A Time to Kill

Amazon.com

This addictive tale of a young lawyer defending a black Vietnam war hero who kills the white druggies who raped his child in tiny Clanton, Mississippi, is John Grisham's first novel, and his favorite of his first six. He polished it for three years and every detail shines like pebbles at the bottom of a swift, sunlit stream. Grisham is a born legal storyteller and his dialogue is pitch perfect.

The plot turns with jeweled precision. Carl Lee Hailey gets an M-16 from the Chicago hoodlum he'd saved at Da Nang, wastes the rapists on the courthouse steps, then turns to attorney Jake Brigance, who needs a conspicuous win to boost his career. Folks want to give Carl Lee a second medal, but how can they ignore premeditated execution? The town is split, revealing its social structure. Blacks note that a white man shooting a black rapist would be acquitted; the KKK starts a new Clanton chapter; the NAACP, the ambitious local reverend, a snobby, Harvard-infested big local firm, and others try to outmaneuver Jake and his brilliant, disbarred drunk of an ex-law partner. Jake hits the books and the bottle himself. Crosses burn, people die, crowds chant "Free Carl Lee!" and "Fry Carl Lee!" in the antiphony of America's classical tragedy. Because he's lived in Oxford, Mississippi, Grisham gets compared to Faulkner, but he's really got the lean style and fierce folk moralism of John Steinbeck. --Tim Appelo

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

With a chillingly calm, even delivery, Michael Beck, a regular Grisham reader (The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury), turns the narrative of this disturbing tale of racism, ignorance, and brutality into an almost visceral experience. "Cobb strung a length of quarter inch ski rope over a limb ... he grabbed her and put the noose around her head." The story is frighteningly believable and expertly crafted around a horrible crime and the tragic consequences that follow. At times, Beck's character voices can be distracting, but his efforts are generally applied to good effect, adding another level of tension to this already suspenseful look at a small Mississippi town's struggle for justice. (Running time: 17 hours, 12 cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

Before The Firm and  The Pelican Brief made him a superstar,  John Grisham wrote this riveting story of  retribution and justice -- at last it's available in a  Doubleday hardcover edition. In this searing courtroom  drama, best-selling author John Grisham probes the  savage depths of racial violence...as he delivers  a compelling tale of uncertain justice in a small  southern town...Clanton, Mississippi.

The life of a ten-year-old girl is shattered by two  drunken and remorseless young man. The mostly  white town reacts with shock and horror at the inhuman  crime. Until her black father acquires an assault  rifle -- and takes justice into his own outraged  hands.

For ten days, as burning crosses  and the crack of sniper fire spread through the  streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as  young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save  his client's life...and then his own...

Customer Reviews:

Still One Of My Favorite Grisham Books.......2007-10-05

I am pretty sure I read this after I read The Firm and this one was more enojyable. Perhaps I was too cuaght up in the hype surrounding The Firm. This book somehow seemed more "real" and some of the plot turns in The Firm stuck me as too much of a strain, though it was a fun read.

I have all of John Grisham's books, and they are fun, but if I had to narrow the list down of which books of his I would recommend it would be this one and the list would also include The Client

Good Debut.......2007-09-16

I'm a John Grisham fan, and have read most of his novels. I think A TIME TO KILL is one of his best books, and a great courtroom drama.

The plot of A TIME TO KILL is straightforward. Jake Brigance is a young Mississippi lawyer who has been handed a case of a lifetime: defending a black man who has murdered the two rapists of his young daughter. Grisham covers the events leading up to the trial in depth, and provides an interesting look into the daily life of a small town in the deep South.

I can't say this is a perfect book, since the plot is a bit too unrealistic and melodramatic in spots. I also didn't find the main character entirely likable, since he seemed more interested in advancing his own career above everything else. I further found the character of Ellen, who magically shows up in the second half of the book to assist Brigance, to be silly and completely unnecessary to the story.

Still, the novel is highly entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. I read A TIME TO KILL in a few sittings, and enjoyed the experience a great deal. Along with THE FIRM, I would say this is the best book by Grisham.

