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Harry Starke #3
Hill House
For more than ten years, she lay beneath the floorboards of Hill House. For more than ten years, she waited. Who was she? Who put her there? Why? Harry Starke vows to find the answers to those questions, but to do so he must embark upon an investigation that will put him and those close to him in deadly danger, take him deep into the underground city, the Dark Web, murder, organized crime, prostitution, and human trafficking. One by one, he peels back the layers, and with each one, he sinks a little deeper into the morass, the seamy underbelly of a world few know of, and even fewer want to be a part of. Hill House has many doors. None of them lead anywhere but into darkness and despair.
328 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2015
286 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Blair Howard
289 books344 followersBlair C. Howard is a Royal Air Force veteran, a retired journalist, and the best-selling author of more than 50 novels, including the international best-selling Harry Starke series, and 23 travel books. In 2021, having been fascinated by the heavens almost from childhood, and a SciFi fan for almost as long, he decided to try his hand at writing a military space opera. His first journey into this genre resulted in the Sovereign Stars series. Book 1 in the series, Avenger was quickly followed by Gods of War and Armored Fleet.
Blair lives in East Tennessee with his wife Jo, and Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.
Blair lives in East Tennessee with his wife Jo, and Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 22, 2018
When the body of a dead girl is found inside the walls of an old, decaying mansion, Starke gets on the case. This leads him to a vicious human trafficking ring.
Not bad.
Not bad.
December 1, 2025
I like the characters in this series. Harry seems to be settling down a little. Maybe. It is awful what some people, pretending to help kids, put them through. It makes me so angry. I am glad that the author chose to show people doing good along with the creeps.
Read
September 28, 2020Hill House (Harry Starke #3), my twenty-first read from author Blair Howard after reading all 5 books in the Harry Stark Genesis series & all 9 books in the Kare Gazzara series I figured it was high time to go back to the beginning. Well-written and enjoyable, edge of your seat detective fiction. I look forward to Checkmate (Harry Starke #4). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
April 10, 2021
Book three of the Harry Starke series by Blair Howard is really enjoyable. The series hits its stride, with a group of interesting characters and a solid, suspenseful story. Also, the narrator has got his accent under control.
August 6, 2021
Another excellent Harry Starke read by Blair Howard. I am really enjoying this series.
January 20, 2016
Review of Hill House by Blair Howard
Hill House is the third novel on a mystery series that is quickly winning the attention of the readers, the Harry Starke series. Even though this is a series, the book could be read as a standalone. Nevertheless, I truly recommend to start with the first book, it is amazing and would let you meet some great characters that would accompany our dear and unpredictable detective, Harry Starke.
The author was a very unique way to start his novels. Always letting you see a fleeting moment of what seems to be a quiet, normal or boring moment in the life of Starke. He is thinking about other people, what he will do later or work stuff but there is nothing that is consuming his mind. It is very interesting that the author decides to start everything this way because in the course of a few paragraphs, maybe a page, everything in our hero’s life does a 180°. This, in my opinion, has become one of the seal marks of Mr. Howard’s novels and, certainly, the one I love and treasure the most because it lets you see how one’s life can change in a second and that we are the ones that can choose to ignore our call and move on or do what we must, unknowingly craving out path into the world and other’s lives.
There is something very special about Harry Starke. I have followed him through his multiple cases and I feel that with every book I get to find out a little bit more about the true identity of our detective. What I love about him is the multiple facets, personalities if you will, that conform his character and how they complement each other. I have seen our detective joke and prank Loonie, an acquaintance that h wishes was not, but on the next second he is turning into Sherlock Holmes or a man with appreciative thoughts regarding the beautiful policewoman that once was more than an acquaintance/friend/coworker. He is a very complex character but, I believe, that what I like most about him is the fact that even when he has seen a thousand of crime scenes, he still has a sense of humanity that coexist with the logic he needs to find the culprits of the crime and make them pay for it. A lot of people have asked me what I mean by humanity, well, maybe what I mean is more like compassion and solidarity. In a homicide, he doesn’t seen dead bodies or skeletons but the face of someone that was alive, that was robbed of his life. I have heard him call sweetheart a poor child that lost her life due to human trafficking, asking to her and himself what happened to her and getting angry in her place. Honestly, that truly touched my heart.
