The Whole Truth, and nothing but...
Written: Sep 03 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Exciting plot with interesting characters
Cons: Some disturbing parts
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended for intelligent writing and thoughtful plot.
|
|
|
| tuggy's Full Review: Nancy Pickard - The Whole Truth |
The Whole Truth by Nancy Picard sat on my toberead pile for quite a few weeks before I finally picked it up to read. The book is the first in a new series by Picard, and shows a real change in direction from her "Jenny Cain" series. That series leans towards cozy, and this new series is much darker.
When I finally read The Whole Truth I was stunned by just how good it is. It's a totally engrossing thriller, with a clever plot and well-conceived characters. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
Marie Lightfoot is a famous true crime writer who is covering the trial of Raymond Raintree, who is accused of murdering a small child, the deaf Natalie Mae McCullen. Marie is writing a book about Raintree, and is looking for the details that will make the book come alive for readers.
The setting of the book is Bahia Beach, Florida, and the brutal murder and much of the action take place on the canals of the city. Bahia Beach plays the role of a character in this novel.
At the end of Raintree's trial, he escapes from custody in a particularly brutal manner, and the manhunt begins. Nothing is known about Raintree...he has no past at all on record. It seems as if he simply appeared in the area 2 years ago. Marie goes searching for both Raintree, whom she previously interviewed for her book, and for more details about his life.
Then, she receives a call from a small town in Kansas. A young boy was kidnapped 20 years ago, and his mother has never given up hope that he will return to them some day. This family is fascinating in their grief and their ways of coping. Marie is able to prove to them that Raintree is their kidnapped son, and together they solve some of the mystery of his disappearance. The mother only wants to see her son one more time, and understands that he is evil because of the abuse he suffered at the hands of the kidnapper. I'm not going to tell you the identity of that villain because that would spoil the story for you.
We get to know the characters quite well by their actions and words. Marie is especially well-written, as is the complex Raymond. As we hear more of his story, we understand his motivations and have a little sympathy for him.
A sub-plot involving Marie in a romance with the prosecuting attorney adds spice and interest to the story. Marie and the attorney discuss the case from different angles, and force us to think deeply about some issues.
Also, some of Marie's dark past is hinted about, and not resolved in this book. I got the impression this topic will be revisited in subsequent books.
This is a tale that explores the nature of evil, and the depths to which humans can reach. It's a tragic story, but with a large dose of justice in the end.
There are some unpleasant details in the book, and it's not a good read for a sensitive type of person.
The book is written in alternating chapters. First a chapter dealing with the plot, and then a chapter from the book that Marie Lightfoot is writing. This technique works surprisingly well and makes for a good read.
I simply can't tell you how very much I enjoyed this book. It's not my usual type of mystery but I was totally enthralled by the plot and the characters.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys an intelligent, hard-boiled mystery.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tuggy
|
|
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Reviews written: 64
Trusted by: 64 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.