Off and Running

In this episodic romp from Edgar-finalist Reed (The Marquis de Fraud), struggling writer Jack Dillon gets the opportunity to collaborate on the bio of retired TV icon Walt Stuckey, but to finish the job he’s going to have to kidnap Walt from the aged star’s home in the Hollywood Hills and survive a gauntlet of bullets from California’s Mount Whitney to Death Valley. Since the actor’s narcissistic, bullying son, Garrett, obviously wants to control every facet of his father’s life and isn’t about to give Jack the break he needs, the desperate author grabs Walt and takes off. Along for the ride is Walt’s much younger romantic interest, Mary, who has her own agenda. In pursuit are the local badge and the feds, plus the almost cartoonish menace of Garrett—and the ex-military hit man Garrett hires. Jack’s writing problems sometimes slow the action, but once the hunt heats up, the plot is—to quote the tagline from Walt’s once hugely popular show—off and running. (Aug.)