In this novel, we get to see our beloved smart mouth detective trying to uncover the secrets involved in a cold case, a homicide with possible sexual assault of a teen girl. The poor thing has remained in an abandoned house for what seems to be a couple of decades, waiting for someone to find her under the floor and help her tell her story and catch the culprits. Of course, that person could be no other than Harry Starke, who will stop nothing to uncover the secrets behind that old house and the poor girl. With nothing more than the possible age of the victim, a silver cross and a gold ring, he embarks himself on a journey that will take him to the underground world, where human trafficking and prostitution are common and, might even be the least of your worries.
5 fangs
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
Hill House is the third novel on a mystery series that is quickly winning the attention of the readers, the Harry Starke series. Even though this is a series, the book could be read as a standalone. Nevertheless, I truly recommend to start with the first book, it is amazing and would let you meet some great characters that would accompany our dear and unpredictable detective, Harry Starke.
The author was a very unique way to start his novels. Always letting you see a fleeting moment of what seems to be a quiet, normal or boring moment in the life of Starke. He is thinking about other people, what he will do later or work stuff but there is nothing that is consuming his mind. It is very interesting that the author decides to start everything this way because in the course of a few paragraphs, maybe a page, everything in our hero’s life does a 180°. This, in my opinion, has become one of the seal marks of Mr. Howard’s novels and, certainly, the one I love and treasure the most because it lets you see how one’s life can change in a second and that we are the ones that can choose to ignore our call and move on or do what we must, unknowingly craving out path into the world and other’s lives.
There is something very special about Harry Starke. I have followed him through his multiple cases and I feel that with every book I get to find out a little bit more about the true identity of our detective. What I love about him is the multiple facets, personalities if you will, that conform his character and how they complement each other. I have seen our detective joke and prank Loonie, an acquaintance that h wishes was not, but on the next second he is turning into Sherlock Holmes or a man with appreciative thoughts regarding the beautiful policewoman that once was more than an acquaintance/friend/coworker. He is a very complex character but, I believe, that what I like most about him is the fact that even when he has seen a thousand of crime scenes, he still has a sense of humanity that coexist with the logic he needs to find the culprits of the crime and make them pay for it. A lot of people have asked me what I mean by humanity, well, maybe what I mean is more like compassion and solidarity. In a homicide, he doesn’t seen dead bodies or skeletons but the face of someone that was alive, that was robbed of his life. I have heard him call sweetheart a poor child that lost her life due to human trafficking, asking to her and himself what happened to her and getting angry in her place. Honestly, that truly touched my heart.
In this novel, we get to see our beloved smart mouth detective trying to uncover the secrets involved in a cold case, a homicide with possible sexual assault of a teen girl. The poor thing has remained in an abandoned house for what seems to be a couple of decades, waiting for someone to find her under the floor and help her tell her story and catch the culprits. Of course, that person could be no other than Harry Starke, who will stop nothing to uncover the secrets behind that old house and the poor girl. With nothing more than the possible age of the victim, a silver cross and a gold ring, he embarks himself on a journey that will take him to the underground world, where human trafficking and prostitution are common and, might even be the least of your worries.
5 fangs
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
August 1, 2017
This book was part of a bundle of this author's first three Harry Starke detective novels. I purchased it for my kindle and read all three straight through. This one was the best, in my opinion. I was totally surprised, though, that a detective so involved in crime in Chattanooga would know so little about sex trafficking. He had to go see an expert to get the facts. Where has he been?? This is all over the news and I've been aware of it for many years.
The first book was okay as a quick read murder mystery. This second book is the same. However, I began disliking Harry Starke in the second book. He's apparently a young soul who has not evolved himself beyond his current state, which is more like a teenager. He has not gotten beyond seeing only appearances in people rather than seeing who they really are. He especially judges women according to how beautiful they are, or not. His description of one woman, in particular, really turned me off. These books are full of descriptions of clothing and how far up the knee the skirt is cut or the name brand of Harry's shoes. I find this disgusting. Harry Starke is not a man I would like. He reminded me of Donald Trump in his attitude toward women.
I stuck it out and read all three of these as pure entertainment and just because I really hate quitting something I've started, if I can help myself. However, I will not be purchasing any more of this author's books.
