The Hit

Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This One!
Review: "The Hit" is one of those books you just can't put down. Hoar doesn't give you time to get comfortable - he just pulls you right in and starts the motor! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

I think that what gives this book its legs is that Jere Hoar is a kind of writer that doesn't come along very often. He doesn't just write the story -- he tells it to you. This book speaks to you as if Hoar were reading it to you himself. If you are familiar with his first collection of stories, "Body Parts", then you know what I'm talking about. (Another great, dark offering from Hoar, BTW)

If you still need more encouragement to buy this book, take a look at his review and interview (the interview is fantastic!) at USA Today online from April 16, 2003. Every review I've read about this book is over the top. And, if John Grisham, who pumps out bestsellers and box office hits, "wishes" he wrote it himself? Wow.

Rating:
Summary: strong Mississippi Noir
Review: Before Nam and wealthy Tom Morris, Kinnerly was Luke Carr's beloved. After Nam and her marriage to Morris, Kinnerly remains his passion upon his return to the back woods of Mississippi. However, though they share illicit moments she claims only occurs when he desires sexual release. Luke knows all he has in the world is his bow and arrow and Adel the bird dog.

Before Kinnerly reentered his life, Luke decided that Morris owes him for stealing her so he plans reparations by taking the wealthy man's art collection. However, his perfect crime fails to consider his need for Kinnerly, who claims abuse; nor the call for him, the Iceman, to perform a hit no different than the confirmed nineteen he killed as an LBJ grunt in Nam. However, the simple hit turns into a series of twisted fiascos as Luke struggles to hide the crime with more crimes.

This Mississippi Noir could easily star McMurray and Stanwick as readers will enjoy the classic relationship between the disturbed vet and his femme fatale manipulator double crossing him. Through his first novel, Jere Hoar shows strong skills by writing an action-packed story line done in flashbacks using "notebooks" as chapters while Luke resides in a VA hospital driving his psychiatrist crazy. The cast is classic Noir and even the vividly descriptive rural setting feels right as this well written crime thriller should be a hit to sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Its a fast read; but better if you savor it like fine wine
Review: I couldn't get over the style...so crisp and sparse but wonderful: great word pictures. I could have finished the book in a couple of days but decided to savor it like fine wine. It moves fast and takes you along inside the mind of Luke Carr as he tries to make sense of his past(Vietnam) his present(an old love with Luke's number) and his future, which may or may not include money, love and escape from the law. The plot has several twists and all along the way the book is filled with interesting facts and bits of information from art to scent-tracking dogs. Reading the last page was like having a good friend leave town. I hope this isn't the last we hear of Luke...sign me up for the sequel! Reader in Ocean Springs