A Person of Interest

by Ernest Hill

One morning, Felicia is startled to see police at the house of her long-ago lover, Luther. When she learns that Luther's wife and young son have been murdered in their home, she refuses to accept the police's contention that the man she once loved could have committed the crime. Ernest Hill has won critical accolades and an ardent fan base for novels such as Cry Me a River. Hill's unflinching insight into the human condition is on full display in A Person of Interest.

Audible Audio

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Ernest Hill won great praise for his first novel, Satisfied with Nothin’, which made its way onto required reading lists at universities from UCLA to Syracuse. He is also the author of A Person of Interest, Cry Me a River, A Life for a Life, and Family Ties. Hill lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Reviews

[Greta · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book Person of Interest did little to hold my interest. First I would say that I had a difficult time with the writing style. The overuse of the ‘said’ was extremely annoying; someone should let the writer know that you don’t have to say he said or she said after every comment. It also seems as if the writer relied on a thesaurus for a lot of the words and terminology, resulting in the use of words that are not commonly used in the English language, such as ‘I adverted my eye”. There was very little character development and absolutely nothing to make me as a reader care about the main character Luther Jackson. Luther was pretty pathetic with no depth, void of emotions and had no sense of reality. Regarding the timeline, it seemed unrealistic that a murder, an attempted suicide, an arrest, a police investigation and trial could take place in a matter of days. The other main character Felecia was equally as pathetic! She spent all her time trying to figure out how to ‘get with’ a man whose wife and child were recently killed. She began putting her plan into motion even before the smoke was cleared from the fire that took their lives. The ‘Perry Mason’ moment in the courtroom was overdone and I found myself extremely displeased with the ending. If it were not for the fact that this was a book on tape, it would have been a ‘one chapter and done’ book for me!

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

(FROM JACKET)After a long absence, forty-year-old Felicia Fontenot has returned to her hometown to care for her ailing mother. Nestled in her quaint bedroom in a small, quiet community, Felicia adjusts to her new situation-including the fact that she now lives across the street from Luther Jackson, her first love-and his wife Juanita, the woman for whom he left her. But Felicia bears Luther no ill will. Their past is in the past. Yet no sooner has she settled in than the town is rocked by a tragic crime-one that hits all too close to home.

When Felicia is awakened one early morning by the piercing sound of sirens and the intense smell of smoke, she is shocked to find that the scene involves Luther's house, now cordoned off by reams of yellow police tape. To her dismay, she quickly learns that both Luther's pregnant wife and his young son have been horrifically killed. Felicia cannot imagine how Luther will go on without his family-she had only just seen them happily picnicking in their yard. But things are worse than Felicia thinks, for the police have instantly identified Luther as their prime suspect.

With nowhere else to turn, Luther's distraught aunt asks Felicia for help-leaving her torn between her mother's admonition not to get involved-and her own desire to clear Luther and perhaps gain a second chance for the love she has never forgotten. It is a journey that will lead Felicia to discover not only the depths of her own humanity, but the true meaning of love...

*I picked this book up because I really enjoyed "Life for a Life". This read, however, was disappointing and anticlimatic.

[ALM · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a first Ernest Hill read for me. While the "mystery of it all" was intriguing, I would have enjoyed it better if the Ex-Girlfriend didn't seem so one-sided. I did however, enjoy the full emotional kaleidoscope the story presented.

It would have also been interesting to have the story develop beyond the published end. It seemed as if once the who-done-it question was answered, the story rushed to an end.

[Tanishia Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by Ernest Hill. In this book, he steadily unfolds a story about a man who experiences unimaginable loss. Day by day things get worse. The story takes you through a myriad of emotions; while grabbing you in such a way that wills you to turn the pages. I enjoyed it and oh what an ending!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a first Ernest Hill for me but I would definitely read him again. The entire book had me in suspense wondering who could murder his family, the entire book was a page turner. Only 4/5 stars bc I felt the ending was slightly rushed and thrown together. With so much build up I would have enjoyed a smoother ending.

[Cheris Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very well written book, but there is no way in blue hell I would risk my life for an ex who left me for his dead wife. I felt as if Luther was selfish and Felicia was a little on the stalker ex side. But it was a good read. I just didn't like Luther at all.

[Damika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was sad, sad, sad. It kept me on the edge of my seat though, and I couldn't have predicted that sad, sad, sad ending.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

we you have so much respect for an author nothing he/she does is a flop this was a good slow read still would recommend!

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting, but the story left me wanting to know more about the characters. It just didn't feel complete, but it was still a good summer read.