Heartstone (Mass Market Paperback)

by Phillip Margolin (Author) "Elaine Murray was so excited that her hand shook and she smeared her lipstick..." (more)
Key Phrases: cruising downtown, Elaine Murray, Richie Walters, Bobby Coolidge (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"I was  somewhat reminded of In Cold Blood, but in some ways,  I think this is a better book...It's fascinating  reading--the classic 'page-turner'--and I admit to  being stunned and shocked at the unexpected  ending."--Dorothy Uhnak, author of The  Investigation -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"I was  somewhat reminded of In Cold Blood, but in some ways,  I think this is a better book...It's fascinating  reading--the classic 'page-turner'--and I admit to  being stunned and shocked at the unexpected  ending."--Dorothy Uhnak, author of The  Investigation --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (January 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006073969X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060739690
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,530 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HEARTSTOPPING HEARTSTONE, September 25, 2002

By	Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Heartstone (Mass Market Paperback)

The criminal justice system is given a once-over in this well-developed, and well-written mystery. Margolin gives us the murder of two upstanding young people on a November night in 1960. Richie Walters has just asked cheerleader Elaine Murray to go steady with him. Their love and hopes for a future together are gone before you know it.
As we examine this murder in depth, we find there are many people involved, and we find ourselves wondering, who really killed this couple? And why?
The immensity of characters doesn't overwhelm the book; you may stop and ask yourself, why are these characters introduced? But by the time the book is finished, you'll see why.
Although the lawyers and the suspected killers are certainly strong focus in the book, I found the heart of the book to be Esther Peglosi, the rather ... teenager who becomes the key witness in the prosecution's case. We first meet Esther as a rather well-developed young woman who doesn't have trouble bedding anybody, but we are also introduced to horrifying facts about her childhood and her parents. Later on, Esther is cunningly seduced by a cop obsessed with the case into being hypnotized, and here we begin to see how the power of suggestion breaks down this girl, and how her love for this cop propels her toward inevitable disaster. Esther's character is very, very well written and she holds the book together.
It's interesting, also, to see the development of young Mark Shaffer, the up and coming lawyer, who finds himself defending the accused Bobby Corbett. He starts out totally ineffectual and enamored with the defendant's live-in girlfriend, and ends up becoming savvy and accomplished. The denouement of this novel is shocking, in what happens to Bobby and Esther. Also, the deathbed confession of the titular character is a whopper.
Can't forget to mention the true villain of this book and that is officer Roy Schindler, who uses his authority to basically fix the case and use poor misguided Esther. Although Al Caproni is culpable, too, he is just another victim of the political schematics.
A STUNNING AND WELL WORTH IT BOOK.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All of the other reviewers are right..., February 25, 2005

By	DWD "intrepid reviewer" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Heartstone (Mass Market Paperback)

...this book is both a gripping, page-turning crime story and a tedious, mind-numbingly dull piece of prose. It literally depends on the section of the book you are in.

Prosecutor Al Caproni has a message brought to him that a drifter named Heartstone wants to see him a about a long-past high profile double murder that he helped to prosecute. The narration then flashes back to the night of the murder and follows the original investigation and prosecution of the case.

At times, this section really drags. A star witness is hypnotized and the reader is forced to wade through pages of probing by the psychologist/hypnotist as he tries to unlock her repressed memories(Skimming is recommended). Margolin introduces too many characters but he ties them together wonderfully in the end. As we come back to the present Margolin delivers and ending that hit me like a kick in the belly. Very powerful. I did not see it coming.

All in all - good job!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars They can't all be great, January 21, 2001

By	Suzanne Vitale "jackeroophillip" (Bowling Green, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Heartstone (Mass Market Paperback)

In a fast trip through previous Margolin books, Hearstone was the first one that I found lacking. The characters were not as well developed as they are in other Margolin books and the plot took too long to get anywhere. If this is your first one, keep reading. Gone But Not Forgotten and The Last Innocent Man were much better.