A definite 10 out of 10 !!!!.......2007-09-07

John Grisham is one of my all-time favorite authors. I can't believe how good his first novel actually was. I've seen the movie a dozen times, but I'm just now getting to the book, which was way better, if that's possible. The plot is so controversial, it's a wonder no one's written this kind of story before. Great job.
--from the author of The Shadow God and Spiritual Sorrow.

A Thrilling legal Mystery that is a Real Page turner.......2007-07-30

This was my fourth novel by James Grisham that I have read and I certainly wasn't disappointed in this story. From the opening paragraph I was on the edge of my seat. The suspense was so thrilling that I couldn't bear to put it down. The author's fluid writing style makes for a comfortable read, and it is admittedly a page-turner. When he takes his subject matter seriously, he shines. The story is more gripping, and the characters have more depth. The reader can feel Tonya's pain and sympathize with Carl Lee's justifiable wrath. The trials that Jake Brigance undergoes to defend Carl Lee are dramatic and easy to understand. The different reactions of the citizens of Clanton; those that are for Carl Lee and those that are against him are described like only Mr. Grisham can. In summary, there are few authors that grab my attention and are able to create a wonderful spellbinding story and John Grisham is right up there are the top. It's a great story don't miss it.

Another legal mystery that will keep you guessing right up to the end is The Monopoly Factor by Robert L. Saunders. Mr. Saunders seems to realize that a real mystery built around real life experiences must end with a realistic ending with no loose strings. I am enthralled with Saunders smooth story telling writing style. This is a masterpiece mystery with a bit of romance that is worth of your attention. You won't be disappointed. So Long.

What a (Mediocre) Book!.......2007-07-28

Very few times in my life have I seen a movie and thought it better than the book it was based on. "A Time to Kill" is one of that select group.

I saw the movie a few months ago and was blown away. It was spectacular with courtroom drama, tension, and personal peril. It was the intersection of two very personal stories with the larger, national issue of race relations.

The book covered the same territory, but not nearly as well as the film. The writing was more wooden, the dialogue often forced, and the prose herky-jerky. But the story was really good. For a first effort, it's not bad, but I don't think it deserves the high consensus rating on Amazon.

We are introduced to the town of Clanton, Mississippi, which is to be the setting of many more Grisham novels. I like the town, and I like the people of Clanton, especially Teddy Rex Vonner, the scumbag divorce lawyer who is connected to every piece of gossip in the county. We also meet the straight-laced Jake Brigance who is a very likable and capable attorney charged with defending the man who murdered his daughter's rapists right in the courthouse in front of dozens of witnesses. The rest of the characters complement the story and help flesh it out fairly nicely. Overall, it's a pretty good book. In the hands of a better writer, it could have been a masterpiece.

Till Death Do Us Part (Unless I Kill You First): A Step-by-Step Guide for Resolving Marital Conflict

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Maximum help with conflict resolution!
Fight No More
Most Enjoyable Self Help Book
Self-help book that shows how to stop marital war

Till Death Do Us Part (Unless I Kill You First): A Step-by-Step Guide for Resolving Marital Conflict
Jamie Turndorf
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805061134

Book Description

A proven plan that breaks the conflict cycle, this book is "mandatory reading for every couple that wants to build lasting love"(John Bradshaw).

When fighting breaks out between a husband and wife, the husband's typical reaction is to withdraw, either emotionally or physically. When he does, his wife often becomes more frustrated and angry, which in turn causes the husband to withdraw even more. The fighting escalates with each subsequent outbreak. But it doesn't have to. During her fifteen years of clinical and laboratory research, couples therapist Jamie Turndorf, Ph.D., has developed a proven program that breaks the conflict cycle for ninety percent of the couples who use it. She advises couples to start with a series of cool-down steps and to move on to resolution exercises that will allow them to address difficult issues and subjects in a nonadversarial manner.

Filled with easy-to-follow advice and helpful anecdotes, Turndorf's book gives couples the advice they need to calm an emotional exchange before it becomes a fight. Till Death Do Us Part offers the path to peace that all fighting couples are looking for.

