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Gary is an aging ex-ballplayer who had little trouble coping with his wife leaving him. He had more trouble recovering from the loss of his best friend who expired hours after playing golf with Gary. But he’s about to run into more trouble than he’s ever known when he finds himself on the run from what appear to be Mexican cartel assassins and corrupt police officials. This string of unfortunate events occurs on and around a sun-bleached country club in Texas. While the inhabitants go about their daily routine of living the good life, sinister forces are at play. Soon Gary is sucked into a web of deceit, suburban gun battles, murder, and frame-ups. With him on the lamb, it’s left to Gary’s card-playing and golfing buddies to come to his aid.
The author peoples his pages with a cadre of interesting characters. Dana is Gary’s girlfriend who helps pull him out of his funk. Sprague is the police chief who may be the best cop ever or something entirely different. For a while, no one is sure who Snake and Ghost really are, but it’s a sure thing that Ozzie and Cyrus are dogs, and Big Al is one nasty alligator. They are all penned with a flair for fun.
Donaldson spins his yarn conversationally. He writes straightforward prose that keeps his tale moving smartly along with only a short side trip or two for backstory detail. The result is a book that is both entertaining and easy to navigate. Will Gary and the forces of good prevail? The answer lies somewhere among the fairways, greens, and hazards of The Valley Country Club.