The Lonely Mile

by Allan Leverone

When struggling hardware store owner Bill Ferguson witnesses a kidnapping in progress, he reacts instinctively, breaking up the crime and saving a young girl. But the kidnapper, a sociopath known as the “I-90 Killer,” escapes and vows revenge, targeting Ferguson’s own daughter as his next victim. Now one terrified father must unravel a plot that may go much deeper than he realizes, racing against time to save his only child from an unthinkable fate.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Book Club

308 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2011

About the author

Allan Leverone is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nine novels, including the dark thriller, MR. MIDNIGHT, named by Suspense Magazine as one of the "Best Books of 2013."

A 2012 Derringer Award winner and 2011 Pushcart Prize nominee, Allan lives in Londonderry, NH with his wife of more than thirty years, three grown children and one beautiful granddaughter.

Connect at www.allanleverone.com, at Facebook and on Twitter, @AllanLeverone.

Reviews

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't put this book or Kindle down.

Make sure you don't have anything to do, because this story will grab you from the beginning. Bill Ferguson is father of seventeen years old smart and strong daughter. His name is in the news, after stopping the kidnapping. Kidnapper was known as I-90 serial killer. FBI agent in charge of the investigation is Angela Canfield, she is very good and helping Bill. Human trafficking, sex, money to retire very comfortable is the behind these sociopaths. Ending was shocking, didn't expect that.

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not having read that many crime thriller novels recently, I was excited to read The Lonely Mile in anticipation of the new season of CSI. While my standards are not that high in this genre, I was floored by the great writing of this story and almost felt guilty that I had such low expectations. There were parts that I didn’t really understand, until it hit me like a ton of bricks in the conclusion of the story. My biggest complaint in many of the suspense/thriller novels is that they seem predictable, or have another agenda, and the Lonely Mile had neither, just a strong plot, with characters so well written that the I got goose bumps at times thinking how creepy they were, as if I had passed them on the street then crossed it because I was so uncomfortable. There is nothing that seems cliché in this story, and while the subjects of kidnapping and possibly murdering young girls isn’t light reading, the quality of the writing makes the reader press on, and make sure that things come out as they should. At $2.99 on Amazon Kindle, this book is a steal for anyone that is a fan of a good crime thriller.

Reviewed by Gabi for Book Sake.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic edge of your seat thriller! Very well written. Really enjoyed this one, my first by Allan Leverone. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Ciclochick · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Walk on by’ would have been a good mantra for Bill Ferguson. A short stopover at a travellers’ plaza earmarks the beginning of a terrifying ordeal for Bill when he fudges a kidnap attempt by a serial killer, one who’s been on the police radar for over three years. Not a man to be crossed…ever…the killer exacts his revenge on Bill, the man who so very inconsiderately scotched his well-laid plans, in the most dreaded way any parent could imagine: he kidnaps Bill’s own daughter, Carli. Bill forges ahead with his own dramatic search for his daughter before she suffers at the hands of the sociopathic killer; after all, there’s the slightest hint of reticence on the part of the detective on the case. Odd, that... But when he finally catches up with this evil man, he discovers that the killer is but a small cog in a much, much greater atrocity.

This was an excellent thriller that grabs you from page one. The chilling depiction of a serial killer plus the desperation of a father searching for his only daughter equals drama of nail-biting proportions. Brilliantly executed, well written with strong, solid, well-developed characters.

This one’s hard to put down, I warn you! Highly recommended.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unpredictable series of events are trigger when hardware store owner, Bill Ferguson, interferes with the kidnapping of a teenage girl from a local highway rest stop.  The would be kidnaper turns out to be an elusive serial killer/kidnaper who has been eluding the FBI for nearly three years.
When Ferguson prevents the abduction, he puts himself and his family in the crosshairs of the deadly fugitive.  From there the story takes off as an FBI manhunt spares no manpower in the search for the famed “I-90 Killer.”  But it's the direction the story takes after this that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Folks squeamish to child violence might be sensitive to parts of this book.  That said, the author has done a masterful job of navigating a very delicate line.  Both with his prose, and with the plot.  This is a story about a sadistic kidnaper and killer but it's also the story of a hero and a man willing to do absolutely anything to protect his family.  So those sensitive should be warned but they should not dismiss this book outright.  This is one of those visceral  empowering storys of good vesus evil but it's one you can have confidence in the outcome.  This is worth your time.  The resulting anxiety is well developed and properly rewarded.  It's the sort of writing that makes for a successful thriller, and that is exactly what Allan Leverone has done.
The plot takes some unexpected and very interesting twists.  All of which lead to a very rewarding ending that is difficult to anticipate.  That said, once you reach the end of the book you will see that there were hints at the final outcome scattered along the way.  They were there, just cleverly hidden... as they should be.
The Lonely Mile is a riveting thriller and a great summer read.