The first book was okay as a quick read murder mystery. This second book is the same. However, I began disliking Harry Starke in the second book. He's apparently a young soul who has not evolved himself beyond his current state, which is more like a teenager. He has not gotten beyond seeing only appearances in people rather than seeing who they really are. He especially judges women according to how beautiful they are, or not. His description of one woman, in particular, really turned me off. These books are full of descriptions of clothing and how far up the knee the skirt is cut or the name brand of Harry's shoes. I find this disgusting. Harry Starke is not a man I would like. He reminded me of Donald Trump in his attitude toward women.
I stuck it out and read all three of these as pure entertainment and just because I really hate quitting something I've started, if I can help myself. However, I will not be purchasing any more of this author's books.
September 26, 2019
This is book 3 in a bundled set. First introduction to Harry Stark, former cop in Chattanooga, TN but now a well respected Private Eye. He still hangs our with his firmer partner and romantic interest, Lt. Kate Gazarra. This story revolves around a skeleton found in floor boards of a former homeless shelter about to be demolished. Up on further investigation, another body is found in the drain in the basement. The team headed by Harry Stark look for The Who done it and whether or not the mob guy is involved. Surprise, surprise the mob guy is involved. Threatens to hurt Harry or his friends if he doesn’t get out of the case. Of course, Harry won’t quit. Always sad when young people are hidden and then forced to work in local hotels with older men. Going on everywhere but Chattanooga has a very involved web based sex trade. This was the best book of the bundled three and by this book Tom Lenard, the narrator, had won me over. I will be back to complete the Harry Stark series. Give him a try if you like true crime stories, and old detectives with bad language and the never give up attitude.
November 2, 2017
Harry Starke is back in book 3 of the series. This time he is called in on a cold case when a body is found beneath the floorboards of Hill House, a once grand Civil War era home that is in complete disrepair and is scheduled for demolition. Nothing is left but bones, a ring and a cross necklace. Harry puts his staff to work delving into the history of Hill House and searching missing persons records. Hill House was most recently owned by 2 different couples who both ran homes for needy homeless girls and still run those homes in new locations. Both couples seem to be hiding something. Of course, this being. Harry Starke, thugs and mobsters are involved and Harry's life and the lives of those close to him are in danger. This book delves into the Dark Web, prostitution, and human trafficking. I enjoyed following Harry to the conclusion of the case. I received a copy of this book from the author and the Review Club.
September 12, 2021
Hill House starts with Harry Starke being called on to help out with an old murder case when the remains of a long dead teenager are found hidden in the floor of the house of the title. This is a fairly dark story that tackles some tough issues. It’s not in any way gratuitous and leaves the details to the reader but it's there. It fires up our hero too, making this case much more personal as he battles to find the people responsible. I personally really enjoyed it as much as I did the first two books of the series. It’s well written and keeps up a steady pace with Starke working the clues to discover what happened all those years ago. Aside from Starke himself Blair Howard has created a good cast of supporting characters that all bring something to the story. Overall this is another good addition to the series.
December 31, 2017
A few days before Christmas, Harry gets a call from Kate that she needs his help. He arrives at a historic old facility known to all as Hill House. The last two inhabitants of the now derelict estate were running homes from runaways and and other young people society had no use for. The house is scheduled to be torn down and some enterprising men were trying to salvage some expensive wood from the floors when they discover a body, well skeleton, really, wrapped in plastic and stuffed down between the wood joists beneath the floor. So begins another mystery for Harry and Kate and their respective cohorts to unravel and track down. Eventually the CSIs find another body left in a drain pipe. Many, many mysteries to be solved.
June 24, 2019
Hill House - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Kate Gazzara calls Harry in to investigate [as a police consultant], a murder victim whose semi-mummified corpse has been found under the floorboards of a former children's home, which specialised in 'rescuing' street kids from the misery of living rough, now a specialist medically-supervised young people's rehab centre, whose current managers say they know nothing about what went on before they purchased the Home. Tensions run high when another body is found - this time in a drain in the basement floor, where the previous 'managers' kept children in squalor, while using them as child prostitutes.
As we all know, truth will out - especially when Harry and Kate are on the case!
Kate Gazzara calls Harry in to investigate [as a police consultant], a murder victim whose semi-mummified corpse has been found under the floorboards of a former children's home, which specialised in 'rescuing' street kids from the misery of living rough, now a specialist medically-supervised young people's rehab centre, whose current managers say they know nothing about what went on before they purchased the Home. Tensions run high when another body is found - this time in a drain in the basement floor, where the previous 'managers' kept children in squalor, while using them as child prostitutes.
As we all know, truth will out - especially when Harry and Kate are on the case!
June 24, 2020
The majority of people would not encounter child trafficking, or even prostitution.
To hear that hardened investigators were amazed at the extent of these problems were possibly eye opening to the reader. It isn't something that people would likely think about, unless like this episode, it is highlighted and stuck under your nose.
Anyway, as usual Harry solves a number of situations in this episode that was daunting and evading the police scrutiny.
Yes, as Harry tends to remind Kate, he's not bound by the same rules as the police force is.
Yes, this is an awesome series, to this point.
To hear that hardened investigators were amazed at the extent of these problems were possibly eye opening to the reader. It isn't something that people would likely think about, unless like this episode, it is highlighted and stuck under your nose.
Anyway, as usual Harry solves a number of situations in this episode that was daunting and evading the police scrutiny.
Yes, as Harry tends to remind Kate, he's not bound by the same rules as the police force is.
Yes, this is an awesome series, to this point.
December 28, 2020
How do you solve a ten year old murder? A girl found under the floor of Hill House, of a runaway home for girls. The horror of secrets that Harry uncovers is a bit sickening, but human trafficking is a sickening subject, and the fact is goes on in our own country makes it worse. Harry's new girlfriend, Amanda helps him uncover the old dirt on Hill House and its previous owners. There's plenty of action and some down right dirty dealings, but it seems nothing will stop Harry from giving the girl buried in the floor of Hill House justice. The surprising twist will make you squirm.
March 15, 2021
This was a disappointing 3rd book in the series. It turned into a soap opera and melodrama with the distractions of relationship minutia and the random ramblings that did not contribute to the story. The girlfriend distractions detracted from the story. It made the reader care less about the Harry Starke character. I finished the book just to finish it. Previous books are better. The writer needs to stick to the mystery and drama and action to keep the pages turning. I will not be reading the next books since I no longer care about the character.
April 9, 2021
Who knows...
Maybe reading just book 3 of a longer series doesn’t qualify me to give a fair review. We have a private investigator, with apparently deep pockets; who appears to not have to work for a living. The author should have clarified that. The author spends too much time describing the brand of clothes people wear, and not enough time on scene settings. The characters themselves come off as one dimensional. There was definitely not enough there to make me want to read another in the series.
Maybe reading just book 3 of a longer series doesn’t qualify me to give a fair review. We have a private investigator, with apparently deep pockets; who appears to not have to work for a living. The author should have clarified that. The author spends too much time describing the brand of clothes people wear, and not enough time on scene settings. The characters themselves come off as one dimensional. There was definitely not enough there to make me want to read another in the series.
April 24, 2021
Harry Starke was a private investigator. He dated Kate who worked with him for along time. Hill House was a place for homeless teenagers or those who run away. The place was to be demolished.Hill House was bought by someone else then. Years later they found a body of a young girl behind one of the walls. Investigating who she was Starke was to search for . Turns out more than just a murdered girl seems to Starke that this could very well be a sex trafficking situation going on at Hill House. The main man wanted Starke for a long time. Down to whose going to kill whom it seemed.
January 8, 2022
I am currently working on a binge of Harry Starke novels/audio books and now that I have got used to Tom's narration style it does work (I had assumed Harry had a different voice based on the books but that is just me). The author does not steer aware from hard subjects but it does take a while to get used to his writing style - he definitely writes from the male perspective. But given all of that it works and it is nice to read/listen to such a different take on the police procedural/detective story.
I was given a free copy by the narrator but the review is entirely my own.
I was given a free copy by the narrator but the review is entirely my own.
December 14, 2017
Harry has his work cut out for him in this mystery. When a body is found under the floor boards of Hill House, Harry is determined to find out who she is and who put her there. Doing that maybe more than he bargained for. It could cost him everything he holds dear. The Dark Web doesn't like to be messed with! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Reading Deals. The review is my own opinion.
February 21, 2018
"Harry Starke Is In Danger"
This new case for Harry Starke is complex. For ten years a woman's body has laid below the floorboards of the Hill House. His investigation will take him into danger. This dark mystery web entraps him into murder, organized crime, prostitution, and human trafficking. Layer by layer Harry reveals the truth of this cold case. Highly suspenseful and intriguing. You'll be amazed.
This new case for Harry Starke is complex. For ten years a woman's body has laid below the floorboards of the Hill House. His investigation will take him into danger. This dark mystery web entraps him into murder, organized crime, prostitution, and human trafficking. Layer by layer Harry reveals the truth of this cold case. Highly suspenseful and intriguing. You'll be amazed.
July 23, 2018
The second Harry Starks novel finds a body under the floorboards of an old abandoned house. It used to be a influential area of Chattanooga, but after years of decline, the old too of the line homes were gone. A perfect place to hide bodies which resulted from murder. Once in the trail Harry finds the inner circle of organized crime which controls the prostitution and human trafficing. Harry strips way below normal society to solve this death. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
May 13, 2020
Hill House has been condemned. An eyesore that has a lot of history. Before demolition is started a young girl's body is found, wrapped in plastic, under the floorboards. Harry vows to find out who she was, how she died, and who's responsible. This investigation will take Harry to a dark place most people don't want to know exists. Human trafficking, prostitution, murder and mayhem. Harry risks his own life poking his PI nose into business that other's don't want him involved in.
January 18, 2021
The Fall of Hill House
Now.this was one really good.read and everything you would want in a thriller, with some sinister happenings going on. This story finds Harry involved in a.murder that happened a long time ago and he discovers that something else and more than usual suspects are involved. This was very good entertainment and coupled with a man ,who has a healthy appetite for beautiful women makes for good reading.
Now.this was one really good.read and everything you would want in a thriller, with some sinister happenings going on. This story finds Harry involved in a.murder that happened a long time ago and he discovers that something else and more than usual suspects are involved. This was very good entertainment and coupled with a man ,who has a healthy appetite for beautiful women makes for good reading.
November 18, 2016
Third book of the trilogy has Harry and Co. up against a group of childe traffickers when the bodies of two young people are found in a house scheduled for demolition. Continuing characters on both sides of the law as each case unfolded. Not a bad read, will look out for some more when,if ever, my TBR pile diminishes.
February 19, 2018
Good read They find a young girl under the floor boards of a house. They start looking for the one that run two homeless shelters for runaways. Sal Da Luca is of course involved again. Amanda moves in with Harry temporary while Sal is threatening all of Harry's friends now he is not sure where he wants things to go with that.
June 5, 2019
AN AWESOME, AWESOME READ!!
ANOTHER NON-STOP READ!!
Harry get involved in the case of a girl's body, found under a floor, in a soon to be demolished. Soon, another body show up, a young boy, this time. Both bodies, had been hidden for many years. Harry, his crew and Kate must go thru years and years of information to solve this mystery.
ANOTHER NON-STOP READ!!
Harry get involved in the case of a girl's body, found under a floor, in a soon to be demolished. Soon, another body show up, a young boy, this time. Both bodies, had been hidden for many years. Harry, his crew and Kate must go thru years and years of information to solve this mystery.
April 25, 2020
31-2020. I’ve read the first three books in this series. It I think I’m done with them now. Our hero is just a little too much. Hard drinking, rich, tough, good with the ladies, and a crime-solving dude. Still, it’s just a bit too easy for him.
This book was just fine, and there are some quality and people to chase, but I just can’t take the lead character any more.
This book was just fine, and there are some quality and people to chase, but I just can’t take the lead character any more.
June 5, 2020
Hill House is a great murder mystery about a cold case of a teenage girl found in an abandoned house. This is by far my favorite of the first three Harry Starke books.
Contains violence and mild sexual content along with talk about pedophilia, rape, and child prostitution. Recommended for mature readers.
The narrator of the audiobook does a great job and is well suited for the book.
Contains violence and mild sexual content along with talk about pedophilia, rape, and child prostitution. Recommended for mature readers.
The narrator of the audiobook does a great job and is well suited for the book.
July 7, 2020
Can you figure out who is who?
Hill House is a comfortable read. The characters retain their qualities and are cohesive within the series. There are several twists and turns that lead you in many different directions. Action packed, as usual. I did not figure out the.mi liked the surprise.
Hill House is a comfortable read. The characters retain their qualities and are cohesive within the series. There are several twists and turns that lead you in many different directions. Action packed, as usual. I did not figure out the.mi liked the surprise.
August 25, 2020
It’s difficult to see into the dark shadows of things; literally and figuratively. Harry and Kate are searching into deep corners of things that lie in secret to find the truth about two homeless shelters. The damage that one person can do to another is unbelievable!!! As always, Mr. Howard writes a well written book, lots of twists and turns. I really like this book!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews