Scan barcode
A review by billymac1962
The King of Lies by John Hart
4.0
You know what's refreshing about John Hart? He's got three novels out now and there are no recurring characters. The standalone crime novel. What a concept.
I was really in the mood for a good legal thriller. I had read a very positive review a while back for his Down River, I think it was, and it had mentioned The King of Lies has his impressive debut.
So, naturally, I like to hit a guy's debut effort first.
The King of Lies is not without flaws. There were a few passages where I found some of the sentence structures a little awkward, but this didn't happen very often (and it could have been just me). Also, there was much self-analysis of the lead character that seemed a little forced, but I probably wouldn't even bring that up if not for Greg Iles having shown how it's done brilliantly in works like Mortal Fear and The Quiet Game.
But!
I couldn't put this book down.
John Hart can sure pull you through a mystery that has you burning through pages as quickly as you can. There are so many unknowns from the beginning of the story, and these are revealed a little at a time. Very well done.
(I must say, though, that I was right early on as to who the killer was. I'm never that smart.)
His pacing and story construction is perfect, and the setting of North
Carolina with its old money society seemed genuine. The great news
is that it seems he has gotten more polished with his next two novels. I will definitely read more of him.
I was really in the mood for a good legal thriller. I had read a very positive review a while back for his Down River, I think it was, and it had mentioned The King of Lies has his impressive debut.
So, naturally, I like to hit a guy's debut effort first.
The King of Lies is not without flaws. There were a few passages where I found some of the sentence structures a little awkward, but this didn't happen very often (and it could have been just me). Also, there was much self-analysis of the lead character that seemed a little forced, but I probably wouldn't even bring that up if not for Greg Iles having shown how it's done brilliantly in works like Mortal Fear and The Quiet Game.
But!
I couldn't put this book down.
John Hart can sure pull you through a mystery that has you burning through pages as quickly as you can. There are so many unknowns from the beginning of the story, and these are revealed a little at a time. Very well done.
(I must say, though, that I was right early on as to who the killer was. I'm never that smart.)
His pacing and story construction is perfect, and the setting of North
Carolina with its old money society seemed genuine. The great news
is that it seems he has gotten more polished with his next two novels. I will definitely read more of him.