Just when it seemed like it would be impossible to create a new form of a troubled family, John Hart smashes our stereotypes with some serious new dimensions to that clichA , the dysfunctional family. Many people have had wicked stepmothers, but how many have had a stepmother who accuses a stepchild of murder and becomes the main witness against him?
After an acquittal, Adam Chase is paid off by his father for Adam's inheritance in the family partnership and leaves town for New York where he leads an aimless life. All that changes when his best friend calls from North Carolina asking Adam to return to help him make something of himself. Adam procrastinates but eventually heads home.
Once there, he finds that time has not healed very many wounds . . . but has certainly opened some new ones.
It's like the story of the prodigal son, except the prodigal isn't treated with open arms by his father. Instead, the prodigal is shunned and treated like he's killed someone.
That background quickly heats up as new violence flares around Adam and his family. Because of his background, Adam finds himself accused again . . . even if he's only in the vicinity.
As badly as Adam has been doing, others have been struggling more.
John Hart does an outstanding job of keeping family mysteries, crime mysteries, and personal mysteries up in the air while slowly bringing Adam up to date on what's really been going on in his home town. Unlike most stories of this sort, I was kept guessing about many things right up to the end. I found that combination of good story telling, excellent character development, strong plot, lean narration, and lots of action made for a superb book.
Bravo! John Hart is a major talent. It's always great to find such a writer when he's early in his career. I plan to read his first book, King of Lies, as well.
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Down River Books In Print, Audio Books.