Cole Bowman is an enforcer for the Rockets, a professional ice hockey team. He's good at his job and loves the game but things start going wrong for Bowman when the team owner's daughter Barbara takes a shine to him. Barbara is sophisticated, cultured and a world apart from the brawling, bone-cracking world of ice hockey. When her father puts Bowman into a situation he can't punch his way out of, Bowman knows he's in for the fight of his life. As if that wasn't enough to cope with, his addiction to steroids and other substances is wreaking havoc with his personal life. The end is a testament to the greed and graft that goes hand in hand with professional.

The coach Al Farrell is an excellent antagonist, one of those rare bad guys who exhibits some redeeming qualities. Wood has created some solid, believable characters in Enforcer, Mitzi, the waitress who has a brief affair with Bowman, his best friend, Bobby, team coach, Farrell, Bowman's father, team-mates and others all combine to provide an enjoyable and thrilling story.

It's hard to find anything wrong with this book, characterisation is superb. Wood brings her vast knowledge of the ice hockey world to the fore, providing the reader with an insight into what has been perceived as a brutal sport. I found Enforcer to be a pleasure to read and a real contender for the Eppies. I don't normally give a mark out of ten for a book, but Enforcer goes to the top of the list, an encouraging start to the New Year and a shot in the arm for lovers of books everywhere.