Autry, Curt

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Autry, Curt

PERSONAL: Male. Education: University of Oklahoma, degree in political science.

ADDRESSES: Home—Richmond, VA. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Poisoned Pen Press, 6962 E. 1st Ave., Ste. 103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. E-mail—cautry@nbc12.com.

CAREER: Broadcaster and author. Has worked as a broadcaster for KFOR-TV, Oklahoma City, OK, KTEN-TV, Dennison, TX, and WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC; WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, anchor for Fox Richmond News at Ten, 1994–.

AWARDS, HONORS: Emmy Award, for news anchoring and reporting; Best Summer Mysteries citation, Boston Globe, 2002, for The Reunion.

WRITINGS:

The Reunion (novel), Poisoned Pen Press (Scottsdale, AZ), 2002.

SIDELIGHTS: An Emmy Award-winning news anchorman, Curt Autry tried his hand at writing a thriller with his debut novel, The Reunion. The story combines historical and contemporary settings. During the early years of World War II, a German submarine is sunk off the coast of North Carolina. The crew is captured and spends the rest of the war as prisoners. Jumping ahead to modern times, the remaining members of the U-boat crew are planning a reunion to be held where their vessel sank. Unknown to them, a disturbed man named Joey DeMichael plans to set off a bomb at the event. His plot is discovered by Carolyn Baker, who accidentally learns about Joey while conducting research to find her biological parents. Although she tells the FBI about Joey's plans, nobody except Agent Martin Dunlevy believes her. The plot is further complicated when other parties plot to silence her for fear that Carolyn will uncover certain uncomfortable events from the past.

Reviewers of The Reunion found it to be an exciting tale that could easily be adapted as a successful film. However, the story is marred somewhat, according to critics, by too many subplots. A Publishers Weekly contributor praised the "strong suspense and action elements." A Kirkus Reviews writer reported that the author "writes with clarity and commendable attention to detail." Rex E. Klett concluded in the Library Journal that The Reunion contains "sturdy prose, rising tension, and plausible plotting."