[Angelique Jurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Lonely Mile

Author: Allan Leverone

Format: Kindle Edition

Publisher: StoneHouse Ink; 1 edition (July 18, 2011)

ASIN: B005DAX06I


A thriller in the style of The Silence of the Lambs, The Lonely Mile is a well written and gripping story of a battle between a serial killer and the father of his latest victim.
Leverone's style is not unlike that of Thomas Harris and the killer's point of view is given as much air time as that of the victim. The combination makes for a very unnerving read and the urge to keep going until the end - regardless of what horrors may lay in store.
The character's in The Lonely Mile are well drawn for the main part - my only complaint would be the victim comes over a teensy bit cliched in her girl next door persona, but it's not so pronounced that it intrudes on the quality of the story as a whole.
The plot is strong with a sharp twist that is neatly delivered and believable.
I did find the end a little drawn out - but that should not be taken too personally,since I am a reader who once the climax of the story has been reached is often quite happy to leave things as they are.
If you're looking for a good, solid read that will draw you in and hold you all the way through the story, you can't go past The Lonely Mile.
Originally written for The Kindle Book Review

[Nicole Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of the best I've read this year. Once again, I took a chance and stepped out of my comfort zone of genres and delved into a thriller/mystery. I'm so glad I did!

I must admit that some parts of the books were predictable, but the twist near the end threw me for a loop. I never saw it coming! Leverone really brings his characters to life in the story. I could picture each one in my mind - not because they were overly described, but because (for the most part) I felt as if I knew them. There are no cliched super heroes or drama queens that whine so much you wish the bad guy would go ahead and kill them. Nope, just regular, everyday people like you and me. The plot didn't move to fast or slow for me and the action was intense and thrilling.

I look forward to reading more from Allan Leverone and will definitely add him to my "Must Read" list!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really understand why this book received such high reviews. Yes, it was fast-paced, thrilling and entertaining, but overall I thought it was average at best. The writing was far from exceptional (one of the conversations at the end of the book sounded like it was pulled out of a scripted PSA), and the plot was a bit far-fetched and predictable. Normally, I'm pretty dumb when it comes to figuring out what's next, but I was able to figure out the "twist" in this book well before it actually happened.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book twice, both times, thinking I would just read a little. I read half the book each time. The book started out fast paced, engaged the reader and kept that pace throughout the novel. It is the kind of book that you just have to see how it turns out.

I loved the alternating characters, I especially think he did a nice job with the serial killer.

Overall, a great, quick-paced thriller.

[Phil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got this book for free. Reading it was a waste of my time. I kept thinking, 'Wow, this would be a great book for someone learning to improve their reading speed by skimming.' Because skimming is about all I did. The book started with possibilities and then turned into endless non-action devoid of suspense. Then it ended predictably. Nothing there for me.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I've read by this author and was not disappointed. A father spoils a kidnapping and to pay him back, the psychopathic, murderous, creepy perp kidnaps his daughter and plans to follow through, as with all his other kidnap victims, by giving her to slave traders. It's a fast-paced story with well developed characters with a surprise ending.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. The characters were well developed and the plot kept me interested throughout. I really liked the suprise twist at the end. The book was shorter than most, but it packed a great plot in those pages. I would definitely be inclined to read other books by this author.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lonely Mile by Allan Leverone is an emotionally gripping story that takes a father's love for his daughter to the very brink of its limits. Several times during this book I wanted to hug my teenage daughter just to reassure myself she was safe.

[Norma Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Extremely fast paced! Edge of my seat! I did not see the end to this one! I was genuinely surprised! Great book :). Can't wait to read more by this author!

[Linda Olin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed Allan Leverone's Traci Tanner and Paskagankee series, as well as some of his stand-alone stories. The Lonely Mile, which I received as a gift, is one of the stand-alone books. It was written before Leverone hit his full stride as a suspense author, so the plot is not as sophisticated and the writing not as tight as his more recent stuff.
But his distinctive style is here. He writes each character's thoughts with a naturalness and personality few authors can match. He gives us an excellently creepy predator in a well-drawn, scarily familiar setting (hey, I've been one of those "sheep" using the restroom and buying coffee in the Mass Pike travel plazas, many times!). And he expertly rotates between multiple points of view to build the suspense.
Some reviewers have complained that the romance element and the brief flashbacks were cliched and predictable. I thought that too, until I got to the end and discovered how cleverly the author had used my assumptions to misdirect me.
Bottom line: 5 stars for delivering a story that kept me turning page after page to a satisfying ending.