Customer Reviews:

Maximum help with conflict resolution!.......2000-06-28

I just finished devouring this book. Absolutely great stuff. This is the help I needed twenty years ago. Duh! Now I get it! My marriage of 30 years is over BUT maybe this can help me save a one year old relationship that has foundered due to my lack of "conflict resolution" skills. I'm going to re-read this book then do my best to apply what I've learned. (Then I'll read it again).

Fight No More.......2000-04-27

Most "professionals" try to make fighting acceptable in relationships and I think that is to justify their own weaknesses. This book makes a good case that fighting is indeed not healthy, but can cause massive destruction in a relationship. I've never met any couple who characterizes their relationships as "blissful" if they are frequent fighters. I admire Michael Webb, author of The RoMANtic's Guide. He is one of the few professionals who say fighting is harmful but he also gives wonderful ways to fill your relationship with love instead.

Most Enjoyable Self Help Book.......2000-03-25

This self help book is based on the theory that arguments lead to flight-fight behavior in men. Men then become withdrawn and removed. Dr. Turndorf provides suggestions to cool down the "climate" so that they can reapproach each other. This book is packed with humerous anecdotes and case examples. Its a fun read even if you don"t have marital conflict.

Self-help book that shows how to stop marital war.......2000-01-03

This self-help book centers on Dr. Turndoff's twelve-step method to resolve marital conflict before it turns ugly, abusive, and over. The author AKA Dr. Love bases her conflict resolution methodology on research that has led her to conclude, "fighting creates a chemical imbalance in men" that leads to more aggressive and negative behavior. This book provides ways to end or at least reduce the cycle of marital warfare that spirals into divorce, hatred, and often time's leads to physical and mental abuse.

Customer Reviews:

Not too bad, but hardly 5 star..........2006-06-26

Some of the other reviewers have said he is better than Clancy... not hardly. Tom Clancy got the details right, which Mark Joseph does not. He uses the term "chaff" to describe underwater decoys; chaff is an air burst of strips of tin foil, used to confuse radar. It would be useless underwater. Mark also uses the term "steer left 3 degrees", rather than the correct "left three degrees rudder". Also, for a crewman to have a compartment, albeit a small one, on an attack sub for his private use, is really comical; it wouldn't happen; space is too scarce on a sub. Every compartment is accounted for and used.
It's not a bad book, but not a 5-star book.

Good plot but somehow poor in submarine tactics.......2005-06-22

This book is surely a nice submarine thriller, with the story taking place in May 1968. Mark Joseph paints his characters with vivid colors and his dialogues are really enjoying but except for a few tips in submarine tactics, he didn't impress me so much. The use of passive and active sonars ("echo ranging" is the term used for the latter) was rather generally explained and the role of hiding behind or above thermal layers was not explored in depth. I think this book ranks lower than Patrick Robinson's "Nimitz Class" in terms of pure action, but it earns the fourth star for its very realistic finale.

A 5-Star Undersea Adventure!.......2001-02-03

I bought this entirely because of how much I enjoyed Mark Joseph's 'Typhoon' (also exceptional) and it seems as though I made the right choice. Anyone who enjoys a good submarine story and wants it to be as realistic as it gets--as well as incredibly entertaining--this novel certainly fills the bill. Tom Clancy can be credited for making submarine's popular, but he is by NO MEANS the king of the underwater adventure. There are a large variety of sub stories out there to read, but very few are actually any good (Michael DiMercurio is one of the great one's) but I can say in total honesty that 'To Kill The Potempkin' is as solid a techno-thriller as I have had the luxury to read.

This one took me by surprise by taking place at the very height of the Cold War in the 60's, when the art of submarine warfare was being written and re-written daily. The game of cat & mouse under the sea was as dramatic as ANY fictional story, and although this IS fiction, it reads almost like an on-sight account of what actually happened. America, while far superior in sub design and nuclear technology to the Russians, was behind in one crucial area: subs made out of titanium. It is SO expensive that the Navy never actually made use of it...but the Soviet's made many subs that could dive amazingly deep BECAUSE of their titanium hull-design. The undersea game of kill or be killed takes on a new dimension when a Russian sub is thought to have imploded after having gone too deep...but did she really go down...or did they 'fake it' by playing sound efx that only sounded like a sub breaking up at extreme depths--places that no U.S. sub could go...this is what we get to enjoy on this very exciting and realistic portrayal of naval life on a Skipjack class sub in the 60's. Mr. Joseph is to be commended by giving us a top-notch techno-thriller which succeeds on EVERY level. Simply wonderful. Highly Recommended.

