Crosshairs: A Novel of Suspense [Paperback]

Russ Heitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2007

Life in Klinkton County - a large, mountainous and sparsely populated area of north-central Pennsylvania - has always revolved around deer hunting, trout fishing, four-wheel-drive pickups, and the Grizzly Snowmobile factory. It is a place where scope-mounted hunting rifles are as plentiful as trees and shooting accidents are as common as rattlesnakes. But this year something new has been added - Klinkton County's first serial killer. The victims include a kerosene route salesman from Allentown, a political organizer from Philadelphia and a local arts and crafts worker. The person who must stop this killer is newly-elected Sheriff Jesse Eichenlaub. In addition to secret demons from his past, Jesse already has three strikes against him. He doesn't like guns; he has no law enforcement experience at all; and, finally, the man he defeated in the election is now his boss. Against these odds, Sheriff Jesse must stop the killer. Can he determine what connects the victims and how will he cope with the expanding chaos that suddenly surrounds him. Russ Heitz was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and lived for a number of years in the area where Crosshairs takes place. He is a graduate of Temple University and has been writing most of his life, he has published dozens of suspense short stories, this is his first published novel. He lives in Florida with his wife, Lee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Yellowback Mysteries (May 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596635479
• ISBN-13: 978-1596635470
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,728,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Russ Heitz was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in the Philadelphia area and lived for a number of years in the wilderness areas of north-central Pennsylvania, the setting for his two suspense novels. He has a degree from Temple University and has been writing most of his life. After moving to Florida with his wife, Lee, more than 30 years ago, he has published dozens of suspense stories and articles on a wide variety of topics. He has also published a nonfiction children's book about Florida wildlife and worked for more than ten years as a publications specialist for local government. In that position Russ wrote, edited, published and photographed a wide variety of documents including press releases, newsletters, magazine and newspaper articles, newspaper columns, annual reports, technical manuals, audio/visual scripts, speeches, procedure manuals, resolutions, proclamations, and correspondence to various government and industry officials. In addition to writing, Russ provides professional copy editing services for local writers. Russ's motto is Carpe Diem, Seize the Day. He is also partial to the Inuit words of wisdom: Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. Russ is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Florida Writers Association, Florida Outdoor Writers Association, and American Crime Writers League. For additional information about Russ Heitz and his writing go to www.russheitz.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be Sure to Add to Your List of Summer Reading, June 30, 2007

By 

Theodore Cunnigham "Ted" (Bucks County, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crosshairs: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

This is a "must read" to take with you to the shore or keep for a rainy day. The story quickly grabs your attention and the suspense mounts to a crescendo as the tale unfolds. You will not want to put this book down. It is one of those books that keeps your attention and before you know it you are at the end, you check the time, and think - "wow, that was a great book".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense That Reads Like A Dvorjak Symphony, June 24, 2007

By 

Susan Haley "author" (Sarasota, FL The Sun Coast) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crosshairs: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

You're snapped to attention in the prologue. You settle in and relax into your seat, briefly. As you get to know the three main characters, you're lulled, almost teased, into a wondering, a guessing game. Gunshots are rumbling like kettle drums, softly at first, in the shadows. Victims begin to fall. Clues and unsavory characters begin to drop around you like tinkling brass. The conductor waves his wand and the tempo starts to build. It's crisp. It's clear, almost melodious. It tugs at you. You start to lean forward ever so slightly in your chair.

The pace smoothly, but steadily, quickens. Suddenly, almost violently, cymbals clash! The crescendo peaks, yanking you forward to the edge of your seat and almost to your feet. At the conclusion, you fall backward in your chair, sigh heavily, and as the music fades, realize your heart is racing . . .

Definitely, a winner, Mr. Heitz.

Susan Haley, Author
RAINY DAY PEOPLE
FIBERS IN THE WEB

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crosshairs is a winner, July 10, 2008

By 

Russell A. Vassallo (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crosshairs: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

Tears and Tales: Stories of Human and Animal RescueThe Horse with the Golden Mane: Stories of Adventure, Mystery and RomanceUnsung Patriot: Guy T. Viskniskki How the Stars and Stripes Began

CROSSHAIRS is exciting, vibrant, mesmerizing as Russ Heitz draws the reader into a vortex of mystery and human values laced with suspense and realism. The main character was so real I found myself arguing with his deepest beliefs and had to remind myself that he was a fictional person created by a master writer. Only once before have I read an author with such a scintallating and adept talent for building characters we are about and that was the great Daphne Du Maurier.

CROSSHAIRS isn't just another mystery book. Heitz plunges the reader into a maelstom of channels and eddies that defy resolution. His characters speak; they are real; they are different. We like them. We hate them. We are dazzled by them. We root for them. We disagree with them. But mostly, we care about some and want others brought to justice. The challenge of wondering why anyone would so heedlessly take lives with a souped-up target rifle carries the reader into a feeding frenzy of intrigue. He wants to know not just who the killer is, but what else is going to happen to this newly elected Sheriff. And we cheer for him because he is totally inexperienced at what he does and yet he does it well.

In CROSSHAIRS, Russ Heitz has envisioned the lives of fascinating people and a series of murders that rivet the reader into reading "just one more page" until the entire book is consumed.

If you are an early-to-bed reader, be prepared to travel along with CROSSHAIRS until the small hours of the morning. The book is just that good!