[Glenn LaRue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

Besides beng excellent thriller, the novel explores the dark world of kidnapping young grils for sale. Gripping story and one the reader will not soon forget. Highly recommended!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I was able to make some predictions and there seemed to be lots of repetitive conversations and thoughts, I overlooked that and enjoyed the book.

Bill and his ex-wife seemed like real life parents. I totally understood their characters.

[Ms. Shin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

Interesting from beginning to end. There were some parts that I was literally just rolling my eyes 🙄 but I don't like spoilers, so I won't say. However, the book was worth the read. I'll definitely read some more by this author.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent thriller , hard to put down and keeps you on the edge of your seat .

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish this as the synopsis sounded great, but fell short for me.

[Siesta · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Donna Fugate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleverly written

This book held my attention with a solid fast paced story that was thrilling as promised! I highly recommend it.

[Elizabeth A.]

If you had a chance to save someone’s life, to be a hero, would you do it even if you knew your actions would have disastrous consequences for your own family? Or could you knowingly allow a horrific fate to befall a young woman without doing anything to intervene?

Bill Ferguson didn’t have time to consider the answer to that question before his hand was forced and he made a decision that drastically altered the lives of two young women, one of them his own daughter.

While sitting in a rest stop along I-90 on one of his runs between the hardware shops he owns, Ferguson notices an abduction in process. Unfortunately, he’s the only one who appears to realize what’s happening. Acting on adrenaline and instinct, Ferguson pulls the gun he’s licensed to carry on the would-be kidnapper, forcing him to abandon the abduction.

The young woman is saved, Ferguson’s a hero, and all’s right with the world. Right? Wrong.

Turns out the abduction Ferguson interrupted was the work of the infamous I-90 serial killer, and he’s not pleased that Ferguson interfered with his carefully laid plan. Feeling that Ferguson owes him for having cost him the chance to abduct his chosen “companion,” Krall decides to get even with Ferguson by taking his daughter as a replacement.

While that setup may sound like a typical serial killer thriller, author Allan Leverone has added enough to the premise to make The Lonely Mile stand out. Most notably, Leverone absolutely nails the main players. The story is told through the alternating perspectives of Ferguson, his daughter, and the I-90 killer, and each is utterly believable, never slipping into the type of caricature you often find in the genre.

Though a veteran of the war in Iraq, Ferguson is no Rambo. Early on he makes the conscious decision not to chase the would-be kidnapper when he flees the scene, and willingly cooperates with the FBI in their ongoing investigation into the I-90 serial killer. Even when his daughter is first threatened by the killer, Ferguson still places his trust in the authorities to handle the situation. It is only after his daughter is taken that Ferguson feels compelled to get directly involved.

For her part, Ferguson’s daughter, Carli, is neither damsel in distress nor karate chopping femme fatale. Instead, Leverone strikes a nice balance with the character, allowing her to be both terrified and tough, distraught and determined. Her actions, driven by her unshakable belief her father will come for her, are heartbreakingly believable.

Even the I-90 killer, Martin Krall, is fleshed out beyond just the cardboard boogeyman. Though his actions are outwardly reprehensible, by telling a portion of the story from Krall’s perspective Leverone allows the reader a glimpse inside Krall’s head and a chance to understand the thought process which drives him. It’s neither pretty nor rational, but it makes for a much more interesting bad guy. Indeed, interesting and engaging from start to finish, The Lonely Mile is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you came upon a situation where a teenage girl was being kidnapped? Would you do something to stop it from happening? What if the psycho who you stopped now sought revenge by kidnapping your own teenage daughter, would you sit passively by while the police and FBI conducted their investigation and search? Put yourself in Bill Ferguson's shoes ...

The Lonely Mile is a story about an average businessman named Bill Ferguson, who while at a highway rest area, saw an attempted kidnapping of a teenage girl in progress. None of the other travelers saw what was happening, so Bill takes it upon himself and takes action in order to stop the kidnapping from happening. Bill was successful in his actions, but the would be kidnapper escaped, and there was one major ramification ... the psycho that he just thwarted was the famed "I-90 Killer" who has been kidnapping young women for the past three and half years, and he wants revenge from the busybody who thwarted his attempt at getting his next girl. The "I-90 Killer" plots out his revenge and is successful, Bill's 17 year-old daughter Carli has been kidnapped! What happens next is a father's journey to get his daughter back, at any cost!

