By Susan Shinn Salisbury Post I saw Sean Rowe for the first time in the fall of 1986, running across campus. We were taking newswriting at Carolina under Jim Shumaker. We'd find out later that Shu was one of the state's most respected newspapermen. What Rowe knew at that moment, however, was that Shu would lock the door if you were late for that 8 a.m. class. He got locked out, but only once or twice. "I was keen on being in that class," Rowe said recently. The class was full, but Rowe begged Shu to let him in. Rowe got in, but he had to bring his own portable manual typewriter along. Shu was tough. I can still see the bright red editing marks he used liberally on my papers. If Shu ever smiled at you for some work you did, you felt lucky indeed. Somewhere, I think, Shu must be smiling. Rowe's first novel, "Fever" was published last month by Little, Brown and Co. Rowe got a two-book contract with the publishing house. "I-95," set in Fayetteville, will be published next fall. For now, though, the focus is on "Fever." It's been called a novel in which "Carl Hiaasen meets 'Ocean's Eleven'." Yeah, it's all that -- and more. I saw Sean last month in Chapel Hill. This time, we strolled the campus and talked about life and writing but mostly about "Fever." Before I got the book, I thought, oh gosh, what if it's not good? After I read the first page, I realized what a silly thought that had been. "Fever" is a fast-paced romp through Miami at its seediest. It's a heist story of the Nth degree -- a plan so outlandish you'll think there's no way it can be pulled off. Of course it can. Our hero is Matt "Loose Cannon" Shannon, a retired FBI agent who feels like anything but a hero. As the book opens, Shannon hears from his stepbrother, Jack Fontana, who's just been released from prison. Let's just say that Fontana knows how to make an entrance. It's one that gets Matt's attention. Fontana has a plan to highjack a cruise ship, and he wants Shannon in on the action. Unfortunately, Shannon can't refuse -- he's the reason Fontana went to jail in the first place. Add in the mysterious Julia Bonnell -- Shannon can't figure out how she fits into his life -- a few shady partners and you're in for one heckuva ride. "Fever" is by no means a romance, yet my favorite passages were the ones in which Shannon recalls his life with his wife, who has died of cancer. "She wasn't one of these touchy-feely people, but at odd times, out of the blue, when we would be walking together, I would be surprised to feel her take my hand. It was like what happened on a lot of mornings: she would put both her arms around my shoulders and look into my eyes, not saying anything; or some mornings just lay her head against my neck and stand there in the kitchen. Not every day, but more mornings than not. I would wait for it. I came to live for that, secretly, a part of me waiting for it to stop happening, but it never did." For the most part, the action is fast-paced and rough-edged. So much so, in fact, that Rowe has forbidden his mother from reading "Fever." But if you enjoy reading Hiaasen, James Patterson, Elmore Leonard and the like, you'll definitely want to grab a copy of "Fever." Just don't tell Rowe's mom. Contact Susan Shinn at 704-797-4289 or sshinn@salisburypost.com. Susan Shinn writes more on Sean Rowe in Monday's Lifestyle.
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