⇒ Download Redemption Road A Novel John Hart Books

Redemption Road A Novel John Hart Books

Download As PDF : Redemption Road A Novel John Hart Books

Redemption Road A Novel John Hart Books

I have long been an admirer of John Hart, finding him to be one of the better wordsmiths out there whose powerful descriptive writing style reminds me a lot of Pat Conroy (RIP) one of my favorite authors. Interesting to trip over an essay by Hart on Amazon where he describes how Conroy's comment regarding geography being both his "wound" and his "anchor" inspires much of his writing. At any rate, the powerful writing does infuse this novel. The problem I had with it is it is a bit too dark and dense. Each character has suffered mightily, both physically and mentally and it gets a bit wearisome. Actions tend to stretch credibility in places. These are very damaged folks. Characters seem to operate at the extremes with few of the normal combinations one finds in "real" life. Despite the seriousness of the incidents, a lighter touch would have been welcome at times. Definitely not a book for the squeamish, but powerful if you can handle it.


Tags : Amazon.com: Redemption Road: A Novel (9780312380366): John Hart: Books,John Hart,Redemption Road: A Novel,Thomas Dunne Books,0312380364,Thrillers - Crime,Thrillers - General,Thrillers - Suspense,FICTION Suspense,FICTION Suspense.,Murder,Mystery fiction,Mystery fiction.,Revenge,Suspense fiction,Suspense fiction.,060101 St Martins Trade Fiction,AMERICAN MYSTERY & SUSPENSE FICTION,FICTION Thrillers Crime,FICTION Thrillers General,FICTION Thrillers Suspense,Fiction,Fiction - Espionage Thriller,Fiction-Suspense,FictionThrillers - Crime,GENERAL,General Adult,MysterySuspense,Thrillers Crime,United States,Edgar award-winning author; New York Times bestseller; award winning author; new york times bestselling thriller writers; new york times bestselling thrillers; redemption fiction; thrillers with strong female characters; female protagonist thrillers; literary thrillers; crime fiction; dark thrillers; contemporary fiction; murder; police; cops; North Carolina; small town; suspense novel; mystery books; john hart mystery; suspense books; edgar award winning author; new york times bestselling author; nyt bestselling author,new york times bestseller; new york times bestselling thriller writers; new york times bestselling thrillers; redemption fiction; thrillers with strong female characters; female protagonist thrillers; literary thrillers; North Carolina; small town; crime fiction; dark thrillers; Edgar award-winning author; contemporary fiction; murder; police; cops; award winning author; suspense novel; mystery books; john hart mystery; suspense books; edgar award winning author; new york times bestselling author; nyt bestselling author

Redemption Road A Novel John Hart Books Reviews

Another hard to put down police thriller, fast paced, never dull.

SYNOPSIS
The book opens with a police officer being investigated for killing two kidnappers while in the process of saving an 18 year old girl from days of horrible pain and torture. State police investigators feel something is not right with the story both Elizabeth (the police officer in question) and Channing (the kidnapping victim) are telling. Is there more to the story?

On top of that, a boy with a gun is seeking a man who has just been released from prison AND a body of a young woman has been found in a way that is reminiscent of an infamous previous crime. All this within a week in a smallish North Carolina town. Is it all somehow connected? Tensions grow and the plot thickens as Elizabeth tries to figure out what's going on while also protecting those who she loves.

WHAT I LOVED
Maybe there is something wrong with me but I love a good psychological thriller. This one has so many things I love about these books; complicated well developed characters, a creepy factor, lots of hidden agendas, several twists but not so many that it feels ridiculous. Loved all that.

I could relate to Elizabeth's instinct to protect children and loyalty to her friends.

The book was written with the exact amount of detail I need. I don't think thrillers play well with over blown descriptive phrases and I do not like it when the violence is described in every painful detail. John Hart gave me enough detail so I could picture the town, characters, action and understand the characters motivations without sounding like someone showing off their freshman comp 101 writing skills.

WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
I tend not to love a 'falsely accused cop' story. I don't have a good reason other than personal preference.

There were times when Elizabeth annoyed me, often running off without thinking, you would think that as a police officer she would use more logic and be more aware of potential danger.

OVERALL
Good book. I'm going to look for other John Hart books and put them on my reading list.
It may have taken John Hart five years to write his latest novel, but it was well worth the wait. A beautiful wordsmith and creative genius, Hart’s works are exceptional amongst the average mystery thrillers available on the market. All of his books stand out, but Redemption Road is a masterpiece.

Former consummate police officer Adrian Wall is released after doing thirteen years hard time for a violent crime he swears he did not commit. The victim’s son, Gideon, wants revenge against Wall. Detective Elizabeth Black has been obsessed with Wall since the day he saved her life and believes him to be innocent. However, a police shooting has placed her in the center of an investigation and, for some reason, she’s not cooperating. Channing, the rape victim Black saved during the shooting, suffers from PTSD and shares an unknown connection with the detective. And a killer, quiet over these last few years, has returned, leaving the body of a young woman where Adrian Wall’s victim was found thirteen years ago.

The story revolves around these main characters and they drive the narrative as they seek their own form of closure, of revenge, of redemption. And complicating their hope for absolution are the repercussions of choice. Each has made a choice, for good or for bad, that has affected their lives and the lives of those around them. Every character in the book, minor ones included, must live with the fallout of their choices. So many times the reader can feel the pain as some characters recognize and think “if only…”

And Redemption Road is not a straightforward whodunit murder mystery, there are more secrets and puzzles for the reader to discover and solve. The author has presented the readers with a magnificent gift that is complex and multilayered and a thrill to unravel. Some answers are easily discovered while others rival the country roads that surround this North Carolina town, full of twists and surprises and unexpected detours. Red herrings are tossed into the mix and, to complicate things even further, some turn out to be truths.

The characters are flawed and frail and tragically human. While Adrian may be broken and Channing desperate and Gideon heartbreaking, Elizabeth is the star of the book. Her deep, dark strength and compassion bring this woman to life. She sacrifices her love, her sanity, and her sympathy for the people in her life, whether they are deserving of it or not. She suffers for children such as Channing and Gideon. She commendably forgives those that merit her hatred. Truly, an amazing woman.

While choices are what brought all these people to whatever anger or greed or insanity or lies or heartbreak or desperation now ruling their lives, they will all stand at the crossroads that lead to redemption, or oblivion. All will be given a second chance. The choice is theirs.
I have liked all of John Hart's previous books and looked forward to this novel, but I was hugely disappointed in Redemption Road. I did not care for the female protagonist. She was both unlikable and unbelievable. I had a hard time accepting that the character would actual do some of the things she did if she were such a well-thought of police officer. In addition, the resolution of the story was ridiculous. Actually, some of the major events were ridiculous, too, and the revelation of the murderer made me laugh. Really? This book is not a good example of John Hart's work. In fact, it's hard to believe he wrote it. But since he has produced very good novels in the past, I await his next offering.
I have long been an admirer of John Hart, finding him to be one of the better wordsmiths out there whose powerful descriptive writing style reminds me a lot of Pat Conroy (RIP) one of my favorite authors. Interesting to trip over an essay by Hart on where he describes how Conroy's comment regarding geography being both his "wound" and his "anchor" inspires much of his writing. At any rate, the powerful writing does infuse this novel. The problem I had with it is it is a bit too dark and dense. Each character has suffered mightily, both physically and mentally and it gets a bit wearisome. Actions tend to stretch credibility in places. These are very damaged folks. Characters seem to operate at the extremes with few of the normal combinations one finds in "real" life. Despite the seriousness of the incidents, a lighter touch would have been welcome at times. Definitely not a book for the squeamish, but powerful if you can handle it.