The Lonely Mile is the ultimate in a mystery thriller book, the author transports the reader into the story, you will feel like you are right there alongside Bill, Carli and the I-90 Killer. This book is very rich in detail, just close your eyes and you can see the scenes as the author has described them throughout the book. From the very first pages this story drew me in, it grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go until the very surprising and climatic ending. The storyline is very well written, the vivid details are amazing, the characters and dialogue are believable, and most of all the story will just plain hold you captive until the end. There is not one negative thing that I have to say about this book, it was just that good.

In writing The Lonely Mile, the author has given mystery thriller fans one hell of a roller coaster ride .... there is nothing better than a gripping suspense story that has the reader begging for more!


RATING: 5 STARS *****


Disclaimer: At the request of the author, a Kindle e-book edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.


Blog Tour Event: On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Allan Leverone participated in an author blog tour event, as an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews. http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...


http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Max Read · Rating 1 out of 5]

“A not so thrilling – thriller”

“The Lonely Mile” was written by Allan Leverone. Mr. Leverone is employed as an air traffic controller assigned to Logan International in Boston, Massachusetts and lives in Londonderry, New Hampshire with his wife and three children.

This fiction novel genre is that of psychological thriller. The writing style is straight forward using a non-complex structure with anonymous narration. Characters and scenes are sparsely developed and contribute to the fast action pace of the plot. The writing is generally acceptable.

The theme of the novel revolves around a psychopath, Martin Krall that has been kidnapping innocent young females at various locations along the interstate highway in western Massachusetts. He is known as the I-90 killer. Martin Krall has been operating successfully for several years and so far has avoided apprehension, due in part to his particularly sharp intellect – until one day Bill Ferguson, a hardware store owner having a coffee at a rest stop, sees the action going down and draws his concealed weapon.

The novel is a fast paced one having continuous action up to its conclusion. Unfortunately all the twists and turns are clearly telegraphed to the reader leaving little to the imagination. Thankfully, the author did not resort to graphic details of the fate of the psychopaths victims – it would have been obviously gratuitous. The tale also seems to contain a glaring contradiction involving the way in which Martin Krall is discovered. A great deal of text is devoted to explaining how Krall has avoided apprehension because he is smart and cautious only to have him succumb to a plainly incomprehensibly stupid action. The character of Bill Ferguson is thin and he comes across as somewhat of a dolt, getting into situations that would be clearly avoided by any other rational being. I was surprised he didn’t shoot himself in the foot with his own gun!
Overall I thought the composition was pedestrian, it lacked energy. The outcome was perceived before it happened and the action scenes were plagued with the unbelievable. For instance would anyone believe that a person with a carotid artery severed could survive for more than a few minutes – or if they could, would they be conscious? And there is more like this.

All in all I did not find this novel to my liking for mostly the reasons that I detailed. For a seasoned thriller reader, I don’t think it will meet the minimum for a “thriller”.

I would rate this novel forgettable; I would not recommend it as I would suggest that readers would be disappointed.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allan Leverone is a new to me author whose gripping plot and intriguing characters easily pulled me and wouldn't let go making this one of those books I couldn't put down until I knew for sure how things would work out.
Martin Krall has been hunting along a five hundred mile stretch of I 90 for over three years. He has always been successful and feels like he is invincible. He is a cocky sort of guy who believes he can take what he wants when he wants and no one is going to stop him. You see he hunts young girls, and has abducted a dozen over the past three years and is on the hunt again. His plans go awry though when Bill Ferguson, a hardware store owner who happens to be in the rest area that Martin has decided to abduct his next victim from stops him. While Bill saves the girl from being abducted Martin gets away, and Martin decides he wants Bill's daughter Carli!


This book flows very smoothly with descriptions that pull you into the scenes making me feel as if I was right there.Even though it is a work of fiction, I felt like this could be a crime that is happening right now because it seemed so plausible. The main character Bill is your average guy, with a daughter of his own, who stepped up to do what he thought was right, even though he never realized how it would impact his life. The author was able to keep the plot moving with several twists and turns even though we knew exactly who and what Martin Krall was.While Martin was labeled the I-90 killer, he didn't actually kill them, instead he had a scheme worked out where once he kept them for seven days he sold them to someone who would take them overseas never to be seen or heard from again. It was interesting to get inside his head so to speak, and to learn of his background where he was bullied. The ending was a real shocker as it reveals who Martin was selling the victims to.
A fast paced thrill ride from beginning to end.Allan Leverone has certainly gained a new fan here and I for one will certainly be looking for more of his work!
On a scale of one to five I would easily give this book a six because it's just that good!

