Hunger Hill

by Philip C. Baker

First-time hitwoman Silk Rhenko makes a rookie mistake and, as a result, the bodies start piling up in the city. To help solve the sudden murder spree, Detective Basil Keene recruits two fellow detectives and the unlikely Eileen Mack, an underage bartender at Sully’s Tap. As Keene gets closer to the truth, the novice hatchet woman becomes more desperate and grows more dangerous. Will Keene catch up with Silk and her demented employer, Fyodor Umarov? Or will the Russian criminals escape under the veil of a violent storm at sea? Keene and his colleagues battle against time, weather, and evil in this crime thriller set in Maine.

Genres: Mystery

261 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2023

Reviews

[Paige Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic crime mystery book set in Portland, ME and it’s waters. This had me grasping my book and not able to put it down, especially at the last 1/3 of the book. This book casts a great story for each of its characters to make you feel enveloped in the book.

[Peggy L DeBlois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually one for crime/detective/thriller stories, but I truly enjoyed Hunger Hill. The characters are very real, and the voice is very human - Keene’s self-deprecation and Eileen’s unique outlook made me laugh several times. I even liked Silk, the Russian hit-woman!

[Trish Lowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, easy read. I was quickly drawn to the location set for the book and the inclusion of prominent landmarks. That being said, I enjoyed a great crime-thriller to go along with it!

[Celine Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read! Well crafted and entertaining from beginning to end. A great crime thriller that kept me on my toes!

[Sol D.C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic detective novel. Fun writing. A little too cop-focused but I guess that makes sense for murder-investigation story. Would recommend reading it if you like detective stories, murder mysteries, or just reading about the coast of maine! congratulations on your first novel, phil!

[W Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

“'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others', said the tyrannical pigs in George Orwell's 1945 classic novel "Animal Farm", Maine author Phil Baker precedes the first chapter of his outstanding new book, 'Hunger Hill', with this Orwell quote, and the message roundly resonates from the first page of the novel to the last.

'Hunger Hill' boasts a rarely used plot model, one that builds urgency from the beginning and oftentimes pushes the reader to want to prod and even yell instructions to the protagonists as they move the action along. The model? -- the reader knows from the beginning “who done it”. But the journey the reader experiences as time begins to run out in the discovery and halt of the antagonist is far from one of simply 'the butler did it with a candlestick in the pantry.'

Baker’s suspense novel picked me up and set me down in every one of the locations of the story’s plot line. His sharp attention to detail in both scene-setting and character-presence is totally enveloping. The thought processes, the wants and needs and especially the focused intentions
of each character are brilliantly drawn. Baker's "Hemingway style" of writing short, uncluttered sentences so effectively keeps the action moving, never slowing down until the final “scene” of the book.

It was one helluva ride!!!"

Joseph Coté
"Friday Explorations Read Aloud"
Camden (ME.) Public Library
Book Readings on YouTube & Facebook

[Marta E C R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish this book. I was trying to read it for the All Books Considered book club, so that I could watch the author discussion of it (I wasn't able to get the book in time to watch it when it happened). I should have known I wouldn't like it because it was a crime novel. However, I've been recently surprised by liking Paul Doiron's crime/murder mystery series quite a bit, so thought maybe I could like this one as well, given that it was a Maine author and was set in Maine. Unfortunately what Doiron does (extensive real-life research on every area in Maine he writes about, which makes each area very alive and pretty much a character in and of itself), Baker did not accomplish. It was a crime/murder mystery through and through, and I just could not get into it. I gave it a really good chance; read about half. I then decided it wasn't a good way to spend my reading time and stopped. I went to the end to try to find out what happened, but didn't particularly enjoy that either. I will now make an attempt at watching the author talk, but am quite willing to give that up quickly as well if there's not anything in it for me. I see lots of people have really liked this book, and I'm sorry I couldn't. [UPDATE: well, gosh, I absolutely loved the interview, which really surprised me. As a result, I'm upgrading my rating from 1 to 2 stars. Apparently if you're quite familiar with the Portland area, that makes a big difference.]

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip C. Baker’s Hunger Hill is a tense and fast-moving crime thriller that explores the dangerous consequences of inexperience, desperation, and criminal ambition. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of coastal Maine, the novel follows first time hitwoman Silk Rhenko, whose early mistake triggers a violent chain reaction that draws law enforcement into a rapidly escalating murder spree.

The novel shines in its pacing and character contrasts. Detective Basil Keene is a steady, determined presence whose investigation gains depth through his collaboration with fellow detectives and the unexpected involvement of Eileen Mack, an underage bartender whose insight becomes surprisingly pivotal. Baker skillfully balances multiple points of tension, allowing both sides of the pursuit law enforcement and criminals to feel urgent, flawed, and human.

Hunger Hill succeeds as a gritty, grounded crime story that blends psychological tension with action driven plotting. The looming storm at sea mirrors the mounting chaos on land, reinforcing the novel’s sense of inevitability and danger. Fans of crime thrillers that emphasize momentum, moral ambiguity, and atmospheric settings will find this book a compelling read.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Maine, Portland Detective Basil Keene, with his associates, must solve the murder of the unlikeable butcher at DeLuca’s Market. The cast of characters range from the sinister Russian, Silk Rhenko, to the charming Eileen Mack, an underaged bartender at Sully’s Tap. Eileen’s job interview with Mr. Sullivan is laugh-out-loud comic relief, in a well-paced crime thriller.

The law, and a storm in Casco Bay, “rock the boat” ( a 200’ yacht, actually) owned by oligarch Fyoder Umarov, the mastermind behind an underground scheme of money laundering and human trafficking.

This is a novel with great twists and turns, and descriptive movie-like scenes. With the backdrop of the old Hunger Hill neighborhood, the author moves the story along with good dialogue and edgy characters, making for a satisfying page turner. Even the ending is satisfying.

Highly recommend!

[Michelle E. Shores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give 5 star reviews, and this book isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty darn close! For a debut novel from a self published author, Philip Baker has done a great job with this! It’s everything you’d want out of a crime thriller. The seedy neighborhood, the criminal underground, the tired but still passionate veteran cop. All sprinkled with bits of Portland, Maine that those familiar with the area can relate to. This is a very clean read. Only very mild sexual suggestion and no blood or gore. It could have benefited from some content editing, but it is still an excellent debut novel for a self published author. I hope this author keeps writing!

[Emma Coombs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Portland, Maine made this a must-read for me, and I wasn’t disappointed! As a Mainer I was able to see clearly where everything was taking place in the novel, which was a very cool experience, but even if you don’t know Maine well, Philip Baker does a great job of setting the scene! The story pulled me in and kept me reading - even when I thought I knew the outcome (which I definitely didn’t). This novel left me wanting to continue reading these character’s journeys, and to see where their careers and lives take them!

[Dave Donegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and well told. Interesting murder story about the seedier side of Portland, ME with compelling characters, a good police procedural structure and an intriguing international criminal aspect. Great introduction to the author.

[Mark Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent detective/crime story, and nice to read a story that takes place all around where I live.

[Jo-jean Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read a book where you can recognize the locations!

[Kendra Chubbuck]

Reading for the MPBN Bookclub.