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The Sacrifice of Lester Yates
Lester Yates is the notorious Egypt Valley Strangler, one of the country’s most prolific serial killers. Or, is he? Yates is two months from his date with the executioner when Ohio Attorney General Hutch Van Buren is presented with evidence that could exonerate him. But Yates is a political pawn, and forces exist that don’t want him exonerated, regardless of the evidence. To do so could derail presidential aspirations and change the national political landscape. Yates’ execution will clear a wide political path for many influential people, including Van Buren, who must battle both the clock and a political machine of which he is a part.
Robin Yocum has been compared with E. Annie Proulx for his authenticity of place, and Elmore Leonard for his well-laid plots and perfect pacing. Arcade is thrilled to publish The Sacrifice of Lester Yates, which is Yocum at his best: suspenseful, political, and smart.
Robin Yocum has been compared with E. Annie Proulx for his authenticity of place, and Elmore Leonard for his well-laid plots and perfect pacing. Arcade is thrilled to publish The Sacrifice of Lester Yates, which is Yocum at his best: suspenseful, political, and smart.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 27, 2021
119 people are currently reading
624 people want to read
About the author
Robin Yocum
19 books316 followersRobin Yocum is the author of the award-winning, critically acclaimed novel, Favorite Sons (June 2012, Arcade Publishing). Favorite Sons was named the 2011 USA Book News Book of the Year for Mystery/Suspense, and is a Choose to Read Ohio selection for 2013-14. His latest novel, The Essay, was released in October 2012 by Arcade. He also is the author of Dead Before Deadline, a compilation of stories from his days as a crime beat reporter with the Columbus Dispatch, and Insured for Murder, which he co-authored with Dispatch colleague Catherine Candisky. Robin joined the Columbus Dispatch as a reporter in 1980 and worked at the paper for eleven years, spending four years on the crime beat, followed by a post as senior reporter on the investigative desk. He won more than 30 local, state and national awards while at the paper. Yocum has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
December 20, 2020
“You Can’t Make a Silk Purse From a Sow’s Ear”.
My favorite quote from the book. My Grandmother and mother used to say this and I’ve followed in their wake. I was elated to see this saying revived but I don’t want to give away what it pertains to.
I love conspiracy theories! My reading enjoyment was likely assured prompting me to request this. I’m so happy I did because I loved it from the first pages.
Lester Yates is a walking dead man. Through faulty logistics or a deliberate frame up, he’s scheduled for execution in less than eight weeks with no hope. Those in lofty government positions have much to gain if the serial murder cases are wrapped before election time. He’s going down…
State Attorney General Hutch Van Buren begins investigating the “solved” murders attempting to quell a suspicion that an innocent man is going to die. How could a person with such a slight stature have the physical strength to strangle so many women? Not to mention that he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed...
Our main character is flawed with redeeming qualities and I found myself hoping for his success and while I’m not a political aficionado, I loved the descriptions of various job titles and duties.
The prose was easy to read and I raced through it but now wish I hadn’t finished so soon.
Thank you to Edelweiss, the author and the publisher for my advance readers’ copy!
My favorite quote from the book. My Grandmother and mother used to say this and I’ve followed in their wake. I was elated to see this saying revived but I don’t want to give away what it pertains to.
I love conspiracy theories! My reading enjoyment was likely assured prompting me to request this. I’m so happy I did because I loved it from the first pages.
Lester Yates is a walking dead man. Through faulty logistics or a deliberate frame up, he’s scheduled for execution in less than eight weeks with no hope. Those in lofty government positions have much to gain if the serial murder cases are wrapped before election time. He’s going down…
State Attorney General Hutch Van Buren begins investigating the “solved” murders attempting to quell a suspicion that an innocent man is going to die. How could a person with such a slight stature have the physical strength to strangle so many women? Not to mention that he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed...
Our main character is flawed with redeeming qualities and I found myself hoping for his success and while I’m not a political aficionado, I loved the descriptions of various job titles and duties.
The prose was easy to read and I raced through it but now wish I hadn’t finished so soon.
Thank you to Edelweiss, the author and the publisher for my advance readers’ copy!
April 19, 2021
Hutchinson Van Burlen is Ohio’s elected State Prosecutor and future potential Attorney General, if he can stick to the politics and play his role. A prison guard brings him a case to review of a potential innocent death row inmate. So begins an investigation that is going to upset his political benefactor and jeopardise his career advancement. Initially, what seems a true crime tale, turns into a combination murder mystery and legal thriller of the highest order. The Sacrifice of Lester Yates by Robin Yocum is a fast pacing death row countdown with many an unexpected turn. A captivating tale and engrossing legal thriller with a five-star must-read rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.
September 11, 2021
Yocum’s “The Sacrifice Of Lester Yates” is a top-notch exciting legal thriller. You have to begin with the caveat that the legal system functions quite well in reality and the prisons are filled with guilty men, not innocent ones, and that no death row inmate would be without a team of government-paid lawyers picking apart their trials to the last second while few even have a clue what the victim’s names were. However, this is fiction, not reality, and exciting fiction is set up when you have a state attorney general fearing that the wrong man is due for execution and time is ticking away.
This novel is incredibly well written and, if this is a good example of Yocum’s work, then we have lots more good reading ahead. The pace is tremendous and the characters well thought out. Van Buren is not the tilting at windmills type of crusader. He’s the average guy who wants to do the right thing. He just doesn’t realize when he starts what a giant can of worms he’s opening.
The description of what Van Buren feels as he ascends political office and loses touch with what matters is great: “I could see the skyline through my own reflection on the tinted windows. There were mornings when I wasn’t sure I liked the man staring back at me. It was not the creases that ran away from the corners of my eyes, the flecks of gray or the softening of the jowls that I found troubling. It was my eyes, and it was what I didn’t see that troubled me. They had lost their fire.”
Lester Yates himself was an all-time loser, resigned to his lot in life: “His brown eyes weren’t sad, but simply resigned to a world that had dictated terms from the day he was born. I doubted anyone had ever taken the time to teach him how to throw a baseball or put on deodorant, or had helped him with his math homework. What he knew about life he had absorbed from the sidelines, never quite sure how to get in the game. His entire life had been spent taking orders from teachers and bosses and prison guards.”
Also, the novel shows the reader in this legal -political thriller the different areas of Ohio from the cosmopolitan Columbus to the Ohio River Valley where rotting factories and opioid addiction dots the landscape: “The Ohio Valley was a mere shadow of the one that I had known. There were a pitiful few steel mill jobs left in 2007, and the once-smoking behemoths that lined the banks of the Ohio River were mostly cold and silent. The air was clean now, but good jobs were few.”
An absolutely great read.
This novel is incredibly well written and, if this is a good example of Yocum’s work, then we have lots more good reading ahead. The pace is tremendous and the characters well thought out. Van Buren is not the tilting at windmills type of crusader. He’s the average guy who wants to do the right thing. He just doesn’t realize when he starts what a giant can of worms he’s opening.
The description of what Van Buren feels as he ascends political office and loses touch with what matters is great: “I could see the skyline through my own reflection on the tinted windows. There were mornings when I wasn’t sure I liked the man staring back at me. It was not the creases that ran away from the corners of my eyes, the flecks of gray or the softening of the jowls that I found troubling. It was my eyes, and it was what I didn’t see that troubled me. They had lost their fire.”
Lester Yates himself was an all-time loser, resigned to his lot in life: “His brown eyes weren’t sad, but simply resigned to a world that had dictated terms from the day he was born. I doubted anyone had ever taken the time to teach him how to throw a baseball or put on deodorant, or had helped him with his math homework. What he knew about life he had absorbed from the sidelines, never quite sure how to get in the game. His entire life had been spent taking orders from teachers and bosses and prison guards.”
Also, the novel shows the reader in this legal -political thriller the different areas of Ohio from the cosmopolitan Columbus to the Ohio River Valley where rotting factories and opioid addiction dots the landscape: “The Ohio Valley was a mere shadow of the one that I had known. There were a pitiful few steel mill jobs left in 2007, and the once-smoking behemoths that lined the banks of the Ohio River were mostly cold and silent. The air was clean now, but good jobs were few.”
An absolutely great read.
February 7, 2021
Grit-lit meets high-stakes legal/political thriller in this momentum-laden but formulaic outing from Robin Yocum, whose crime novels about the changing culture of the Ohio River Valley are among my all-time favorites.
Here, Yocum stretches himself out, presumably into John Grisham territory in a bid for a deserved wider audience, and it's a fun, zippy, well-plotted read despite the fact that you know exactly where it's going. Hutch Van Buren, Ohio's elected attorney general, has his eyes on the national office — and knows his fate is hitched to that of Big Jim Wilinksi, the state's charismatic Republican governor. But when he starts reviewing the case of a dim bulb of a man up for execution as a serial killer, Hutch finds that the more he learns, the more Lester Yates may be innocent — and that the cover-up that led to Yates' conviction appears to lead back to the governor's shadowy fixers — and, maybe, the governor himself.
It cannot be said that Yocum didn't accomplish exactly what he set out to do, and do it with an unimpeachable sense of authenticity of place like the career journalist he is. I was emotionally caught up in Hutch's race against the ticking clock. Yocum is a rare talent, and even formulaic Yocum is a Yocum worth celebrating.
(Thanks to NetGalley for an advance electronic copy of THE SACRIFICE OF LESTER YATES.)
Here, Yocum stretches himself out, presumably into John Grisham territory in a bid for a deserved wider audience, and it's a fun, zippy, well-plotted read despite the fact that you know exactly where it's going. Hutch Van Buren, Ohio's elected attorney general, has his eyes on the national office — and knows his fate is hitched to that of Big Jim Wilinksi, the state's charismatic Republican governor. But when he starts reviewing the case of a dim bulb of a man up for execution as a serial killer, Hutch finds that the more he learns, the more Lester Yates may be innocent — and that the cover-up that led to Yates' conviction appears to lead back to the governor's shadowy fixers — and, maybe, the governor himself.
It cannot be said that Yocum didn't accomplish exactly what he set out to do, and do it with an unimpeachable sense of authenticity of place like the career journalist he is. I was emotionally caught up in Hutch's race against the ticking clock. Yocum is a rare talent, and even formulaic Yocum is a Yocum worth celebrating.
(Thanks to NetGalley for an advance electronic copy of THE SACRIFICE OF LESTER YATES.)
May 12, 2021
From beginning to end The Sacrifice of Lester Yates captivated me. Robin Yocum, a new-to-me author, can seriously write. His descriptions and knowledge of the grittier side of Ohio and midwestern politics are so spot on, it truly is impeccable writing. Labeled as a "legal thriller," I thought it was more of political suspense. It's a story told well, not an edge of your seat thrill ride.
What was most interesting for me is that the book is told from a Republican politicians viewpoint something I tend to avoid. However, here was a pro-death penalty guy working like crazy to get an innocent man off of death row. He also does a great job of showing the nasty underbelly of party politics which we see so much today in the US.
I loved the book and highly recommend it. I'll be reading the prequel now and am happy to have found another great midwestern author to follow.
What was most interesting for me is that the book is told from a Republican politicians viewpoint something I tend to avoid. However, here was a pro-death penalty guy working like crazy to get an innocent man off of death row. He also does a great job of showing the nasty underbelly of party politics which we see so much today in the US.
I loved the book and highly recommend it. I'll be reading the prequel now and am happy to have found another great midwestern author to follow.
April 13, 2022
Solid legal drama where a simple minded man on death row very possibly is innocent. Attorney General Hutch Van Buren is a powerful character and he leaves no stone unturned to get to the truth even as he pisses off very powerful and influential politicians. Well written.
July 7, 2021
Another very good read from now one of my favourite authors Robin Yocum. I was very pleased to see his new release was available on netgalley and quickly scooped it up. We are reunited with main character Hutch from a previous novel the very very good Forgotten Sons. Hutch is now the attorney general for Ohio and is presented with evidence that a man believed guilty of the murder of several young women may possibly be innocent. The book takes on kind of a John Grisham formula but it's done very well and though you may know where the story will end up there are still a few twists that I did not see coming. The pages flew by in this one and not quite as good as Favorite Sons, but I'll round it up to 5 stars and thank netgalley for the chance to review.
September 24, 2022
I really liked this book. I have been looking for another John Grisham-type writer with no joy. Until now. Mr Yocum writes very well, engaging, humorous and good character development. No court room scenes in this but still a legal thriller. I am looking forward to reading his prequel Favourite Sons. Recommended.
May 7, 2021
Hold your breath!
You are in for a great ride with this book!
Robin Yocum’s books have so much to offer. In this case, he once again revisits Southern Ohio, giving a realistic picture of the environment and the lives of people who live there. The people run the gamut from good to bad. But, there is always a sense of decency about those who finally prevail.
The Sacrifice of Lester Yates commands interest immediately and builds in intensity until I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The end is a surprise, but all the ground work had been laid, and it all made sense.
A plus for people familiar with Columbus, Ohio: much of the book takes place in Columbus, so some of the characters may seem vaguely familiar, and the author uses actual street names and locations.
You are in for a great ride with this book!
Robin Yocum’s books have so much to offer. In this case, he once again revisits Southern Ohio, giving a realistic picture of the environment and the lives of people who live there. The people run the gamut from good to bad. But, there is always a sense of decency about those who finally prevail.
The Sacrifice of Lester Yates commands interest immediately and builds in intensity until I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The end is a surprise, but all the ground work had been laid, and it all made sense.
A plus for people familiar with Columbus, Ohio: much of the book takes place in Columbus, so some of the characters may seem vaguely familiar, and the author uses actual street names and locations.
May 19, 2021
I so enjoy his writing - partly because of my familiarity with the setting. Also every character has a vivid description and a background. This attention to detail makes them come alive. The plot took some unexpected turns that I was not anticipating. I’m recommending this one.
June 6, 2023
Couldn’t put this book down! In this book, Hutch Van Buren, Ohio’s Attorney General is given possible evidence which could stop the execution of Lester Yates which is scheduled in 2 months time. His legal team races to track down one lead after another. This legal thriller is fast paced and well written. I love the Ohio setting with references to Columbus, Akron and southern Ohio.
May 16, 2021
I started this book at around 8pm last night. It’s now 3am and I just finished because I absolutely could not stop reading it. What a fabulous book. A marvelous whodunnit. I would read it again just to get more of the main character’s secretary, Margaret. To say nothing of intern Denise.
March 9, 2022
I have read all his books. Never have I giving anything less than 4 stars.
February 6, 2023
Complex and well-developed mystery.
July 19, 2023
The conclusion kept me up past my bedtime. I just had to finish the book!
May 9, 2021
A fabulous read. A page-turner from page one. Robin introduces and then develops wonderful characters all of whom play important roles in a well thought out plot. It is entertaining and spell binding; fast paced and full of surprises. His writing is clear and economical, something I value from my years of writing for newspapers. Great fun, Robin! What’s next - and when???? Dave Ferguson
May 5, 2021
One of my favorite authors, never disappoints.
May 1, 2021
For the full review, please visit my blog: https://reviewthickandthin.com/2021/0...
The book is fast-paced and intriguing. The plot is well-laid, the characters are interesting, and as for what happens to Lester Yates has me hooked till the last word. Yocum takes you on a journey filled with strong and powerful characters, including Van Buren, his secretary- Margaret Benning, and Liberatore.
The story has well-developed characters, and they all have their backstories and strengths and weaknesses that impact the storyline. Even though the book is a political thriller, there is more to it than just politics, politicians, and prison. The book does include humor and shows its characters in a softer light as well. While the conclusion is not suspenseful, it is the journey to get to it that is exhilarating.
This book has kept me awake at night, and I have read till I ended up drooling on my kindle. I truly enjoyed the book and give it 5/5 stars. I haven't checked for the correctness of the political terminologies or processes used, and hence, it does not impact my rating. For readers who have loved the work of Elmore Leonard and E. Annie Proulx, this should be your next read. Thanks, NetGalley, and Skyhorse Publishing, for the DRC.
The book is fast-paced and intriguing. The plot is well-laid, the characters are interesting, and as for what happens to Lester Yates has me hooked till the last word. Yocum takes you on a journey filled with strong and powerful characters, including Van Buren, his secretary- Margaret Benning, and Liberatore.
The story has well-developed characters, and they all have their backstories and strengths and weaknesses that impact the storyline. Even though the book is a political thriller, there is more to it than just politics, politicians, and prison. The book does include humor and shows its characters in a softer light as well. While the conclusion is not suspenseful, it is the journey to get to it that is exhilarating.
This book has kept me awake at night, and I have read till I ended up drooling on my kindle. I truly enjoyed the book and give it 5/5 stars. I haven't checked for the correctness of the political terminologies or processes used, and hence, it does not impact my rating. For readers who have loved the work of Elmore Leonard and E. Annie Proulx, this should be your next read. Thanks, NetGalley, and Skyhorse Publishing, for the DRC.
April 14, 2021
Lester Yates is on death row for the murders of young women but now, as his execution date nears, Hutch Van Buren realizes something isn't right. As Attorney General of Ohio, he's been at the side of the Governor Big Jim Wilinski and hopes to ride his coat tails to higher political office. Turns out, however, things aren't so cut and dried. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The problems with the case and the answers Hutch find might not be so surprising but fans of the thriller than blends law and political conspiracy might give this one a try for the well crafted characters.
December 11, 2020
Sacrifice of Lester Yates was quite different from the books I usually read because it was told completely from the POV of a Republican. The differences were stark at times, including unnecessary violence from the main character. He also supports the death penalty, covered up a murder when he was younger, eats a meat lovers sandwich, and doesn’t seem to trust most Democrats.
Despite these character flaws, he also loves animals and wants to do right by the titular character. Of course, when he begins investigating the Yates case, he’s initially interested in saving the Governor of Ohio’s political ambitions. And his own, too. He wasn’t even trying to get Yates out of prison. He simply wanted a stay of execution and a possible switch to life in prison without parole.
Surprisingly, even with characters purposely killing squirrels and so many other moments that made it feel like I was in an alternate reality, I did enjoy the story. There were a few flaws in the author’s storytelling, though. For instance, you’d never have a grand jury seated, hear the case, make a judgment, and issue indictments all in the same morning. And this definitely wouldn’t happen with less than 24 hours notice to pull it all together.
All in all, it was a mostly enjoyable - if weird - adventure. On a side note, I don’t feel like the cover is the right choice at all for this book.
Despite these character flaws, he also loves animals and wants to do right by the titular character. Of course, when he begins investigating the Yates case, he’s initially interested in saving the Governor of Ohio’s political ambitions. And his own, too. He wasn’t even trying to get Yates out of prison. He simply wanted a stay of execution and a possible switch to life in prison without parole.
Surprisingly, even with characters purposely killing squirrels and so many other moments that made it feel like I was in an alternate reality, I did enjoy the story. There were a few flaws in the author’s storytelling, though. For instance, you’d never have a grand jury seated, hear the case, make a judgment, and issue indictments all in the same morning. And this definitely wouldn’t happen with less than 24 hours notice to pull it all together.
All in all, it was a mostly enjoyable - if weird - adventure. On a side note, I don’t feel like the cover is the right choice at all for this book.
June 17, 2021
Fabulous novel in every way. Great characters and story line. Loads of Columbus and Ohio references. Highly recommend!
March 2, 2022
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3HyLYOD.
Attorney General Van Buran had loved being a prosecutor and ran hard to earn his place. Now that he has it, however, his joy of putting away criminals has been dampened by politics. Day in and out was filled with petty white-collar crimes so different from his blue-collar upbringing until a prison guard, Mr. Moretti brought in 3 binders full of information on the Lester Yates- Egypt Valley Strangler case. He demanded that he thought Yates was innocent and that it needed looked into before the boy was sent to slaughter. As Van Buran investigates the case he has no idea where the murders will lead or just how much of a fight he'll have to put up with Governor "Big Jim" Wilinski. Big Jim wants nothing to stand in his way of running for presidency, and that includes letting a murderer walk.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I agreed to the review I know I read the synopsis, but this book was a ways down my TBR and by the time I got to it I had no clue what this book could be about. Which I'm fine with. Everyone needs a little spice in their life and mine, as far as reading goes, comes from not knowing what book comes next. With the title my brain was preparing for another cult read. No problems there, but I was mistaken.
Instead, I was presented with a murder mystery. A serial-killer murder mystery none the less. All the better. Things
are going great until I start seeing that terrible p word I hate so much popping up like dandelions in the spring. Politics. I wanted to groan, thinking this book was going to take a turn for the worst. After all, there is nothing good or entertaining about reading politics. Oh, but I couldn't have been more wrong.
The more I read the more I couldn't put this book down. I finished it within 2 days, which is saying something recently between all my other commitments. I needed to know who the real murderer was, and while I had my suspicions, along with a character I really didn't like, there was still a curveball. The author set this character up until the final blow was set. While I had initially suspected the murderer I quickly discarded him in favor of the other.
Van Buran is a small-town guy who covered up a murder when he was a kid only to spend the rest of his life trying to put criminals behind bars. He claims to be easy going, but has a temper and a flare for the dramatics. And, best of all, while he is in politics and has to deal with them he doesn't let the pressure put on him stop from pursuing the truth.
Attorney General Van Buran had loved being a prosecutor and ran hard to earn his place. Now that he has it, however, his joy of putting away criminals has been dampened by politics. Day in and out was filled with petty white-collar crimes so different from his blue-collar upbringing until a prison guard, Mr. Moretti brought in 3 binders full of information on the Lester Yates- Egypt Valley Strangler case. He demanded that he thought Yates was innocent and that it needed looked into before the boy was sent to slaughter. As Van Buran investigates the case he has no idea where the murders will lead or just how much of a fight he'll have to put up with Governor "Big Jim" Wilinski. Big Jim wants nothing to stand in his way of running for presidency, and that includes letting a murderer walk.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I agreed to the review I know I read the synopsis, but this book was a ways down my TBR and by the time I got to it I had no clue what this book could be about. Which I'm fine with. Everyone needs a little spice in their life and mine, as far as reading goes, comes from not knowing what book comes next. With the title my brain was preparing for another cult read. No problems there, but I was mistaken.
Instead, I was presented with a murder mystery. A serial-killer murder mystery none the less. All the better. Things
are going great until I start seeing that terrible p word I hate so much popping up like dandelions in the spring. Politics. I wanted to groan, thinking this book was going to take a turn for the worst. After all, there is nothing good or entertaining about reading politics. Oh, but I couldn't have been more wrong.
The more I read the more I couldn't put this book down. I finished it within 2 days, which is saying something recently between all my other commitments. I needed to know who the real murderer was, and while I had my suspicions, along with a character I really didn't like, there was still a curveball. The author set this character up until the final blow was set. While I had initially suspected the murderer I quickly discarded him in favor of the other.
Van Buran is a small-town guy who covered up a murder when he was a kid only to spend the rest of his life trying to put criminals behind bars. He claims to be easy going, but has a temper and a flare for the dramatics. And, best of all, while he is in politics and has to deal with them he doesn't let the pressure put on him stop from pursuing the truth.
July 25, 2021
I have just finished the most interesting,, well written and amazing novel that I have read in ages and I am a voracious reader. I started reading at 11:00 am and could not put this book down until 4:00 am the following morning. This book is so well written. The words jump out at you with every turned page. The characters depicted in this story are fixed clearly in your mind as Mr. Yocum describes them so well you can't get confused when reading this novel. I was so drawn in while reading this book that at times I thought I was actually present during the whole story. I love this book. It keeps you right on the edge of a cliff, holding your breath, nervously watching the hours pass getting closer to the end for Lester. While hanging on to that cliff there are really funny episodes that happen between the people and their reaction to different happenings that had me actually giggling the way Mr. Yocum described these people. Made me feel that I was standing just back of the room while these encounters happened. I also want to say that readers out there who pass this book by are certainly going to miss an awesome novel that draws you into the whole story. To you Mr. Yocum I would like to say that you raced to the top of my writers list and to thank you for taking me on an amazing journey of twists and turns. I am not letting you escape now that I have captured you and just to let you know, I have another great journey ahead of me as I just bought "Favorite Sons". Facing another sleepless night will be well worth it as I took a little peek and am prepared to journey forth into another amazing novel. Thank you, thank you.
May 27, 2021
Zero spoilers below.
I normally don't read crime stories, but I have read all of Yocum's fiction books. I appreciate them so much more than those written by the blockbuster crime authors whose books are always the same regurgitated plots over and over - government conspiracy this and military that, ad nauseum. These stories are about regular, small town people doing the dumb things people do, and eventually getting caught. The characters feel like real people you would work with or live down the road from, and the setting is very believable - especially if you are familiar with a rural or small town environment (and if you are from the Ohio Valley you will especially get a kick out of all the local places he mentions). I really enjoy being able to watch an average Joe trying to outwit suspects, driving out into the boonies to follow up on leads, and acting like a believable human being with flaws. Yocum's stories just seem much more real to me than those churned out by the Clancys and the Baldaccis. Yocum has more of a Grisham vibe - which I can far more easily get on board with. If crime isn't your jam, check out his book The Essay. It's also an excellent small town tale.
I normally don't read crime stories, but I have read all of Yocum's fiction books. I appreciate them so much more than those written by the blockbuster crime authors whose books are always the same regurgitated plots over and over - government conspiracy this and military that, ad nauseum. These stories are about regular, small town people doing the dumb things people do, and eventually getting caught. The characters feel like real people you would work with or live down the road from, and the setting is very believable - especially if you are familiar with a rural or small town environment (and if you are from the Ohio Valley you will especially get a kick out of all the local places he mentions). I really enjoy being able to watch an average Joe trying to outwit suspects, driving out into the boonies to follow up on leads, and acting like a believable human being with flaws. Yocum's stories just seem much more real to me than those churned out by the Clancys and the Baldaccis. Yocum has more of a Grisham vibe - which I can far more easily get on board with. If crime isn't your jam, check out his book The Essay. It's also an excellent small town tale.
September 14, 2022
Hutchinson Van Buren, the Attorney General for the state of Ohio begins to have doubts about the execution of Lester Yates for murdering Danielle Quinn. Van Buren has been approached by Reno Moretti, a prison guard where Lester is being held on death row. Reno has put together a binder with the information needed to clear Lester. After going through the binder, Van Buren decides he also is skeptical as to Lester's guilt. He has a very limited time to prove this, so he sets up a special task force to look into and gather new information. There are many characters in this novel that are interesting, especially Margaret, Van Buren's secretary. She is a hoot! At the same time Van Buren is being promised the position of the United States Attorney General if he helps the governor of Ohio to run for the office of the presidency of the U.S. The governor will not stay Yates execution date and other reasons that make Van Buren think there is more involved in this than meets the eye! This story is fast paced and turns into a thriller of all the crimes involved that have shown up. Very enjoyable.
September 4, 2021
Great to read a story where I knew so many of the settings but I thought the author was a little harsh in his depiction of southeast Ohio. It has problems but the resident are not all stupid or drug addicts.
I found it hard to believe that the Attorney General could ride all over the state by himself investigating without being accompanied by any security. And found it hard to believe the legal system always worked that fast - subpoenas magically appearing within an hour, grand juries indicting someone the same morning the charges are filed.
I also hate the literary technique - for lack of a better word - when someone keep repeating information to other characters because the author wants the reader to remember it.
Other than that - good political mystery and I will be looking for some of the author's earlier works.