Plutonium Pizza at the 100 fathom curve!.......2000-08-07

One of the truly great and underappreciated submarine thrillers, Potemkin gets it right where it counts. We have the ponderous nuclear submarines, their technology, the cat and mouse game of submarine warfare in the cold war, the tensions caused by the catastrophic power these machines can unleash and the tensions of the men who hold this power in check. But more importantly we also have the crew of the submarine USS Barracuda, a Skipjack class sub whose fate will come as no surprise to those well versed in the lore of cold-war submarines. Instead of creating various crew members as mindless cogs who run Barracuda, Joseph offers a range of the types who would have presumably served in the Navy in 1968 - fervent anti-communists to liberals (as liberal as the could be and still serve). Joseph's main character - Fogerty - isn't meant to be a hero - his flaws and lack of real direction outside the sonar suite make that impossible - but his drive, self-created political theory and unwillingness to follow rules elevate him over the heroic rule-breakers of other techno-thrillers. With Sorenson, a young sonar operator who hopes to be the best, Fogerty seeks to hunt down what may be a new class of Russian nuclear sub (the Alfa). The pairing also allows Joseph to create code-words that frame the tension of cold-war submarine warfare, phrases like "Cowboys and Cossacks" and "Plutonium Pizza". very convincing.

Truly outstanding.......2000-07-18

If you like Tom Clancy, you must read this book.

Book Description

In this white-knuckle ride, Kill Me First brings to the life the seductive, ever-shifting balance between good and evil, and our horrified yet mesmeric fascination with violent brutality.

A jolting thriller, it is the story of Merec and his victim, Sarah. A seemingly unstoppable terrorist and human killing machine, Merec has recruited, utilized, then exterminated countless personal murder squads. Unaffiliated with any known political or religious organization, he chooses his jobs for pleasure; he is a man who defies any conventional notion of what is human.

At Merec's command, all the elderly residents of the Willowridge Rest Home--save one--are massacred. He releases a detailed video of the slaughter to the media that is aired on national television. America is shocked by the carnage--and mesmerized. Merec enjoys playing a game with his victims, demonstrating the basest elements of human nature as he forces them to choose whether or not to save their own lives. One victim, Sarah, a younger woman recuperating from a car crash, confounds Merec's cynical expectations. She offers her life in exchange for another's. Fascinated by her refusal, Merec kidnaps Sarah to continue the game.

Videos of a captive and progressively beaten Sarah are released to the media, and Americans are outraged--and eager to watch. Inspired by her stoicism and bravery, a vigil in her honor isplanned at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral to be broadcast nationwide--an opportunity for which Merec has made his own arrangements to show off his hostage as never before. Unaware that she has become a national celebrity, Sarah discovers that living on the razor's edge has given her an unexpected purpose--and an illicit sense of freedom.

As the vigil at St. Patrick's looms closer, the FBI investigation--headed by an agent named Tresler, a man as enigmatic as his prey--begins to close in, and this twisted cat-and-mouse game accelerates toward an unforgettable end.

An intelligent thriller, this hypnotic portrait of a fiend and his victim will linger in the mind long after the last page has been turned.

Customer Reviews:

excellent, unexpected and untempted by cliches.......2007-08-20

this was a truly spectacular book, I am amazed to see it in mass market paperback and now out of print. This is certainly not a typical mass produced fun but forgetable thriller...It is absolutly careful and tight in every detail, Kate Morgenroth shows amazing control- complete intellectual genius free from the temptations of cliche and laziness, or any sort of moral indulgance. This is simply amazing.

A WOW of a read!.......2005-09-20

This is the type of book that grabs you and takes you for a heckofa ride! A young widow who gives up on life and puts herself in a senior citizens home - The bad guys come in to cause some terror, and she says "Kill me first" -
The characters are vivid and the climax of the book leaves you breathless!
One of the must reads for suspense/thriller fans!

