A review by marshaskrypuch
Iron House by John Hart

5.0

John Hart stands head and shoulders over other thriller writers for his lean and evocative writing and his richly nuanced characters. A very satisfying read.

Iron House is about brothers who grow up in Iron House, an orphanage out of Lord of the Flies.

Julian, the younger brother, is weak both physically and emotionally and is thus a magnet for brutality. His brother Michael will do anything to protect him. The boys are separated when Michael shoulders the blame for a just murder committed by Julian. Michael runs away and Julian is adopted by a billionaire senator and his wife. Over the years he achieves fragile health and happiness.

Michael grows up on the street and ultimately becomes the protege and killer for a kingpin mobster. When the mobster dies, Michael tries to turn his life around but it isn't that easy. The mobster now in charge sees Michael as a valuable asset and is willing to do anything to keep his loyalty. He threatens to kill Elena, Michael's pregnant fiancee, and he says that he will kill Julian as well.

Michael hasn't seen his brother since that fateful night when he ran away from the orphanage. Now he has to find his brother and make sure that he's safe. But he also has to protect Elena.

The story unfolds with page-turning complexity and will keep you on the edge of your seat.