Can the offer possibly be legit or is it "too good to be true"? In the latest release from prolific novelist Sandra Brown, Play Dirty, the action begins as Griff Burkett is released from prison after five years. Before he can even get settled into the marginal apartment that his lawyer has leased for him, Griff gets a message from the head of Texas' largest airline, SunSouth Airlines. The gentleman, Foster Speakman, has a business proposition for him.
An Indecent Proposal?
Arriving at the Speakman mansion, Burkett wonders why he's there. He is about convinced that Mr. Speakman has called him there to express his distain at Burkett's having thrown the hometown team's chances at a Super Bowl bid five years ago -- all for his own personal gain. It occurs to him that he might not be leaving the place standing up. However, Griff soon learns the true nature of the proposal. It seems that Speakman, a peripalegic, and his wife want to have a child. Achewing the more traditional ways of conceiving as too indescrete, they are offering Burkett millions just to get Mrs. Speakman pregnant.
Too Good to Be True
A less desparate man would have walked out of the room immediately, but Burkett needs money and a job. The only things he knows how to do -- football and sports -- are off limits to him now. So he listens. The $500,000 "signing" bonus is attractive, so is the $1 million a year for life just to keep silent about the baby's parentage. Maybe he can ignore his misgivings about the whole idea.
When Laura Speakman and Griff first meet, the situation is awkward, at best. Soon, however, the chill is gone and the scenario becomes, let's say, "complacated." The deal with the Speakmans isn't the only source of stress in Burkett's life. His old nemesis, detective Stanley Rodarte, is not content that Griff served his time. He seems to be around every corner, threatening those close to Griff. When he shows up outside the house where Laura and Griff are scheduled to meet, Griff begins to fear for her safety. Are his fears justified? Can any possible good come out of this messy triangle?
Play Dirty is a fast-paced mystery that, in true Sandra Brown fashion, combines a mystery with a little romance. Plot twists abound and keep the action interesting and Griff Burkett is an interesting character. It's too bad that Ms. Brown never has her characters reappear. I'd like to learn more of Burkett. All told, the novel is a success, in its tight and engaging plot and in its multi-dimensional characters.
About Sandra Brown
Sandra Brown is the author of 70 novels, the late 55 of which have made the "New York Times" Bestseller List. A Texas native, she has won numerous awards, including the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature. She and her huband live in Arlington, Texas. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
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