion!

[DaShannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read 2 other Stuart Woods books- Dirty Work- a favorite- and Under the Lake. Both were great suspense novels. This one continues to please. I read it on a plane to Florida and finished it up there. Great story, twists, suspects, and dialogue. I enjoyed it! This is a standalone and not one of Woods famous Stone Barrington or Holly Barker novels.
Chuck Chandler has come to be known as Choke since his days of choking on the pro tennis court. He since has gained a reputation for messing around with married women and now that legacy is going to get him into some very hot water. Clare Carras has plans. Big plans. And Chuck is just the right guy.

[Gay Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuck, a tennis pro, lives on a boat. He "choked" at Wimbledon and lost the match. He now lives with his reputation...even named his boat Choke. He is caught up in a murder. This book is suspenseful and entertaining.

[Kati · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a cheesy, unbelievable read. I found errors in the text as well. But it was totally mindless and my grandma gave it to me, so now we share that "thrilling" experience. It really was as bad as reality t.v., y'all.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read. Would have finished quicker if I didn’t have a lot on my plate. Sort of predictable. I guessed the ending but I also didn’t. You’ll have to read it to understand what I mean. Plenty of good sex scenes in the beginning. Don’t know if I would recommend d it. Maybe for vacations.

[Flash Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is simple book with simple characters that saves itself with some interesting twists and turns toward the end. Most of the book just lollygags along with just enough to keep you going but turns to some unexpected development in the last 50 or so pages.

[Yusuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woods has this really misogynistic outdated way of writing women that makes me cringe every time I come across these scenes. But it’s the quick banter and speedy plot developments that keep me coming back for more of his books.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent cheesy detective beach read…but not something I would recommend to anyone.

[JO i els Meus Llibres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thriller policiaco con final impredecible pero no inesperado. Los personajes tienen actitudes a veces simples que hacen suponer el desenlace final aunque no la persona.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 1995 novel is the 8th and final stand-alone thriller from author Stuart Woods before he devoted his writing to Stone Barrington and related series. I think his best writing was in these stand-alones and the first 2 or 3 of the Will Lee series; to this point Woods had written 15 books in 15 years, and he has 71 additional novels in the succeeding 25 years. I've read all his published work to date and it remains enjoyable though engaging in highly repetitive sex and society set pieces.

Chuck Chandler is a middle-aged tennis pro with a yen for the ladies. Once, at Wimbledon many years ago, he choked at the vital moment and lost what could have been a career-making match. Now, living on his boat, he is the new coach at a club on Key West‘and into his life comes Clare Carras, a gorgeous woman married to a mysterious, wealthy husband apparently unconcerned about her wandering eye. In no time, she and Chuck are between the sheets, but when husband Harry drowns in a highly suspicious diving accident, she makes sure it is Chuck who is the immediate suspect. Only a new member of the Key West force, a former New York cop called Tommy Sculley, believes Chuck didn't do it, but his skeptical chief demands a fast arrest. There are several killings, a tense boat chase and a series of sudden switches before a denouement.

[Michael Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the very best book I've ever read by Stuart Woods.
I don't much like his series books, for several reasons.
And one of those, a very political book, was so bad I wondered, right here on Goodreads, why he was allowed to publish anything else.
Well, "Choke" answers that.
It's clever, inventive, and has some interesting characters, with the only connection to his other work being that one character is from Woods' fictional town of Delano, Georgia, as are so many others of his characters.
In "Choke" are at least two characters who could have series of their own, but I hope they don't since Woods manages to detract badly his series creations.
This one, though, I do recommend.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2 1/2). I saw this on a couple of lists and wanted to see what life was like for Stuart Woods without Stone Barrington. I was pleasantly surprised. We have a terrific setting in Key West, a femme fatale who is quite the dish, an old tennis pro, a cop who has moved down from New York and a full complement of other fun characters. The plot moves right along in a very entertaining way with a dollop of violence and sex, and a couple of very nice twists and turns. All but one I was able to figure out, but Woods does a nice job keeping it all together. Not as fluffy as Stone, a fun read. Good Stuff.

[Rob Leininger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise! Five stars for a Stuart Woods novel? I've found I can't read any recent "Stone Barrington" novels by Woods, but CHOKE was written in 1996, so I gave it a try. The novel was quite interesting, well-written, and easily held my interest. But, warning, for those of you who don't like "bad words" this isn't for you. It has crude elements. But I'm sure many readers (who don't run screaming from the room when they see/read an F-bomb) would enjoy it. The writing is quite a bit better than what I'm seeing in recent works by authors who write "military/spy thrillers" [the writing and characters in BLACKMAIL by Rick Campbell was so utterly tasteless and bland that I gave up at page 61].

[Vien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Choke started off introducing the protagonist and the promised life of stardom if he..did not choke. Picked up this book at a random secondhand bookstore, the blurb and cover art looked promising. I'm glad I randomly found this book. Even though it wasn't a crazy read with an unexpected plot twist, it was still fun and intriguing, especially near the end, I could barely kept the book down. One thing I really appreciated was the punchline at the end, which neatly tied everything together and rounded off the story in a satisfying, comedic way.

[Paul Fussner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woos just keeps on keeping on

As always Woods continues to amaze me with with his whit and humor, if its about a boat or a plane know-one has the the literary talent to hold a candle to Stuart Woods. Again I was amazed how many times I thought I had this novel figured out only to find out I was way off base. Another great read by Stuart Wood and another excellent storyline with more twists and turns then a country road.

[Bill Schubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an example of how difficult it is to write an intriguing book. I saw the ending about a third of the way through and the distractions were kind of transparent. Thinking as an editor I don't know what I would have done to fix it. The book is good but not compelling.

Recommend for the beach.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little different for Stuart Woods. The story is set in Key West. A professional tennis player finds himself teaching tennis at a fancy tennis club, and winds up in the middle of a mystery/who done it situation. Light reading, decent story line, does keep you guessing about the characters until the very end.

[T-Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I actually really enjoyed this book. Might have been 4 stars if it weren't for the cheesy near porn stuff, though it did make me kinda chuckle sometimes. Aside from that, it was a great beach read that was easy to read, flowed well, and I actually wanted to keep picking up the book and that's always a good thing.

[Cedric Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun characters with witty exchanges. This is definitely one of my favorite reads from Stuart Woods.

As I read the story, I couldn't help but wonder why this is only a standalone and not made into a series. That is how much I enjoyed this book. Although the ending felt rushed - it could have been more, reading this was worth it.