The Killing of Strangers

by Jerry Holt

The Killing of Strangers focuses on a mystery (several mysteries) surrounding the Kent State University shootings, May 4, 1970. The main character gets caught up in the search for an elusive participant and ends up running (from Southern Ohio to Cincinnati, to Columbus) for his life. The book comes to an exciting conclusion in the Hocking Hills area of Southeastern Ohio. Holt's ability to present a variety of characters in all their strengths and weaknesses and set them in an exciting plot in an authentic location results in a book that grips the reader's attention and will surely earn the author many fans.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published May 4, 2006

Reviews

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found The Killing of Strangers a rather frustrating book in many respects. Some of it was well written, the contextual story of the Kent State shooting was interesting, and it certainly had a lot of action, but I found it quite patchy and uneven in quality and there were parts I just couldn’t buy into. For example, Haggard getting the sack for yelling ‘Get your fat arse out of that window’ at a professor who was illegally entering a university building at two o’clock in the morning and who had set off the fire alarm. I can’t see that standing up to any kind of legal scrutiny. The ending also stretched credulity to the limit, with coincidence after coincidence, and a very careless special operatives abductor. The older, downtrodden but worthy man falling for the girl half his age is also a well worn path at this stage. Some of the scenes were very well done, but others were pedestrian or redundant or below the standard set elsewhere in the book. The characterisation is generally good, and I thought the Mac character was excellent with his bitter wisecracks, but he was underused. My sense is a book, written in the third person, that focused on Mac and his wife would have great potential. All this, of course, is my opinion, and the book gets a raft of strong reviews elsewhere. It just didn’t click with me, even though I enjoyed parts of it.

[Cliff Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Killing of Strangers" is a well-written and well-plotted mystery novel, with Jerry Holt adroitly weaving past and present. I recommend it highly.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The main character is a very sympathetic one, in a bumbling sort of way. He is also very skilled, and clever, and surprisingly moral given how hard-bitten he seems in some ways. As we learn more of his background, this characterization makes more and more sense. The detective is classic. The plot is engaging. The historic accuracy about the events of May 1970 and changes over the decades since then are much appreciated by someone who was old enough at the time to be aware of the times we were living in. A good romp through Ohio, too, if that means anything to you! I highly recommend this.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex and compelling. The book has one of the best opening sentences I've ever read, and Holt's writing is reminiscent of Jim Thompson by way of Mickey Spillane: Hard and harsh, but thoroughly engaging.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel. Review coming soon. Too great a work to give a scant review so I will do so soon.