**THE FIRST NOVEL AND EDGAR-AWARD WINNER BY THE WORLD'S #1 BESTSELLING WRITER!**You are about to begin one of the classic American novels of suspense by the world's bestselling author. It begins with three terrifying murders in the South. It ends with a relentless and unforgettable manhunt in the North. In between is the riveting story of a chilling assassin, the woman he loves, and the beloved leader he is hired to kill with extreme prejudice.**### About the AuthorJames Patterson has had more *New York Times* bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to *Guinness World Records*. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1977 James Patterson's books have sold more than 300 million copies. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels **,** the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including *Kiss the Girls* and *Along Came a Spider*. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.### From AudioFileWith a steel guitar twanging blues in the background, Will Patton performs this reissue of Patterson's 1976 debut novel, which won an Edgar Award for best first mystery. The complex plot intertwines a reporter's relentless pursuit of the killer of Nashville's first black mayor and the path of the assassin himself as he prepares for the biggest murder since Martin Luther King, Jr. Will Patton uses a bluegrass drawl and the soft sound of a New York drug-world hustler, helping the listener understand the complexity of the characters. Patterson's observations are masterfully transformed into critical insights with Patton's skillful pacing. K.A.T. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- *Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine*