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Resolve
In the Pittsburgh Marathon, 18,000 people from all over the world will participate. Over 9,500 will run the half marathon, 4,000 will run brief stretches as part of a relay. 4,500 people will attempt to cover the full 26.2 miles. Over 200 of the participants will quit, realizing it just wasn't their day. More than 100 will get injured and require medical treatment. And one man is going to be murdered.
When Dr. Cyprus Keller lines up to start the race, he knows who is going to die for one simple reason. He's going to kill them.
As a professor of Criminology at Three Rivers University, and a former police officer, Dr. Cyprus Keller is an expert in criminal behavior and victimology. However, when one of his female students is murdered and his graduate assistant attempts to kill him, Keller finds himself frantically swinging back and forth between being a suspect and a victim. When the police assign a motive to the crimes that Keller knows cannot be true, he begins to ask questions that somebody out there does not want answered.
In the course of 26.2 miles, Keller recounts how he found himself encircled by a series of killings that have shocked the city, while literally pursuing his prey - the man who was behind it all.
When Dr. Cyprus Keller lines up to start the race, he knows who is going to die for one simple reason. He's going to kill them.
As a professor of Criminology at Three Rivers University, and a former police officer, Dr. Cyprus Keller is an expert in criminal behavior and victimology. However, when one of his female students is murdered and his graduate assistant attempts to kill him, Keller finds himself frantically swinging back and forth between being a suspect and a victim. When the police assign a motive to the crimes that Keller knows cannot be true, he begins to ask questions that somebody out there does not want answered.
In the course of 26.2 miles, Keller recounts how he found himself encircled by a series of killings that have shocked the city, while literally pursuing his prey - the man who was behind it all.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2013
8 people are currently reading
742 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Hensley
14 books112 followersJ.J. HENSLEY is a former police officer and former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. Mr. Hensley is the author of the novels RESOLVE, MEASURE TWICE, CHALK'S OUTLINE, BOLT ACTION REMEDY, RECORD SCRATCH, FORGIVENESS DIES, and several shorter works. He is originally from Huntington, WV and currently resides near Savannah, GA.
RESOLVE was a Thriller Award finalist and was named one of the Best Books of the Year by both Suspense Magazine and Authors on the Air. Record Scratch was an honorable mention for Suspense Magazine's Best of 2018.
He is a member of the International Thriller Writers.
Email: contact.hensleybooks@gmail.com
RESOLVE was a Thriller Award finalist and was named one of the Best Books of the Year by both Suspense Magazine and Authors on the Air. Record Scratch was an honorable mention for Suspense Magazine's Best of 2018.
He is a member of the International Thriller Writers.
Email: contact.hensleybooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 9, 2013
It takes serious resolve to run a marathon, to solve a crime, or to kill someone, and the 26.2 miles of this Pittburgh race provide a perfect framework for the murder to come in J. J. Henlsey’s Resolve. But what drives a runner to push his body so far? And what makes a former police officer turned criminology professor turn so far from the rule of law?
The route twists and turns through wide streets of clean modernity down into poverty and shame. Meanwhile the plot twists through Dr. Cyprus Keller’s memories, giving both race and mystery a taut immediacy. Helpers offer water, but even drinking is a complex operation while miles stride by. Even walking from office to car is complex when a web of deceit binds killer to victim. But Cyprus finds himself as compelled to complete his investigation as he is to complete the marathon’s 26 miles. Shifting from suspect to victim to stranger to suspect to victim again, he strides where straight paths give way to ugly secrets, and he gathers his clues.
The author spreads hints throughout this story, letting them fall lightly like a marathon’s detritus at the side of the road, leaving reader and protagonist to remember and snatch at grains of truth. Perfectly paced like the runner’s tread, cleverly revealed in natural investigation and plausible action, tautly plotted and convincingly woven, Resolve by J. J. Hensley brings vivid excitement and complex drama to marathon running, murder and investigation. Authentic, compelling, gripping and impossible to put down, this pleasingly different mystery novel is highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received a free bound galley of this novel from the publisher, the Permanent Press
June 3, 2013
Resolve has all of the elements that I love in a book. It is a mystery/thriller with an intelligent, often quite funny protagonist in a great setting, the Pittsburgh marathon.
As a runner, I love the detailed mile-by-mile account of the marathon. Each chapter is a mile of the marathon - what a creative way to organize a book. As a reader, the flashbacks and twists and turns of the book are outstanding. The author successfully combines the non-fiction aspects of running a marathon with a well-conceived, keep-you-guessing, murder/mystery plot. Add in plenty of witty one-liners by the main character, and you have one of my favorite reads of the year so far. In addition, the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist have kept me thinking about the book long after the last page - usually a sign of a great book.
As a runner, I love the detailed mile-by-mile account of the marathon. Each chapter is a mile of the marathon - what a creative way to organize a book. As a reader, the flashbacks and twists and turns of the book are outstanding. The author successfully combines the non-fiction aspects of running a marathon with a well-conceived, keep-you-guessing, murder/mystery plot. Add in plenty of witty one-liners by the main character, and you have one of my favorite reads of the year so far. In addition, the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist have kept me thinking about the book long after the last page - usually a sign of a great book.
January 5, 2015
Fabulous! A must read. Murder at the Pittsburgh marathon. I listened to the book three times and purchased it on audible. I love the storyline and the narrator does a beautiful job reading J.J. Hensley's words. I look forward to reading more of Hensley's books
July 17, 2014
One of my Top Ten reads this year.
July 12, 2020
Marathon running meets fun twisty (if a little unrealistic) thriller. What's not to like?!
January 17, 2019
I don't usually like murder mysteries, but this one was a quick read and involved lots of running, so it was ok.
February 20, 2013
This book was amazing. Great story, twists and turns galore, written in a style that is unique and brilliant.
The story involves a professor who teaches at a Pittsburgh university, and ran the Pittsburgh 26.2 mile marathon. His tale is about the race and so much more. He is the narrator and says "8,000 people will enter this contest, half of them won't run the entire race, 200 runners will have some sort of injury and drop out, and one person is going to die... How do I know that one person is going to die? Because I am going to kill him!"
Each chapter is headed by the mile number of the race, chapter one is Mile 1, and so on, and the first part of each chapter is the marathon happening at this precise moment. The second part of each chapter is a flashback on what led the professor to do the terrible deed.
There are 4 recent books that I consider the best in the mystery/suspense/thriller genre and they are:
1. "Defending Jacob" by William Landay
2. "A Land More Kind Than Home" by Wiley Cash
3. "Looking for Przybylski" by K.C. Frederick
(Please read my review for each)
And this book makes number 4.
I highly recommend this book to fans of mystery and suspense thrillers. You will thank me later.
The story involves a professor who teaches at a Pittsburgh university, and ran the Pittsburgh 26.2 mile marathon. His tale is about the race and so much more. He is the narrator and says "8,000 people will enter this contest, half of them won't run the entire race, 200 runners will have some sort of injury and drop out, and one person is going to die... How do I know that one person is going to die? Because I am going to kill him!"
Each chapter is headed by the mile number of the race, chapter one is Mile 1, and so on, and the first part of each chapter is the marathon happening at this precise moment. The second part of each chapter is a flashback on what led the professor to do the terrible deed.
There are 4 recent books that I consider the best in the mystery/suspense/thriller genre and they are:
1. "Defending Jacob" by William Landay
2. "A Land More Kind Than Home" by Wiley Cash
3. "Looking for Przybylski" by K.C. Frederick
(Please read my review for each)
And this book makes number 4.
I highly recommend this book to fans of mystery and suspense thrillers. You will thank me later.
May 22, 2015
A professor of criminology at Three Rivers College, Dr. Cyprus Keller, is caught in a web of murder and intrigue when a student, with an apparent crush on the ol' professor, is found murdered shortly after being turned down by Dr. Keller. The next day his teaching assistant assaults him in the parking lot and soon Dr. Keller finds himself as the primary suspect of multiple crimes. The twists and turns of the story are doled out to the reader in a rather unique fashion. The story of Resolve is broken into 26.2 chapters and in each we learn a little about the race course and a lot about what led the professor to run this race. We know from almost the first page that Dr. Keller is running the marathon for much more than cardiac health. He is planning to kill one his fellow racers.
I am a marathon runner and I have to admit that Hensley absolutely nailed the inner workings of the runners mind while traversing the torturous and often boring quest to complete 26.2 miles. The premise of plotting a murder that will take place at some point during the race was a unique twist on the murder mystery/thriller genre. A fast paced and highly recommended read.
I am a marathon runner and I have to admit that Hensley absolutely nailed the inner workings of the runners mind while traversing the torturous and often boring quest to complete 26.2 miles. The premise of plotting a murder that will take place at some point during the race was a unique twist on the murder mystery/thriller genre. A fast paced and highly recommended read.
September 26, 2013
I really, really liked this! I knew this was a first-time novelist so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the premise is fantastic. Each chapter is one mile of a marathon, and you know from the very beginning that someone will die during the race, because the main character is going to kill them.
I love that the beginning of each chapter described what the runner was seeing and feeling during the race, including the great descriptions of Pittsburgh (this is where the race takes place). It's obvious the author loves the city, especially when he talks about the "bad" parts of town in Chapter 18. The language is quite poetic there.
Yes, there are times when the language doesn't quite flow (more in the beginning of the book) and occasionally you realize you're reading and not living the book when you come upon an odd phrase. But the story kept me coming back for more and once you know "who did it" then you want to know how the main character will "do it." (This will make sense once you read it.) :)
I recommend this to mystery lovers, runners who love to read about how odd we are sometimes, and Pittsburgh fans. Enjoy!
I love that the beginning of each chapter described what the runner was seeing and feeling during the race, including the great descriptions of Pittsburgh (this is where the race takes place). It's obvious the author loves the city, especially when he talks about the "bad" parts of town in Chapter 18. The language is quite poetic there.
Yes, there are times when the language doesn't quite flow (more in the beginning of the book) and occasionally you realize you're reading and not living the book when you come upon an odd phrase. But the story kept me coming back for more and once you know "who did it" then you want to know how the main character will "do it." (This will make sense once you read it.) :)
I recommend this to mystery lovers, runners who love to read about how odd we are sometimes, and Pittsburgh fans. Enjoy!
September 17, 2014
I will state upfront that if all the posts people make about running on FB annoys you, then don't read this book! It is a suspenseful mystery with lots of great twists and turns but it is also full of great running references. In fact, a newbie could learn a thing or two about running while trying to figure out "who done it."
The main character is a former police officer who finds himself in the middle of a murder and an even greater mystery. Cleverly formatted, the book takes 26 point 2 chapters to run through the events. I hope Mr. Hensley writes another book but wonder if he will have to make it 100 chapters so he can run an ultra during the story? (Hey, how about a triathlon??)
The main character is a former police officer who finds himself in the middle of a murder and an even greater mystery. Cleverly formatted, the book takes 26 point 2 chapters to run through the events. I hope Mr. Hensley writes another book but wonder if he will have to make it 100 chapters so he can run an ultra during the story? (Hey, how about a triathlon??)
January 26, 2013
For a first time author this is a genuinely impressive novel. It not only has credible characters but a great sense of intelligence in the way the plot is put together. This is definitely an author to watch.
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June 8, 2013
Won this one on First reads. I liked this one quite a bit. Story held me all the way through, and I liked how the narrative jumped back and forth between the race and the events leading up to it. Makes me want to get back in to running regularly.
October 8, 2013
running and higher education and murder all in the same book; what is there not to love?
September 28, 2017
I adore this book. I always enjoy a good crime thriller. Yet this murderous tale is interwoven and framed by another of my favorite interests--running. Instead of chapters, Resolve constructs its narrative through flashbacks along each mile of the race. I really enjoyed the construction of the story, but even beyond this innovation, the story itself is captivating. I liked the character of the narrator. I cared about him and what was happening to him, all of it drawing me in. Marathon pace is perfect for the tale. I would highly recommend running this race with the author.
September 1, 2017
It will not seem like a grueling marathon to read this book. Instead it will be a sprint to the finish as you will want to find out how the race and the book ends! I'm not a huge fan of crime novels but this one made me a believer. Filled with interesting characters, twists and turns, and a compelling plot line- I enjoyed this read each step of the way. Now I am anxious to read more from this author.
July 3, 2017
Just finished listening to this book on Audible. I would highly recommend it! It was a totally gripping and very smart thriller. It definitely motivated me to get out for my morning walk each morning, because I wanted to keep listening. I can't wait to read more by J. J. Hensley!
September 1, 2017
This book held my interest from the first page and kept me guessing as to whom would be the victim. As a first offering, I think J.J. did excellent and recommend this book even to those who are not your typical crime mystery fan.
August 24, 2018
I liked this book a lot. The story was interesting, the characters were believable, and since I ran a marathon once (once only!) I could identify with the description of training and running the course.
September 4, 2017
Just like the book this one will keep you on yr toes You start reading it & you don't wanna put it down
November 1, 2017
If you've run the half or full Pittsburgh marathon, you'll like it
January 28, 2025
A marathon through Pittsburgh, a murder and an unlikely murderer.
September 1, 2017
This is a high-paced thriller set in Pittsburgh. The back drop for the story is the Pittsburgh Marathon and the story races around the whole city. Resolve is a thrill ride from the beginning to the end.
November 5, 2019
A central theme here is jogging. No. Actually, it's marathon running. Right off you learn that cement is unforgiving as compared with blacktop or gravel. Here we have running university professors. Yep. Back in my college daze, these guys were barely walking, let alone running.
It doesn't take long before our M/C (Criminology Prof.) is over his head, in the soup (metaphorically speaking) and facing a real quandary over one murder after another. He tries his best to figure it all out, which was the real "juice" in the story. I was right with him every step of the way, and mostly through last night.
Give it a shot. You'll like it!
Cheers and Happy Reading!
Adam James
It doesn't take long before our M/C (Criminology Prof.) is over his head, in the soup (metaphorically speaking) and facing a real quandary over one murder after another. He tries his best to figure it all out, which was the real "juice" in the story. I was right with him every step of the way, and mostly through last night.
Give it a shot. You'll like it!
Cheers and Happy Reading!
Adam James
October 30, 2019
This is not your typical murder mystery. J.J. Hensley has crafted a novel that races ahead of the average. Not only is "Resolve" a quick and fun read, it is enthralling. I've run a couple marathons elsewhere, but a couple shorter races in Pittsburgh and the mystery-thriller is my genre, so this was right up my alley. I just wasn't expecting such a gem. I was very sorry the ride had to end after only 248 pages. If you like escape thrillers give this gripping story a go. All of J.J. Hensley's books are rated high on Goodreads so I'll be checking them out.
July 16, 2014
The Permanent Press (March 15, 2013)
249 pp
"It wasn't always the loudest. It wasn't always the smartest. It wasn't always the meanest, the most popular, or the most daring. The last man standing was always the one who had the most belief. Right or wrong didn't matter."
Marathon's are killer to run in. For one runner in particular, this marathon will be...literally.
J.J. Hensley's first book Resolve was rightfully nominated for the Best First Book award at this years Thrillerfest that was held in New York City just this past week. Though not selected as the winner, in this reviewers humble opinion this book is a FIVE STAR WINNER!!
Dr. Cyprus Keller is a loving husband, pet owner and is a former police officer, a former probation officer and now a college professor teaching at Three Rivers University, in their Criminology Department. Cyprus is also a runner, in training for an upcoming marathon. This would be where Cyprus commits murder, somewhere along the 26.2 miles of the Pittsburgh Marathon. Grab your running shoes, pin a "I'm following Cyprus" runners bib and get your stretching in. On your mark, set, GO...
Sitting in his office grading papers along with his graduate assistant, Steven Thacker, someone he did not like, listening to Steven get all flustered over the papers he is working on, "Why won't they just proofread their papers one time? And this is supposed to be the future of the criminal justice system?". Not hearing the knock on his door, Lindsay, one of his students in his CRIM 012-Victimology class, pops her head in. She has a question for him, about the policy dealing with student-faculty relationships. She had been very flirtatious with him lately, he at first tried to excuse it but this had to stop.
I can say without a doubt that Cyprus does not kill Lindsay, but I can not say who he does kill. For that you will need to read "Resolve". Trust me when I say, as you go along on this marathon with Cyprus, your breath will be taken away, your reasoning will be played with and you will not want to put this book down. You will want to finish this marathon as much as he does. Just one suggestion...run behind him, not it front of...
Fear not to those that are not "marathon literate", J.J.'s outstanding prologue will give you a good start with that knowledge. He continues to impart these bits and pieces in such a manner that is smooth and does not take away from the story. I am in love with the way he put breaks in his story. He goes with miles, 26.2 miles to be exact. I also fell in love with how easily you get drawn into Cyprus's thoughts, one minute your running the race with him and next thing you know you're traveling back in time through a flashback "portal". It was all very fluid.
I am now poised to be a J.J. Hensley thriller fan!! Are you done writing your second book yet J.J.? I expect that there will be many of us in the future! Happy Reading!!
249 pp
"It wasn't always the loudest. It wasn't always the smartest. It wasn't always the meanest, the most popular, or the most daring. The last man standing was always the one who had the most belief. Right or wrong didn't matter."
Marathon's are killer to run in. For one runner in particular, this marathon will be...literally.
J.J. Hensley's first book Resolve was rightfully nominated for the Best First Book award at this years Thrillerfest that was held in New York City just this past week. Though not selected as the winner, in this reviewers humble opinion this book is a FIVE STAR WINNER!!
Dr. Cyprus Keller is a loving husband, pet owner and is a former police officer, a former probation officer and now a college professor teaching at Three Rivers University, in their Criminology Department. Cyprus is also a runner, in training for an upcoming marathon. This would be where Cyprus commits murder, somewhere along the 26.2 miles of the Pittsburgh Marathon. Grab your running shoes, pin a "I'm following Cyprus" runners bib and get your stretching in. On your mark, set, GO...
Sitting in his office grading papers along with his graduate assistant, Steven Thacker, someone he did not like, listening to Steven get all flustered over the papers he is working on, "Why won't they just proofread their papers one time? And this is supposed to be the future of the criminal justice system?". Not hearing the knock on his door, Lindsay, one of his students in his CRIM 012-Victimology class, pops her head in. She has a question for him, about the policy dealing with student-faculty relationships. She had been very flirtatious with him lately, he at first tried to excuse it but this had to stop.
I can say without a doubt that Cyprus does not kill Lindsay, but I can not say who he does kill. For that you will need to read "Resolve". Trust me when I say, as you go along on this marathon with Cyprus, your breath will be taken away, your reasoning will be played with and you will not want to put this book down. You will want to finish this marathon as much as he does. Just one suggestion...run behind him, not it front of...
Fear not to those that are not "marathon literate", J.J.'s outstanding prologue will give you a good start with that knowledge. He continues to impart these bits and pieces in such a manner that is smooth and does not take away from the story. I am in love with the way he put breaks in his story. He goes with miles, 26.2 miles to be exact. I also fell in love with how easily you get drawn into Cyprus's thoughts, one minute your running the race with him and next thing you know you're traveling back in time through a flashback "portal". It was all very fluid.
I am now poised to be a J.J. Hensley thriller fan!! Are you done writing your second book yet J.J.? I expect that there will be many of us in the future! Happy Reading!!