Unusual, powerful, somewhat flawed.......2003-07-09

I agreed with many of the other reviewers, both positive and negative. This is an unusual book, and it is hard to tell if some of its characteristics are flaws or good aspects, such as the author's tendency to provide almost no description of places or characters.
In general, it is powerful and in many ways quite well written.
I do agree that there are some plausibility problems. The worst involve the CIA. The CIA is forbidden by law to operate in the United States. Now, obviously there are some gray areas here. (I was always annoyed when I went to scientific conferences and saw people who I knew worked for the CIA with badges that would say, "John Smith, Department of Defense". I thought they shoulnl'dt misrepresent themselves this way. On the other hand, its not hard to figure out who they are.) But no agent shows his CIA credentials to the local cops and expects to get anything. The local cops know the law. They're likely to call up the FBI and report them. Similarly, nobody with a federal ID goes to CIA headquarters and is allowed to roam the halls causually looking for someone. I've been to CIA headquarters, in the company of federal employees, some with very high security clearances, and we were very carefully escorted to where we had to go. Aside from being generally paranoid, the CIA is very suspicious of other government agencies--I've been in meetings with CIA and NSA people, and they fight like cats and dogs.

Gripping thriller with twists and turns in exquisite detail.......2002-07-07

I have to admit, I wasn't really expecting much from this book when I purchased it among others in a book store on a visit to Australia. Having recently read it, I was compelled to find out more about the author to see if there were any more books by her. Unfortunately, as of this writing there are none. The book itself grabs you by the throat with it's extreme accounts of numerous heinous acts by the main antagonist, Mercer. He is portrayed as an intelligent, cunning and quite disturbed man. When he runs across the other lead character, Sarah, he is caught offguard. She is not what he expected and the events that follow forever change him. The FBI agent advising the local police after one of the incidents in the story, Agent Tresler, leads a breathtaking chase after Mercer. Tresler gets well acquainted with Mercer and we discover that Tresler is quite good at what he does but the bureau was not his first aspiration. You will soon find out why he is able to fathom Mercer's actions and thoughts so accurately. He even predicts some of the events but without any hard evidence to back up his hunches, he doesn't get much backup. Mercer is unpredictable to a fault, but as the story unfolds you begin to understand him in subtle ways. The ending is a bit of a stunner, but you may find yourself cheering at the results or deeply disappointed, either way you will have difficulty putting this down once you start. I would emphasive, however, that this is not for the faint of heart as the unflinching portrayal of the events that transpire are quite jarring.

At last - a heroine my own age!.......2000-12-01

I finished this book almost at one sitting, and when I asked myself why I liked it, the first reason (perhaps not unexpectedly)was because Sarah is my age, still attractive and sexy (I try!) and reacts exactly as I hope I would should such an unlikely situation ever occur. So many of today's fiction heroines are feisty twenty somethings, but some of us out there older than that still have lives. It was interesting that the author's photo shows quite a young woman, and since this is her first novel, I wonder whether she had a role model in mind when she wrote this, or a hope for her own future. The plot is a little farfetched - it seems unlikely that even with the degree of ineptitude sometimes demonstrated by law enforcement agencies that someone with Merec's history would not have been apprehended by now. And also, given the way he treats his team, that anyone would want to join him. I agree with some reviewers that it has some elements of writing for a screenplay, but I didn't read it that way. More that it was fast paced, with good characterisation and a real need to turn the page.

First, Kill All the Lawyers: First, Kill All the Lawyers

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First, Kill All the Lawyers: First, Kill All the Lawyers
Sarah Shankman
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671748939

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Going to be a Great Movie
Life struggles come to life
Not the best book I ever read

Kill the Poor
Joel Rose
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0871132605

Customer Reviews:

Going to be a Great Movie.......2001-10-25

I just finished working on a feature film based on this novel. It was a great experience. After I read the script, I read the book. Both are powerful, emotional, truthful and moving. The movie is going to be a wonderful piece of work. The book already is.

