A review by kkilburn
Iron House by John Hart

3.0

I bought Iron House because John Hart completely bowled me over with his previous two novels, and I began the book expecting a mystery/thriller set in the south, rich with a sense of place, tightly plotted and paced, and beautifully written. Unfortunately, Iron House is not that book. It's a good mystery/thriller in many ways, and the writing is mostly as captivating as I remembered, but I agree with other reviewers who've pointed out that some of the major plot elements strain credulity and that the main character, Michael, is difficult to admire/respect/sympathize with. The ending dragged on far too long for my taste, and I felt some big issues were left hanging at the end. Finally, even though much of the action takes place in North Carolina, I never felt fully immersed in the setting the way I did in Hart's other books - possibly because much of the action takes place on a humongous estate rather than in a more modest setting.

That said, it's still a good read, especially if you like lots of action. On the other hand, if you like books that make characters out of landscapes and that are written with luscious prose - and still present page-turning mysteries - try Last Child or Down River.