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, sinister scene captivates from the first few words. A woman is kidnapped, the perpetrator's actions paint him to be a delusional psychopath, one moment abusing her in some form or another, the next whispering sweet nothings to her. Her confusion and distress is abundantly clear, and contagious. It doesn't take long for the sinister stranger to explain some things, which sparked my interest further. As the author delves in to the mind of the now named kidnapper, Martin Krall, I was drawn in deeper. We may deny it, but the human psyche is drawn to the macabre, as we try to understand and know all that we can. Being in the mind of Krall is an interesting experience, since most books choose to be in the mind of the victim, inspiring sympathy and pity, appealing to the better side of humanity. This new approach is darkly fresh, and a welcome change.

Krall soon goes on the prowl for another victim, and it's then that we meet Bill, a hardware store owner transporting money in between his two stores. His involvement is soon to be discovered.

With each new character introduced, the plot thickens, kindling a desire to find out more about each new player, be it a victim, a villain, or a possible hero. Emotions are stacked on a teetering pile as the new victim is spotted, and the conflict boils over to brilliant showdown.

Leverone pokes fun at typical movie lines allocated to officers and other characters, which provides a comical relief that takes the edge off, and builds the hero's personality to a relatable, everyday-man. In fact, all the characters are fairly normal making this a highly believable and appealing read.

This is a gripping story from start to finish as the plot thickens and horrific events occur, each drawing me in more than the last, until the final killer twist. Shockingly brilliant, this is one book that kidnapped my interest and held it hostage until the very last page!

[Tiffany Lovering · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's fairly easy to guess what's going to happen in The Lonely Mile by Allan Leverone right after you read the synopsis on the product page. A man named Bill Ferguson witnesses and stops a near kidnapping by the "I-90 Killer." Although the girl is safe, the sociopath escapes and is seeking revenge on Bill and targets his precious, 17 year old daughter Carli.

I am sure if you think about it, you can figure out what happens, or come close to it. That's okay, it is not what makes this such a great novel. The intricate details of the story and the way Leverone manages to sneak twists into the story is part of the making of this fantastic thriller. Bill Ferguson is determined to make his daughter safe and the way he tries to go about it had my hairs standing on end some of the time. Also, you are put into the mind of the "I-90 Killer" which is incredibly creepy and made my skin crawl.

I do not normally read thrillers because (quite honestly) they aren't that thrilling to me. I chose to read The Lonely Mile because I live just a few minutes away from I-90 and I thought it would add a little extra thrill factor to the read, but I don't think that extra bit is needed to feel the thrill of this novel. I literally could not read this book fast enough for my liking. I had to know what was going to happen next and there's no skipping a paragraph or you might just miss something important.

I am glad I jumped out of my comfort zone of YA fiction and tried out Leverone's suspenseful book. I would recommend it to any adult who likes to go along with a fantastic thrilling read. I rate The Lonely Mile 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to read another of Leverone's books!

[Amy Shojai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tense, high octane thriller starts off with a horrific premise--young girl abducted, abused, and sold into the sex trade. Enter "Joe Everyman," a solid working stiff divorced dad who idolizes his own teenage daughter. Then Bill Ferguson encounters the I-90 Killer and interrupts an abduction in progress, earning him unwanted attention from the psycho bad guy who devises a scheme to get even--he'll steal Bill's own daughter Carli.

So far, so good. The bad guy is bad with a truly twisted sense of self worth and somewhat shallow motivation--sex and money, in that order. He has no redeeming virtues whatsoever, and in that seems a bit cardboard, but still serves the story well.

Bill Ferguson is of course devastated he's brought this horror into his life simply by acting on Boy Scout sense of right and wrong. He blames himself, and his ex-wife also blames him. Even the FBI officers seem less than sympathetic, and at times act way out of character (which is explained by the ending of the book).

I loved loved LOVED the young girl Carli! Typical seventeen-year-old, bright, with a head on her shoulders, and able to out-think and maneuver the bad guy even when she's terrified. Now here's a character I'd enjoy seeing in future books, as this young woman manages to come out ahead of everyone.

The "surprise" bad guy at the end totally came out of the blue for me, although in retrospect there were clear hints. I'm not sure that I buy it, so the ending wasn't as satisfying as it could have been, as the wrap up ending basically explained a lot of what had happened off stage. But the fast-paced story and chilling plot make this a highly entertaining read for thriller lovers.