Life struggles come to life.......2000-03-29

I really like this book. It's not like any other book I ever read. It is compelling all the way through. The title comes from a Dead Kennedy's song, and I didn't know what to expect when my friend gave it to me and said I had to read it, but it gets you into the struggle and lives of regular people on the lower edge of society who don't have much money or power or anything. It's up to the minute in that way, and political too, but what it really has that makes it special is that it has a rhythm in the writing that's almost like a song and makes you just keep reading and reading. It's really hard to put down. And there's such a wide array of crazy characters, both the heroes and villains, the author makes you see what they're up against, and how they fight each other, but it's really some one else they should be fighting. I think this is an important book. It's full of humor and insight, and it really makes you think.

Not the best book I ever read.......2000-03-27

Kill the Poor is not a bad read but it lacks any real impact. It is based around the adventures and conversations of folk in a particular neighbourhood, but not a lot happens and the characters are not well developed. I htink there are better books for your money.

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The good stuff just keeps coming.
Compelling storytelling
Very good debut!
A Marvelous Debut
Excellent First Novel

First Kill
Michael Kronenwetter
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312347375
Release Date: 2005-08-11

Book Description

First Kill is related through the mindand heartof Hank Berlin, a detective whose cases have not been more than relatively ordinarythe sort of thing one would expect in a small Wisconsin River town. The assignment he has now, however, not only involves the murder of his former best friend, reporter Jack Drucker, but the dead mans widow, Liz, whom Hank loved and lost. Pinery Falls is not a big city. Even so, Hank and Liz have not been in touch for over fifteen years; now Liz comes to Hank begging him to find her husbands killer. Hank is reluctant; he is caring for Harry, his six-year-old son, while his ex-wife is in Europe. But remembrances from the past lead him to agree. The logical place to start is Druckers work; was he about to spill some very dangerous beans? Its a good guess, but there are twists and turns in the story that put not only Hank but young Harry in peril.

Customer Reviews:

The good stuff just keeps coming........2006-10-23

Hank Berlin has come back to Pinery Falls, Wisconsin from Canada, where he went to escape Viet Nam. He's a P.I. now, one among several in this town. So he's a little shaken when his old high school flame, Liz Drucker, asks him to find out who killed her husband Jack, and why.

The trio were very close in high school, but parted ways in college, when Jack was gung-ho to go to Viet Nam and Hank chose not to. Liz had already made her choice by then, but used Hank as a sounding board when her life got rough. Hank hasn't spoken to Liz or to Jack in probably twenty years, but he has lots of memories.

Jack Drucker was killed on the side of the road, in his hot little Corvette. The neighbors either weren't home or didn't see anything. So Hank shifts his focus to Jack's career; Jack was the investigative reporter for the Pinery Falls Torrent, which is owned by his father, Wes Drucker.

Jack's recent stories have dealt with a variety of topics. There is the city council's voting division on some new development; corruption is hinted at but not directly addressed. There is the story on the son of a downstate Mob connection, and his relocation to the area. Why has Wes Drucker gagged the staff at the Torrent; the coverage of the case is minimal at best.

Kronenwetter is a skilled wordsmith. He manages to convey the interconnectedness of small-town life without getting cutesy. He lets the reader see Hank's qualms and trepidations without making Hank a lesser person. He bounces from the present to the past and back again without jolting the reader, as easily as we can slip in and out of our memories. His portrayal of Hank's personal life, and how that interacts with his professional life, underscores how real a person Hank becomes to the reader.

I found FIRST KILL to be a highly enjoyable book, both in the quality of the writing and in the story itself. I think we can expect to see good things from Kronenwetter in the future, and I look forward to that very much. I have only one beef with FIRST KILL, and I hope that this isn't a major spoiler. If you've read TONIGHT I SAID GOODBYE, the last chapters of FIRST KILL will seem familiar. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something that struck me as I was reading. Don't let it stop you from reading FIRST KILL. It will be time well spent.

Compelling storytelling.......2006-06-10

Private detective Hank Berlin is trying to be a good father when his high-school girlfriend approaches him. Her husband Jack, once Hank's best friend, has been murdered and the police are getting nowhere. Can he take the case?

