On a Wire

by Ryan Lill-Washington

Casey's life has always been chaotic. Growing up in Charleston as an openly gay man hasn't made life any easier for him, a constant disappointment to his Mother's social reputation. When Casey wakes up one morning to find a dead man in his apartment, his blurred memories of one night stands and forgettable sex come crashing in around him. Now, with no recollection of having even brought a stranger to his home, he's named the number one suspect in a spree of serial murders targeting his latest sexual trysts. With a body count rising, each branded with a blackbird tattoo, and Casey unable to remember what happened, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a serial killer, grappling between what is and isn't real. How far would you go for the truth? How many memories must you find to retrace the moments in time you've lost? Who do you trust if you can't even trust yourself anymore? Alongside Clarke, his only sibling and source of stability, Casey is now on the run in search of the truth. With a cavalcade of suspects, he finds himself questioning his own memories and how they tie him to the Blackbird.

270 pages, Hardcover

Published December 6, 2022

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!! New to reading this author but DID NOT DISAPPOINT. There are only a few books that I was tempted to look ahead to see what would happen.. I controlled myself because this was WOW. Casey’s mom? GEEZ and everything going on I thought I knew.. I WAS WRONG!

[Mer Kick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Alaina & Ash!

Could not put this book down!!! SO we’ll written!! AMAZING plot!! The last 2 pages ALONE are literary genius! The twist that I NEVER saw coming… the setting near one of my favorite vaca spots (Tybee!)… I need MORE RLW!!!

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I loved all the twists and the ending gave me chills. The author is so talented and I’m excited to see more from him!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had so many questions while reading On a Wire and only some of them were answered in the end. (No spoilers, but I did figure out one major plot line early on.) Casey is such an unappealing person (so negative about everything and everyone) that it was hard for me to keep going with him as my sole narrator, but I wanted to know who the killer was, so I did. But back to the unanswered questions. How was Casey able to afford apartments in New York and Charleston when he was unemployed? Where did his money come from? His family? Why did his father leave the family? Also, why didn't Casey put a shirt or shoes on before the police came and arrested him at the beginning of the book? Then, after they let him go, he's wandering the streets barefoot and shirtless, but has funds to get coffee and a vegan chicken salad and, after lunch, purchase shoes and a shirt. So he grabbed his wallet before he was arrested, but avoided putting on a shirt and shoes? These are the kinds of things that drove me crazy in On a Wire and took me away from the story at hand. I need things to make some kind of sense and so much of this book just didn't. Yes, we have an unreliable narrator, but does that stop this guy from putting on shoes and a shirt before he's arrested? Plus, I find it hard to believe that the Charleston police wouldn't have allowed this guy (a young white guy) to put on shoes and a shirt before they hauled him away. And, while the cops are looking for Casey after another murder that takes place after his release, he goes back to his apartment (where the murder at the start of the book took place). Wouldn't the cops have staked his apartment out? It had only been a day since the first murder and the crime scene tape was still up!

In addition to the unanswered questions and plot points that didn't seem to be realistic, stronger editing was needed here. People were referred to as "that" rather than "who" such as "...a man that I would have never slept with" or "The muscular older man that didn't want to stay..." These errors didn't stop me from pressing forward, but they were a distraction. In the end, the unanswered questions and constant negativity from Casey (in his mind and coming from his mouth) were enough to make me hurry up and finish this one off.

[Amanda Flickinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Word. I asked for more and Ryan delivered big time!! I was sucked into this book from page 1. I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF RYAN'S BOOKS!!!!!

This book is a non stop page turner. One minute I was cheering for Casey and then gas ping at his mothers actions. All while hoping Clarke could help the situation and figure it out what was going on and who was out to get Casey and then PLOT TWIST that I didn't see coming at all!!!! I was on the edge of my seat this entire book and the last plot twist had me in complete shock.

Run and get this book as soon as you are able. You will NOT be disappointed!!

[Jayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow! This book was a page turner for meI loved it!!! Casey woke up to a dead man in his bed, and he had no recollection of what had happened or who the man was. This starts the downward spiral of who Casey is. Casey has a sister named Clarke that helped him through all of this. And when he sees Clarke covered in their moms blood everything just explodes. From the beginning I had a feeling that Clarke was behind all of it, but then to find out that CLARKE ISNT REALLLLL!!!! My whole life is turned upside down!!!!!!

[Morgan Waldrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in a day because I could not put it down. The drama started from the very beginning and I was immediately hooked! It was also really refreshing to read a book with a main character who is gay and you can tell it was written by someone in the LGBTQ+ community. It felt authentic and WE LOVE THAT SHIIII. If you love a fast moving book with a nice twist at the end then definitely give this one a read!

[Teri Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've peeked through the chapters I had left because I couldn't read fast enough to see what happened next! I love a book with a good twist and I'll tell y'all what, I didn't see this one coming at all!

[Nora Kate Tompkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Definitely didn’t see the twist coming!