Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Publisher: St. Martin’s
Release Date: January 2001
ISBN: 0312974922
Awards:  
Format Reviewed: Paperback
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Genre:   Mystery/Thriller
Reviewed: 2004
Reviewer: Dennis Collins
Reviewer Notes:  
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Rough Draft
By James W. Hall

    Hannah Keller is an ex-Miami cop, making her way now as a mystery novelist. A large part of her life is dedicated to helping her young son cope with the tragedy and trauma of discovering the bodies of his murdered grandparents: Hannah’s mother and father. Five years has passed since that painful day, and now Hannah finds a cryptic message that reopens all the wounds and threatens the safety of her family once again.

     She enlists the aid of Frank Sheffield, a somewhat unconventional FBI agent, to help her solve the riddle. Together they uncover some disturbing evidence that seems to suggest that Hannah and her son are being used as bait to lure in a vicious killer.

      Hal, the assassin, is an all-too-evil villain. His method of murder takes carnage to the extreme. At first I found it a bit of a stretch to even try to picture the scene of the murders, but there was no doubt that that man was monstrous enough to send chills up your spine.

      Author James Hall skillfully uses this suspense to capture the reader and hold him until the story is told. The face of the killer is vivid and terrifying, yet he has a human side, keeping the reader guessing what his next move might be.

      In spite of a generous portion of gory details, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and immediately went looking for a follow-up novel. This is not a book for the squeamish, but if you like drama and enjoy reading fast-paced adventure, Rough Draft should serve to keep you awake for a few nights.