Hank is conflicted. He still feels desire for Liz, and avoided both her and star reporter Jack ever since returning from Canada where he sought refuge during Viet Nam (Jack went). But he's gotten on with his life, has a girlfriend and a child. Still, he's drawn to the case.

His investigation begins with a look at a major construction project. Where there's construction and city funds, there is the possibility of corruption and one of Jack's recent articles pointed the finger at this project. Then there's the son of a Mafia kingpin living in the neighborhood--a man about whom Jack had recently written an article. Whatever might have motivated the killer, Jack had told his drinking buddy that he was working on a story that would bring down the town's elite--and that certainly provides a motive.

Author Michael Kronenwetter has created a compelling and powerful mystery in FIRST KILL. Private eye Hank comes alive as a father, detective, ex-draft dodger, and drinker. His investigation turns up the usual lot of red herrings, with a sweet twist at the end, but Kronenwetter's story is more about the people, about relationships, about growth and change than it is about a straight murder.

I am happy to recommend FIRST KILL and will certainly be looking for more novels by Kronenwetter.

Very good debut!.......2006-02-01

Hank isn't your stereotypical PI; he's a normal guy trying to do his best with his business, son and life. Even Harry, Hank's six-year-old son seemed realistic. The plot was interesting, took some great twists. I did not see the end coming and was reminded a bit of Lehane. The events and impact of Vietnam was effective yet didn't overwhelm the story. This is a very enjoyable debut and I look forward to Kronenwetter's next book.

A Marvelous Debut.......2006-01-17

This is the novel that won the 2004 PWA/SMP Best Private Eye Novel contest. I'm not surprised it won.

Michael Kronenwetter has done a great job on this book. The plot is briskly paced, and there are enough twists in the story to keep the reader on edge. I really liked the protagonist in the book -- he's not a macho superhuman type, but he's not a dysfunctional wimp either. He's just a normal, realistic human being. This makes him, in my book, the most likable PI I've seen in a long time. I hope for more books featuring this character.

This book, for whatever reason, has largely been ignored by the mainstream press. I think it's easily one of the best mystery debuts in 2005 and I hope that it's nominated for an Edgar and a Shamus award for best first novel. It's that good.

Excellent First Novel.......2006-01-06

Michael Kronenwetter's first novel left me hoping for a second novel. And I really don't read much fiction. I just read it in about 4 sittings over the holidays. It moves fast and actually got me to turn off my TV.

Hank Berlin is a terrific "unlikely hero" character with which we can all identify. He is the ordinary man confronting extraordinary circumstances, but in a believable way. He's a gutsy, hard-working detective, but also more than that. He's struggling to be a good father, struggling to make sense of a failed marriage, and really looking forward to his next beer.

I'm from northcentral Wisconsin, and I can also add that Kronenwetter's depiction of the fictional "Pinery Falls" is dead-on authentic without ever descending into caricature. "First Kill" is not set in a desolate countryside or a metropolis, but in a typical American small city struggling to save its old downtown. It's the type of setting that's perfect for Berlin--he can find anyone in town within a few minutes, but can also go unnoticed thanks to his ordinary looks and his unremarkable Nissan Sentra.

The novel's Vietnam subtext makes it especially thought-provoking. Kronenwetter doesn't engage in a political discussion about Vietnam. Instead, he explores how the Vietnam era forever changed those who lived through it. Whether you experienced those years or not, "First Kill" will illuminate for you the many ways in which Vietnam still affects American communities.

Can't wait for the next installment!

The First Thing is Kill all of the Lawyers

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The First Thing is Kill all of the Lawyers
Jeffrey Morrison
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Family Health | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 142593630X

Book Description

When the town of Savannah, Georgia was founded, the town banned all lawyers. Unfortunately, the cancerous growth known as lawyers are allowed all through our country, even in Savannah. When a the corrupt system conspires to keep a honest young lawyer from success through the conventional means, one must resort by the unconventional and often amusing means. This book documents the true adventures of such unconventional means and allows a revelation of the corrupt system. From these teaches how to navigate through the legal system and describes the true motive of those who wish to remove lawyers from our society.

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