May 30, 2016
Back in 2014, J.J. Hensley joined the inaugural #30Authors event. He was, and is, quite a fan favorite and has joined in every year since. Even so, I hadn’t read any of his books until recently. This was mostly because I like him as a person and was afraid that, because he writes a genre I don’t read a lot of, I wouldn’t connect with the book. It’s a thriller that uses a marathon to propel the story forward and as someone who doesn’t love most thrillers or run (at all), I was nervous.
Turns out, all that nervousness and delaying was for nothing because Resolve is great. It’s not too violent, makes you question right and wrong, and is fast-paced. The story follows Dr. Cyprus Keller, a criminology professor at a small university who gets swept up in the investigation of a murdered female student. He’s also a former police officer and can’t shake the feeling that something about the investigation is off. So, against his better judgement, he sets out to find answers. Oh, and to kill the person responsible (we know that from the get-go).
Resolve is told in two parallel tracks: First, there’s Dr. Keller in present day, running a marathon, preparing for someone to die. Then, there’s the story of everything that brought him to this point. As the book races forward, Hensley untangles the web of secrets that led to the young girl’s murder. By the time I finished reading, it was clear to me why Resolve won Best First Novel from International Thriller Writers. It has it all – a classic whodunnit, a twisted storyline, and a diverse group of characters (not to mention a dog – because everyone loves a story with a dog).
I have to admit, I was struck by how visual the story was with regard to running a marathon. I knew going into it that it is a book runners love, but I wasn’t prepared to get a glimpse into the toll it takes on a person – I’m a bit in awe of anyone who can put themselves through that. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, primarily Dr. Keller’s wife. I won’t go into details about why I liked her so much but suffice to say she’s my kind of woman.
For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
Turns out, all that nervousness and delaying was for nothing because Resolve is great. It’s not too violent, makes you question right and wrong, and is fast-paced. The story follows Dr. Cyprus Keller, a criminology professor at a small university who gets swept up in the investigation of a murdered female student. He’s also a former police officer and can’t shake the feeling that something about the investigation is off. So, against his better judgement, he sets out to find answers. Oh, and to kill the person responsible (we know that from the get-go).
Resolve is told in two parallel tracks: First, there’s Dr. Keller in present day, running a marathon, preparing for someone to die. Then, there’s the story of everything that brought him to this point. As the book races forward, Hensley untangles the web of secrets that led to the young girl’s murder. By the time I finished reading, it was clear to me why Resolve won Best First Novel from International Thriller Writers. It has it all – a classic whodunnit, a twisted storyline, and a diverse group of characters (not to mention a dog – because everyone loves a story with a dog).
I have to admit, I was struck by how visual the story was with regard to running a marathon. I knew going into it that it is a book runners love, but I wasn’t prepared to get a glimpse into the toll it takes on a person – I’m a bit in awe of anyone who can put themselves through that. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, primarily Dr. Keller’s wife. I won’t go into details about why I liked her so much but suffice to say she’s my kind of woman.
For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
March 18, 2013
March 15th was the publication date for this debut novel and I just couldn't wait to review it. It's a different type of plot than I've ever read, set during the Pittsburgh Marathon with flashbacks to fill in the storyline.
Each chapter is a mile of the marathon. Protagonist Dr. Cyprus Keller is running the race. He explains that 18,000 people are participating. Some will drop out for various reasons, others are running relays or just a half-marathon, and one person won't finish the race because he will die before the finish line. Dr. Keller knows this because he is going to kill him.
Keller is a professor who teaches criminology at a small college. He innocently finds himself involved in a mysterious plot after a young coed unsuccessfully tries to seduce him. Actually she is conducting a study and seeing how many professors are willing to take her up on her flirting is the meat of the research. She doesn't go through with any offers, but meanwhile she stirs up a hornets' nest. The girl is found murdered in a part of town she would never visit. After that, Keller's teaching assistant tries to murder him and Keller kills the T.A. as he defends himself. Coincidentally, the police view Keller as a prime suspect in the girl's murder.
We meet intriguing characters such as the college president who for some reason has a grudge against Keller, two policemen who are wise to the world, and other professors who are running partners of Keller's. Best of all, we meet Keller's wife, who is a psychologist, a fact which is both a blessing and a curse to her husband. Since he can't ever pull the wool over her eyes, he has stopped even trying. Theirs is a beautiful marriage.
Despite the killings and seriousness of the plot, I laughed all the way through this book. Hensley is a very funny writer and Dr. Keller's wit sets this book above other mysteries in my opinion. I do hope Hensley is currently hard at work on his second novel. I'll be first in line to buy it.
Recommended reading
Source: LibraryThing win
Each chapter is a mile of the marathon. Protagonist Dr. Cyprus Keller is running the race. He explains that 18,000 people are participating. Some will drop out for various reasons, others are running relays or just a half-marathon, and one person won't finish the race because he will die before the finish line. Dr. Keller knows this because he is going to kill him.
Keller is a professor who teaches criminology at a small college. He innocently finds himself involved in a mysterious plot after a young coed unsuccessfully tries to seduce him. Actually she is conducting a study and seeing how many professors are willing to take her up on her flirting is the meat of the research. She doesn't go through with any offers, but meanwhile she stirs up a hornets' nest. The girl is found murdered in a part of town she would never visit. After that, Keller's teaching assistant tries to murder him and Keller kills the T.A. as he defends himself. Coincidentally, the police view Keller as a prime suspect in the girl's murder.
We meet intriguing characters such as the college president who for some reason has a grudge against Keller, two policemen who are wise to the world, and other professors who are running partners of Keller's. Best of all, we meet Keller's wife, who is a psychologist, a fact which is both a blessing and a curse to her husband. Since he can't ever pull the wool over her eyes, he has stopped even trying. Theirs is a beautiful marriage.
Despite the killings and seriousness of the plot, I laughed all the way through this book. Hensley is a very funny writer and Dr. Keller's wit sets this book above other mysteries in my opinion. I do hope Hensley is currently hard at work on his second novel. I'll be first in line to buy it.
Recommended reading
Source: LibraryThing win
July 31, 2017
As a runner and a lover of crime/mystery novels, I was looking forward to Resolve. I was not disappointed. It was a page turner right to the end.
November 21, 2017
We are always told to write what we know and that is exactly what Hensley does here, writes about running (amazingly well with some descriptions that can’t be faked) Pittsburgh, and law enforcement. All done beautifully and sewn together to create an irresistible page turner that will keep you entertained and intrigued until the very end.
June 18, 2013
Resolve is one seriously good debut. Seriously good!
Set during the course of the Pittsburgh marathon, the story evolves in real race time, switching between current and the story behind it, almost as though the lead character, Cyprus Keller, is churning the events over in his mind, going over them again, making sure he hasn't missed anything, justifying to himself what he is about to do, because he is about to commit murder.
Cyprus is a professor at Three River University and a former police office. One of his female students is found murdered, he is questioned by the police and becomes a suspect. His former training kicks in and he starts investigating on his own, can't leave it alone, must get to the bottom of it. What's the link to his running group, how does this lead to the marathon and murder? What is his justification?
Mile after mile the story comes together, mile after mile the suspense builds, the pacing is amazing, spot on, this is one novel that sucks you right in and can easily be read in one marathon session!
Definitely one of those novels that leaves you thinking wow, I am so glad I chose to give that a read.
Set during the course of the Pittsburgh marathon, the story evolves in real race time, switching between current and the story behind it, almost as though the lead character, Cyprus Keller, is churning the events over in his mind, going over them again, making sure he hasn't missed anything, justifying to himself what he is about to do, because he is about to commit murder.
Cyprus is a professor at Three River University and a former police office. One of his female students is found murdered, he is questioned by the police and becomes a suspect. His former training kicks in and he starts investigating on his own, can't leave it alone, must get to the bottom of it. What's the link to his running group, how does this lead to the marathon and murder? What is his justification?
Mile after mile the story comes together, mile after mile the suspense builds, the pacing is amazing, spot on, this is one novel that sucks you right in and can easily be read in one marathon session!
Definitely one of those novels that leaves you thinking wow, I am so glad I chose to give that a read.
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