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Thorn Mystery #17
Stare Down
While viewing a once in a lifetime solar eclipse in a rural Kentucky meadow, Thorn and his best friend’s daughter step into the crosshairs of a killer determined to be the most prolific mass shooter in history.
When Thorn’s goddaughter, Stetson, pleads with him to drive her from Key Largo to Kentucky to view the longest eclipse in decades, it seems like a harmless request. With her parents, Sugarman and Kathy, honeymooning in Hawaii and Thorn left to chaperone their daughter, Thorn decides to fulfill Stetson’s wish, despite her parents strong disapproval of the plan.
It’s a fateful decision that puts Thorn and Stetson in the crosshairs of a mass murderer whose goal is to achieve a record-setting body count. Dozens are killed and Thorn and Stetson are gravely injured.
But worse than the physical pain for Thorn is the rupture of the deep friendship he and Sugarman have shared since childhood. There seems to be nothing Thorn can do to make amends for causing Stetson’s grievous wounds. He’s lost Sugarman, his truest friend.
Until a woman walks into his stilt house one night a month after the eclipse shooting. A woman whose twisted story lures Thorn back to Kentucky then on to the nation’s capital, a journey that will give him a second chance to stop a mass shooting, one that threatens everyone he loves.
When Thorn’s goddaughter, Stetson, pleads with him to drive her from Key Largo to Kentucky to view the longest eclipse in decades, it seems like a harmless request. With her parents, Sugarman and Kathy, honeymooning in Hawaii and Thorn left to chaperone their daughter, Thorn decides to fulfill Stetson’s wish, despite her parents strong disapproval of the plan.
It’s a fateful decision that puts Thorn and Stetson in the crosshairs of a mass murderer whose goal is to achieve a record-setting body count. Dozens are killed and Thorn and Stetson are gravely injured.
But worse than the physical pain for Thorn is the rupture of the deep friendship he and Sugarman have shared since childhood. There seems to be nothing Thorn can do to make amends for causing Stetson’s grievous wounds. He’s lost Sugarman, his truest friend.
Until a woman walks into his stilt house one night a month after the eclipse shooting. A woman whose twisted story lures Thorn back to Kentucky then on to the nation’s capital, a journey that will give him a second chance to stop a mass shooting, one that threatens everyone he loves.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2024
About the author
James W. Hall
70 books494 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 7, 2024
The Thorn novels have a great appeal to me since I have enjoyed spending time in the Florida Keys - sailing, SCUBA diving, Key West partying, etc. After meeting James Hall in a South Florida bookstore on the day his first Thorn Novel (Under Cover of Daylight) arrived in paperback, I became a fan.
You will too if you enjoy novels that move along, well plotted, good characterization and great location descriptions. This one fits the mold. I enjoyed the diversion to D.C. since I spent a lot of time there growing up.
Sad that his tales now go straight to paperback when I feel he deserves more renown. His novels are just as good as many contemporary "big buck masters" and he deserves to be more widely read. Hope some bright Hollywood type also realizes this character, a guy who ties bone fish flies for a living and resides in the Keys who manages to get in to all sorts of interesting situations.
You will too if you enjoy novels that move along, well plotted, good characterization and great location descriptions. This one fits the mold. I enjoyed the diversion to D.C. since I spent a lot of time there growing up.
Sad that his tales now go straight to paperback when I feel he deserves more renown. His novels are just as good as many contemporary "big buck masters" and he deserves to be more widely read. Hope some bright Hollywood type also realizes this character, a guy who ties bone fish flies for a living and resides in the Keys who manages to get in to all sorts of interesting situations.
July 30, 2024
Full disclosure, I am an ardent fan of Jim’s writings.
Almost everything he has published, including poetry and manuals on writing I own.
I am Thorns age and have lived in Florida since 1962. Love to fish etc.
This latest book instantly moved into the top three of my favorites of his and has a real good shot at becoming number one.
If you’re like me and have tried to tell others how great Jim’s writing is, but they are afraid of jumping into a series into its 17 th. book. This is the novel to give them. Share it on your e- reader or buy several paper back copies and pass them out. I know I will. What a gift you will be giving them to share the passion of reading a truly gifted story teller and author. Now I have the enjoyable task of rereading my other favorites including this one.
Starting with …
JML
Almost everything he has published, including poetry and manuals on writing I own.
I am Thorns age and have lived in Florida since 1962. Love to fish etc.
This latest book instantly moved into the top three of my favorites of his and has a real good shot at becoming number one.
If you’re like me and have tried to tell others how great Jim’s writing is, but they are afraid of jumping into a series into its 17 th. book. This is the novel to give them. Share it on your e- reader or buy several paper back copies and pass them out. I know I will. What a gift you will be giving them to share the passion of reading a truly gifted story teller and author. Now I have the enjoyable task of rereading my other favorites including this one.
Starting with …
JML
August 25, 2024
An innocent road trip with his lifelong best friend’s daughter to a prime viewing site for the solar eclipse puts them both in the gun sights of a would-be mass murderer obsessed with scoring the highest body count ever. Thorne’s response is, characteristically: “stepping into the moral wilderness which he’d prowled so often before. He should know his way by now.” (loc1522). As his angry best buddy, Sugarman, says, Thorne is always going to go with his “vigilante machismo act” (loc1062). Not good for maintaining fictional friendships, but great fodder for readers.
July 20, 2024
Thorn has elipsed Travis McGee and keeps heading for the stars!
Mr. Hall has knocked it out of the park with this one! Best Thorn novel to date! Really hope another is in the works!
Mr. Hall has knocked it out of the park with this one! Best Thorn novel to date! Really hope another is in the works!
August 12, 2024
Female President’s Vision?
Demonstrating the power of automatic weapons useful for cutting down trees, killing children and innocents. Maybe
female leader can bring moms to the voting booth and get these awful automatic weapons banned in our country.
Demonstrating the power of automatic weapons useful for cutting down trees, killing children and innocents. Maybe
female leader can bring moms to the voting booth and get these awful automatic weapons banned in our country.
July 16, 2024
weird but,
Despite all the talk and stuff, this finally gets to some good action after struggling with a dip into the dark net.
Despite all the talk and stuff, this finally gets to some good action after struggling with a dip into the dark net.
July 20, 2024
Another James W Hall ripper...a good ride
Characters you can get a feel for and a yarn that is both absorbing and timely.
And as always... James does his homework.
Characters you can get a feel for and a yarn that is both absorbing and timely.
And as always... James does his homework.
July 31, 2024
Love Thorn. So glad to see him back saving the world, again.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews