Bullet Point

by Peter Abrahams

Wyatt never really thought much about his dad—a hardened criminal, a lifer in a prison somewhere on the other side of the state. But then the economy had to go and tank, and the community had to go and cut the baseball program from Wyatt's high school. And then the coach had to go and show Wyatt a photograph of his dad at sixteen, looking very much like Wyatt himself. Through a series of unfortunate—or perhaps they were fortunate—events, Wyatt meets a crazy-hot girl named Greer with a criminal dad of her own. A criminal dad who is, in fact, in jail with Wyatt's own criminal dad. Greer arranges a meeting, and Wyatt's dad is nothing like the guy he's imagined—he's suave, and smart, and funny, and cool, and—Wyatt's pretty sure—innocent. So Wyatt decides to help him out. A decision that may possibly be the worst he's ever made in his life.

This is another hold-your-breath thriller by the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award nominated Peter Abrahams.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Crime, Teen

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Peter Abrahams is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children.
His book Lights Out (1994) was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in 2011. Down the Rabbit Hole, first in the Echo Falls series, won the best children's/young adult Agatha Award in 2005. The Fan was adapted into a film starring Robert De Niro and directed by Tony Scott (1996).
His literary influences are Vladimir Nabokov, Graham Greene, and Ross Macdonald. Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".
Born in Boston, Abrahams lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is married and has four children including Rosie Gray. He graduated from Williams College in 1968.

Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mysteries).

Reviews

[Mk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate the ending of this sooo much on so many levels

[Heather Cato · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shocking - Disturbing - WHAT THE HECK?!? are just a few things that come to mind as I reflect on the story that I have just finished. I was excited to read this book becuase I loved Down the Rabit Hole and the books that followed and thought that they were well crafted stories. I was disappointed with this novel though. I did not like the excessive physical relationship that the main character has with a girl he hardly knows and I did not like the ending and the potential ramifications / meanings that the ending has. I do have to say that I thought the book was going one direction the whole time and felt good about myself for having it all figured out only to find the story taking a hard left when I didn't even see it coming.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Life for Wyatt and his friend, Dub, revolves around baseball. Well, it used to anyway. When the coach announces that baseball is being cut from the extracurricular schedule due to lack of funding, both boys are furious. Just when they are about to earn their spots in the varsity lineup, the program is yanked.

When Wyatt finds out there might be a way to play ball somewhere else, he jumps at the chance. Dub is going to live with his aunt in another more financially sound school district, and Wyatt is welcome to come along. Not only will he get a chance to play baseball, but he'll also be getting out of the house and away from his unpleasant step-dad, Rusty. Although he'll miss his mother and his little step-sister, he's all in favor of the move.

Just when it looks like his luck has changed, Wyatt learns that his new school only allows one transfer student on each athletic team per year. Dub's transfer was arranged first so he gets the spot. Wyatt's friend urges him to make the move anyway so he might have a chance to play next year.

The new school isn't bad and an added bonus is meeting a slightly older, quite attractive girl named Greer. She and Wyatt hit it off right away. It doesn't take long for Wyatt to discover an amazing coincidence. Greer's father is an inmate at the state correctional facility in the area, and he knows Wyatt's biological father, who is an inmate in the same prison. All Wyatt's ever been told is that just before he was born, his father and several acquaintances got the bright idea to rob a couple of drug dealers. There was gunfire exchanged when they broke into the house, killing a young woman and critically injuring her baby girl. Now, Wyatt is faced with a chance to meet the man he has only known by name and reputation.

The story quickly becomes an investigation in which Wyatt struggles to learn more about the man he has spent most of his life trying to forget. As his contact with his father increases, so does his desire to find out the whole story and maybe even find out if he is really an innocent man.

Author Peter Abrahams' talent as a writer of mystery and suspense makes BULLET POINT a sure winner. Readers will be intrigued by the plot's twists and turns right up until the very end. Wyatt's character is likable and inspiring as he experiences separation from his mother and step-sister, frustration with his step-father, his first love, and the need to know his biological father's true story.

[Engclasacct · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very boring up until the last 50 or so pages. One of the main reasons I completed reading this book was for the sole purpose of having to read it in order to be able to work on my English assignments. The storyline was pretty whack, especially the ending twist where Wyatt’s father, Sonny, turns out to not be the nice guy Abrahams portrayed him as throughout the book. He kills Wyatt’s love of his life, as well as murdering two others who have done him wrong after using an insane scheme to escape from prison.

“Bert Torrance was speaking fast and sounded scared. ‘Sonny Racine’s escaped. Hector beat him up-but it’s a complete scam: Sonny actually paid him, just so he could get past the walls. Don’t go anywhere near him-and warn Wyatt, too.’” (Pg 290)

And this was part of the last 50 pages of the book, the rest of the book wasn’t very interesting at all, only very few slightly interesting sparks. The ending was really bad on the account of Wyatt facing a number of felony charges and the confirmation of his girlfriend, Greer’s death. “And then came something to awful to think about, although for a long time after, Wyatt could think of nothing else: Greer’s body was in Bert Torrance’s secret bedroom closet hidey-hole in the foreclosed house in Silver City.” (Pg 293)

The only good thing that came to at the end of the book was the improvement of Wyatt’s relationship with Rusty, his stepfather. “He now got a lot more respect from Rusty. Rusty took him fishing on the river whenever he was home.” (Pg 294) If not for the improvements on his family’s relationship, I’d say this is a very depressing book.

[Rachelann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book was kind if intriguing. Hated the end. Pissed me the hell off. Was NOT expecting it.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder mystery set years after the suspect begins serving a life sentence, Bullet Point thrusts forth many questions and theories, engaging the reader early on. Wyatt has never known his biological father. In fact, until things start being churned up, Wyatt has rarely asked questions and doesn't even know which prison houses his lifer dad. Watching Wyatt face a series of unexpected and difficult situations, this book is a study in character development as much as it is a thrill ride. This is definitely a page turner, amping up the suspense.

Wyatt starts out as a strong main character, a mostly average teenage boy living in a town that's going nowhere. His main shining hope is baseball, particularly since his grades are nothing stunning. As the plot progresses, however, Wyatt's innate cleverness and reasoning skills become both evident and honed. He learns plenty of new things about himself and grows exponentially in both his maturity, his interactions with people and in the way he views the world around him. There is a very obvious shift in his overall frame of mine, pushing him from a high school kid to someone who has seen things others go through their entire lives without ever facing. The effect it has on him is striking and brought forth, leading to a very memorable ending.

Greer is snarky and independent, adding spark to both Wyatt's world and the plot itself. She is difficult to explain without giving too much away of the plot but she plays a central role in both Wyatt's personal development and that of the plot. She is a very memorable character even if moody, rapidly shifting in her reactions and emotions. With each new turn, Greer will spark conflicting and uncertain emotions in the reader, raising many questions and tugging them on the same inexplicable and tumultuous ride she takes Wyatt on. Three years older than Wyatt and out of high school, living on her own, Greer pulls Wyatt into a relationship that will leave the reader questioning its health and effect on him. At two separate points in their lives- and with two different pasts- they tear at each other and combat as much as they come together and care.

Though this book is written in third person, it stays central to Wyatt and the reader learns things as Wyatt does. The writing itself is unique; Abrahams has created a voice that I associated strongly with Wyatt despite the lack of immediate insight. If Wyatt were to write, this style is how I imagine it and that facet alone speaks a tremendous amount about Abraham's writing ability. I highly doubt another novel at the hand of this writer will follow this same dialect and trend.

Throughout, clues are given and leads are opened regarding the truth behind Sonny's possible innocence, engaging the reader further. I would develop a theory only to have more holes and questions be put in which also brings up another, more subtle aspect of this book- the idea behind "reasonable doubt." Abrahams has masterfully weaved a story which leaves the reader questioning in multiple ways if Sonny really should have been in prison or if he truly is one of the innocent men condemned to a life in prison. It isn't until the end of the book the reader can come to any decision on this yet Abrahams pitches it in a brilliant way that will still leave confusion and mixed emotions.

Once things with Sonny become involved in the story, the pace speeds up and things move quickly. From teenage detective work to visits during allotted hours with Sonny himself, Wyatt wades through an entirely foreign world to him while trying to learn what he can, figure out his conflicted feelings on multiple things, and get to know the man who helped bring him into this world whom he has never known. Overall, Abrahams doesn't mess around with his writing. Things are straight to the point with little filler. Once a decision is made, within a paragraph or two things are dealing right with that- no in between, wasting time with this book which helped add to the overall effect of who Wyatt was and how his mind worked.

Overall, this is a fantastic take on the murder mystery style as the same burning curiosity that would be present whether this was written right after the actual crime or years later is ignited. With strong characters, fluent and stylistic writing, and numerous shocking twists, Abrahams has certainly created a hit with this one. All these events lead up to a very shocking ending that leaves the reader thinking not only about the outcome but the underlying implications and potentially even some transference into their own lives.

[Eli Lames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli Lamers
Book Review
Book Review
Peter Abrahams Bullet Point is a book about Wyatt Lathem moving to a new town to play baseball when he comes in contact with his father in prison. This book will keep readers at the edge of their seat. People who love mystery and suspense will love how fast paced and suspenseful this book is. Some people will hate the book because at times it is very confusing and can be slow. I thought the book was great from beginning to end and really liked how suspenseful it was, I never knew what was coming next and that is what kept me reading each page more intensely than the last.
Bullet Point is set in a small town called East Canton and also the bigger city of Silver City in modern day. The story is about Wyatt Lathem a baseball player whose schools program is cut and he is forced to move to a new city in order to play. When he gets to the new town he finds out one of his friends already has the spot and he will need to wait another year in order to be eligible to play. When he gets there He meets a new girl named Greer at the batting cages who he starts talking to and they develop a relationship. He also comes in contact with his father who is in prison which is only a town away. Him and his father talk frequently and Wyatt starts to learn things about his father’s past and why he is in prison. Him and Greer become closer and start talking about things and find out both their fathers are in the same prison. They start to find out that Wyatt’s dad may be innocent. They start to dig and that’s when things get crazy.
There are 3 main characters in bullet point Wyatt, Greer, and Sonny (Wyatt’s dad). Wyatt is a baseball player who’s program is cut in the beginning of the season and is forced to move to a new school to play. When he moves to the new town he meets Greer who he starts to get to know better. Greer introduces him to her father in prison and wyatt then finds out the Greer’s dad and his dad are good friends in prison. Wyatt starts to learn more about his dad by talking to him. He finds out about his past and why he is in prison. Sonny is a big guy who has been in prison most of his adult life. He is Wyatt’s father and is also very smart.
Overall I thought this book was great It was very fast paced most of the book and always had me guessing. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense and mystery.

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plausibility seems to be a dirty word these days in the Young Adult genre, with so many fantasy, vampire and occult series crowding the shelves in bookstores. It's sad that "Bullet Point" is such an exception ... and yet, it's a relief as well that there's still a little bit of room for a lean, fast-paced thriller for teens that's rooted in the real world.

Peter Abrahams' tale of Wyatt, a teen who tries to emancipate himself from a dead-end life on the other side of the state — even as he tries to reconcile the past that created it — satisfies on most levels. Wyatt is easy to root for, and Abrahams helps him along in his quest for self-determination by raising the bar — by surrounding him with a cast of complicated characters who are neither all good or all bad. Older girlfriend Greer is troubled but tries to help; his best friend lets him down at a key moment; his mother and stepfather are more than one-dimensional obstructions. And then there's his convicted-murderer father, Sonny Racine, who proves in the end to be all things to a son to whom he'd previously been nothing.

The action crackles. The suspense mounts. The twists tantalize. And the end shocks — twice. I'm 45 years old, but this is a story that took me back to the crackling teen crime thrillers of my formative years, and gave me a welcome glimpse back into my own Wyatt-like issues.

I dinged the book one star for what I felt was the subpar subplot involving Wyatt and Greer's sort-of-but-not-quite romance. Greer's problems took the focus too far off Wyatt's quest, I felt, and her inscrutable neediness and whipsaw emotions wore on me in short order ... just as they eventually did on Wyatt. I felt that Wyatt needed a different kind of girl to help him grow up and get to where he needed to go.

Overall, however, "Bullet Point," much like "Reality Check" before it, delivers the goods. Those two books turned me into a fan of Peter Abrahams and his lean, mean, realistic crime novels that develop character and action on twin jet-stream tracks. I'm now working my way through what I'm pleased to see is a lengthy backlist.

[Kaje Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good young-adult mystery/coming of age story. Wyatt's biological dad has been serving a life sentence since before Wyatt was born. When circumstances force Wyatt to move to a new town he suddenly is aware of the prison, and his father, right there within reach. He hooks up with a girl whose father is also in prison. His new girlfriend claims both men are innocent. Wyatt's curiosity and growing desire to understand both himself and the role his mother may have played in the crime, push him to investigate.

The plot of this book is well written, with surprising turns, and a climax that is unexpected and yet works with the characters and story. A few details are questionable. For example, the father, (who was a young, good-looking guy with no ties to any gang or power structure, and no one to send him money from outside when incarcerated), seems to have a lot of power and leeway in the prison. And the best friend Dub just disappears from the story half-way through the book. But in general the story-line works.

What makes this a good book, and not a great one, is that the story after the climax wraps up in an unemotional page and a half. This is where the real emotional work of the story would have happened. Wyatt's relationship with his mother and stepfather, the revelations about his dad and all the questions about how much the man changed in prison (or didn't), the things that happened with Wyatt's girlfriend - all of those would keep a therapist or an introspective narrator busy for months. It feels almost like a cheat to have no insight into how Wyatt feels or handles it all beyond the simple line that "inside he felt like he deserved much worse". So... a good light-weight mystery/thriller story, but not one of the YA that let you get deep inside the main character and reread for the emotional punch.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wyatt (almost 17) moves to Silver City after the baseball program at his high school in East Canton gets cut. He intends to play ball for the team in Silver City, but his best friend, Dub, gets the only spot available. While he’s looking for other things to do with his time, Wyatt meets Greer – she’s 2 years older, but she’s into Wyatt. They have something else in common, too – their fathers are both in Sweetwater State Penitentiary. Greer’s dad was convicted of burning down his amusement park for the insurance money, and Wyatt’s dad (Sonny) has been put away for life for his involvement in a burglary that went bad and ended up in murder. Greer visits her dad regularly and the inmates gossip, which is how Sonny discovers that Wyatt is in town. He starts calling his son, and Wyatt starts visiting. Greer is convinced that Sonny is innocent (after all, everyone in the prison says so), and she plants the seed of doubt in Wyatt. They begin their own investigation of the crime which took place so long ago. When Wyatt presses his father for answers and his dad admits to being innocent (is he really?), Wyatt wants to reopen the case and get his father acquitted. Sonny takes matters into his own hands, however, and escapes from prison. What will he do? And how far will Wyatt go to protect the man who gave him life, but has never before been part of his life?

Wyatt’s story quickly becomes about something other than baseball and a not-so-comfortable home life with his step-father in a depressed little town. Wyatt’s relationships with Greer and Sonny take over his world – he’s never had a real girlfriend or a real father. Suspenseful, mysterious, and ultimately surprising. Abrupt ending.

[Rebecca Weimert]

Rebecca Weimert
Mystery

Wyatt is upset when his school takes away the baseball team. He decides to move to Silver City after he gets into a fight with his step-father Rusty. Wyatt knows his real father is in the Sweetwater State Penitentiary in Silver City, but thinks nothing of it until he meets Greer. Greer’s father is also an inmate at the prison and connects Wyatt to his biological father. Just when he opens up to his father, his life and feelings take a devastating turn that he does not expect.
Bullet Point had an excellent storyline however I feel the novel could have been written better. I felt the ending was rushed. The reader is kept wondering just what happened at 32 Cain St. and is kept in suspense until the end then all the events happens at once. I had to read the ending twice to fully comprehend it. I also felt there was an overuse of bad language that an adult reader would not want to read.

[Zenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought it would be a good mystery. Instead it was just a story of a teen looking for a father that he never thought twice of ever before and pursued contact with him in a penitentiary just by coincidence and ends up respecting him enough to call him father after only a couple of short conversations but it turns out that father wasn't really a killer - or, wait, is he? Thought the love story would be it's strength but instead the girlfriend was annoying and the relationship really made no sense at all.
Overall, a surprising disappointment.

[Samuel Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by an online friend, Max. We were talking about memorable books we had enjoyed reading and this was the first one that came to his mind. I wasn't so sure I would like the book when he described it. Partly because the word prisoner was mentioned and also because he talked about a love plot that is involved. Even so, I decided to give the book a chance and surprisingly enough I really enjoyed it. I definitely would have given it a five star rating except I felt that the ending was rushed, unfortunately.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

You think you know what's going to happen. And then that happens, so you think you know how this is going to end, but you don't! Trust me, this is a book you won't be able to put down. The main character is unique, and it's refreshing to see a young teen turning into a man with integrity and thoughtfulness. If you like mysteries with a little psychological underpinning, this one is for you.

[Jenn Estepp · Rating 2 out of 5]

entertaining enough, but no great shakes. (which is to say, perhaps, please write another echo falls book.) there's actually a lot here i liked, *but* the ending - how it was paced, i.e. super rushed - kinda ruined the overall.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad characters making bad choices. Unsatisfying ending. Unbelievable story/setup. Very disappointing for an author whose other work is so good!!!

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

a real page-turner! I stayed up late to finish it in one sitting. gritty and compelling story. makes me want to go back and catch up on some of his previous books.

[Audrey Deel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Bullet Point" is the story of a 16 yr old boy, Wyatt, who switches towns because the baseball program was cut at his school and he does not get along well with his step dad. In the new town, Wyatt meets a girl and discovers his past. He begins contact with his father who is in the local jail serving a life sentence for murder. Wyatt and his "girlfriend" Greer investigate the murder and decide that Wyatt's father is innocent. Wyatt's father escapes from jail, claiming that he wants to find proof of his innocence. In reality, Wyatt's father is just a smooth talking criminal who kills Greer, a free criminal and his dad's ex girlfriend. Wyatt's father then is killed by the police. Wyatt goes home to his mom and starts to get along better with his step father.

It was a good book. It started out slow but about half way through it really grips you. The characters are easy to connect with. I never saw the ending coming. It was a total surprise. In fact, it was such a surprise that I found myself going back through the book trying to figure out the hints that I missed. Abrahams should have hinted at the surprise ending in small ways. It almost seemed unrealistic. Also, the ending left you hanging to such a degree that it is upsetting. Overall, the book held my attention and had an interesting plot line. I would recommend this book to older teens and primarily boys.

[Keith Lytton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another book I picked up at a library sale...I like to try new authors (gets me in trouble when I really like them...but have had it sitting at home for a few years...With my goodreads challenge...I am interspersing some older long time ownership books to be read in between my fave authors...