I found it hard to believe that the Attorney General could ride all over the state by himself investigating without being accompanied by any security. And found it hard to believe the legal system always worked that fast - subpoenas magically appearing within an hour, grand juries indicting someone the same morning the charges are filed.
I also hate the literary technique - for lack of a better word - when someone keep repeating information to other characters because the author wants the reader to remember it.
Other than that - good political mystery and I will be looking for some of the author's earlier works.
August 18, 2021
I love to read mystery novels set in Columbus Ohio, where I live. Van Buren is the attorney general for the state of Ohio. He receives information one day from a prison guard who has reason to believe that a man on death row soon to be executed, is most likely innocent.
Having only 2 months to find enough evidence to get the governor to issue a stay of execution, Van Buren puts together a team and begins following leads. The story takes place in several counties of Ohio and especially Columbus.
The plot is intriguing with enough twists to keep me reading although a bit unbelievable. Yocum’s best talent is his development of characters. His writing creates clear descriptions that make each person seem very real.
Having only 2 months to find enough evidence to get the governor to issue a stay of execution, Van Buren puts together a team and begins following leads. The story takes place in several counties of Ohio and especially Columbus.
The plot is intriguing with enough twists to keep me reading although a bit unbelievable. Yocum’s best talent is his development of characters. His writing creates clear descriptions that make each person seem very real.
September 29, 2021
4.5 stars
I always look forward to a new title by Robin Yocum. One reason is he often sets at least part of the story in the Steubenville, Ohio area. I have good memories of traveling through this area many times on my family's way to see relatives in West Virginia. Another reason is that his characters are so human, with flaws as well as virtues, with regrets, but also with memories of happier times. It's that grittiness, that sense of not abandoning all hope that keeps them hanging on, and that makes for such intriguing stories. Lastly, these are just good mysteries that also keep my attention. The only reason this book doesn't get my usual 5-star grade is that the main character is a bit too pushy, too aggressive for me to have care that deeply about him.
I always look forward to a new title by Robin Yocum. One reason is he often sets at least part of the story in the Steubenville, Ohio area. I have good memories of traveling through this area many times on my family's way to see relatives in West Virginia. Another reason is that his characters are so human, with flaws as well as virtues, with regrets, but also with memories of happier times. It's that grittiness, that sense of not abandoning all hope that keeps them hanging on, and that makes for such intriguing stories. Lastly, these are just good mysteries that also keep my attention. The only reason this book doesn't get my usual 5-star grade is that the main character is a bit too pushy, too aggressive for me to have care that deeply about him.
January 4, 2023
This is a really good book from a really good writer, you guys! I don't know why he doesn't have more ratings and reviews. Yocum always gives me a high quality reading experience. This book is sort of a sequel to Favorite Sons but you don't have to have read that book first by any means. The first person protagonist refers back to that experience a few times for some context but that's about it. The story has been described as a legal thriller and the writer has been compared to John Grisham by a few reviewers. It is definitely suspenseful and there is political pressure that plays into the course of events, but this is not a courtroom drama, which I would expect in a typical legal thriller. It's crime fiction with good guys trying to beat the clock before an innocent man is wrongly executed. There are twists and turns and a solid mystery. The characters are well drawn. The writing is excellent. I didn't want to put it down. 4.5 stars rounded up for my enjoyment level.
January 2, 2023
I finished this in record time! I've read all of his novels and have enjoyed each one. This is one of his best! Yet again, I was drawn into Yocum's memorable characters-especially district attorney Hutch, the familiar central and southern Ohio settings, and the tight, exciting plot-Hutch's race against the clock to save a wrongly accused sad sack of a victim on death row.
Last fall, I took a personal day and got to meet "Rob" in Bowling Green, Ohio. He is a great speaker-interesting, funny, and friendly. I have been a fan since reading "A Brilliant Death" and then worked backwards and forwards until I read them all. I can't wait for his next one!
Last fall, I took a personal day and got to meet "Rob" in Bowling Green, Ohio. He is a great speaker-interesting, funny, and friendly. I have been a fan since reading "A Brilliant Death" and then worked backwards and forwards until I read them all. I can't wait for his next one!
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