This one was ok...not great...but interesting... it was compelling enough for me to keep reading this quick read... but i had to reallllly suspend rationale as the coincidences just piled up ...but i did...I'm game..so lets go! but really stretched... the characters... well...there were several that just didnt get much time and was disappointing ... and some that i kept wondering why is this still being repeated...after the book was done i still wondered the same thing...

the end had a crazy twist which i thought was coming but not with any certainty ...when it did hit it was a landmine...but the last two pages...

just weird

just reallllllllllllly weird...

and sorta made me think ..thats how you end a story like this? no thanks...dont see me looking for the author again...to me its like music or food...i know what i like...and im willing to try new things...but if the new thing is just ok....then im going back to my loved stuff...and on to other new things...life is too short to give second chances to books that make you go ...what the F....

[Dakota Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS

It all starts with a character named Wyatt who was having it pretty good until the baseball team got shut down his coach wanted him to continue his career. So Wyatt left to go live with his Aunt Hildy in Silver City but as he was there he met the mysterious girl Greer who both had a lot in common like their fathers being in jail. As they both talked and moved on through the story Wyatt and Greer both fell in love with one another Wyatt and Greer were both happy until Greer's dad gives them a mysterious message saying Wyatt's dad's innocent. But after they hear this that's when Wyatt's life decides to change to the worst.

I loved this book everything about to be honest there wasn't one thing I hated the story did not go how I expected it, it had all these twists changes and turns that were unexpected. It was full of suspense and stayed realistic with a lot of interesting events. I would recommend this book to any suspense book reader's out there because if you love suspense this is the book for you.

[Jonny DiTomaso · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel “Bullet point” by Peter Abrahams is about a kid named Wyatt whose father is in jail and who he doesn’t think much about. His father was a criminal and was in prison. Wyatt who was going to make the varsity baseball team, which ended up getting their season canceled.The varsity coach had shown Wyatt a picture of his father when he was in his teens and they looked the exact same. Wyatt goes on to meet a very beautiful girl and the two of them go on an adventure together until Wyatt makes a decision that he will soon regret.

This is a good book, I would rate it a 7.8/10. Mostly I would recommend this for kids around the middle school age group. The story's main character's name is Wyatt and he loves to play baseball. So when his high school baseball program shuts down he is forced to move towns with his best friend Dub and switch high schools. Then he meets this girl he likes. They link up and they go on an adventure.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wyatt’s little sister has a sleep seed in her eye - first I heard an eye booger or sleepy called that!
Town closes all extra curriculars so baseball coach offers him a spot on friend’s team down south but his best friend’s dad get to new coach first for the only transfer spot. Both boys move in with Dub’s aunt
New town has prison where Wyatt’s dad is in for life murder/robbery of drug dealers
Dad wants to communicate with Wyatt, he never knew his existence til right before he left and asked mom (who remarried to an abusive loser)
Action packed fast paced ending didn’t go where I was expecting, more brutal and violent than the Chet and Bernie books and this is YA but a good wrap up to the story

[Michelle Rajpolt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book up until the ending. It was an easy read and interesting. I did have a problem with the ending though. I just didn't like how it turned out. Throughout the book, there were many details of the relationships between the prisoners and their families that Wyatt (and the reader) didn't know. Some of those details were revealed at the end but others weren't. The book simply ended on a mediocre note.

[Evan Baptiste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. Mostly I would recommend this for kids around the middle school age group. The story's main character name is Wyatt and he loves to play baseball. So when his high school baseball program shuts down he is forced to move towns with his best friend Dub and switch high schools. Then he meets this girl and him and he likes. They link up and they go on an adventure.

[Abi Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. idk how to feel abt this. the book was good but i had little problems throughout. greer annoyed me throughout the whole book. also we never find our abt aunt hildy and dub? but the plot line was good and i was invested in the mystery.

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not know who put this book on the Young Adult list.
It is a terrible book. The language, the setting, the horrors, the plot, everything is depressing.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. Stay far away.
Place it on your, "not worth" your time list.

[Luna Fisto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was intresting and written very well! There are a couple twist I like. The only bad part for me is that I really didn't relate to or like the Main character and the girl he falls for....but that's just a personal opinion. Don't let that stop you from reading this book :)

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a roller coaster of a ride until the very last page.

[amandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really hoping his dad was actually a good guy.

[Hans Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5