Customer Reviews

A Person of Interest

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Luther Jackson returns to his home after a night of wandering to find his wife and young son dead. Someone killed his family and then burned the bodies. No one can fathom who in their small quiet community would do such a thing. Since Luther and his wife argued before he left home, he becomes a person of interest in Ernest Hill's latest novel, A Person of Interest.

Recently widowed Felicia Fontenot has returned to the community after a twenty-year absence. Her love for her high school sweetheart, Luther Jackson, had never dissipated even though he was married to the same woman who came between the two of them. Early one morning, Felicia is awakened to find fire trucks and police at Luther's home. His family has been murdered. Eventually, Luther becomes a suspect and Felicia knows in her heart that Luther is not capable of committing such a horrific crime. Against the advice of her mother, but with the blessings of Luther's aunt, Felicia sets out to prove Luther's innocence.

Mr. Hill does an exceptional job of describing the anguish Luther feels as he daily suffers through the death of those he loved dearly. While sitting at the beauty shop, reading this book, I was trying to hide the tears that were falling while reading the funeral scene and the scenes afterwards. The investigation, preliminary hearing and the surprising confession made for a good quick read. But, the last page, the last sentences made this novel a five star read for me.

Reviewed by Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

This book was horrible. I wish I could rate it less than 1 star.

I have never read any of Mr. Hill's previous works and wouldn't have read this one were it not my book club's September 2007 book selection. I certainly will not recommend this book to anyone NOR will I buy any of his other works.

Felicia was one of the most cloying, desperate, and delusional female characters I have ever read. She created a different world in her own mind based solely on her desires, which very seldom had any connection to reality, and acted primarily on impulse with no thought to consequences or propriety.

I found Mr. Hill's writing to be flat and plodding. He used superfluous words to make a simple story more compelling and it did NOT work. He did not take the time to adequately describe his characters' feelings and instead lazily resorted to relying on adverbs to do the work for him. As a previous poster commented, this book is extremely formulaic and doesn't offer anything new. Even the ending was anti-climatic and leaves you wondering -- What the hell??? I read 200+ pages and this is it. Not even the generic payoff of Felicia getting the man she loved.

I can't regain the time I wasted reading this book, but I can at least warn others before they waste theirs. I would have gotten more out a Lifetime TV movie than this book.

Recently widowed, Felicia Fontenot has moved back into her childhood home in order to care for her elderly mother and she finds that not much has changed in the old neighborhood. Her mother's neighbors are older than she remembers them but they are still keenly aware of what is happening on their street. Felicia is quick to notice one change, however - her first serious boyfriend, Luther Jackson, now lives with his wife and little boy directly across the street from her mother.

One morning, soon after her arrival, Felicia looks out her bedroom window to discover that the Jackson house has become a crime scene. Luther, out all night, has come home to find the badly burned bodies of his wife and son. Someone has murdered them, and it soon becomes obvious that Luther is the most logical suspect. Felicia refuses to believe that the man she loved so many years before could have had anything to do with the brutal murders of his own family and, when Luther's aunt asks for her help, she decides to do whatever she can.

As the official investigation proceeds, and things begin to look worse and worse for him, Luther refuses to offer more than a minimal defense for himself. Felicia, puzzled by Luther's silence, but still determined to prove his innocence, is dismayed to find that everything her own private investigator turns up makes it seem more likely that Luther is guilty of the murders.

Ernest Hill uses alternating chapters from the points-of-view of Felicia and Luther to tell his story, rarely bringing the two of them into contact with each other. In fact, Luther, who seems almost determined to sabotage his own defense, is just barely aware of the time and money Felicia is spending on his behalf. Felicia, ever the optimist, is as determined to save Luther as he seems determined to doom himself.

And that leads to my problem with the novel. I cannot decide if Luther Jackson is one of the most unlikable characters I have encountered lately or if he is just one of the most unbelievable. I think, actually, that he is a bit of both. His passiveness in the face of all that has happened to him is irritating; his refusal to defend himself in order to hide a personal secret (a rather common one) is not believable. Throw its way over the top melodramatic ending and stereotypical characters into the mix and "A Person of Interest" becomes a major disappointment despite its promising early chapters.

It seems to me that Hill's inspiration for stories comes from current events, tv/movie scripts and the like. I've read Cry Me a River and ...Moon When The Sun... and they, along with this one, just seem formulaic to me. Hill's writing is very easy to read and once you get going, it's easy to keep going, but there really isn't any depth here. There is a plot twist that I wasn't expecting, but Hill could have taken this twist in a totally different direction and come out with a stronger and more interesting story (think Fotenot). If you're looking for an easy and quick read, I'd suggest this one, but don't expect anything thought-provoking or soul-stirring.

I went to a local Barnes & Nobles where I had the priviledge of hearing Mr. Hill speak. He is such a wonderful storyteller; I could have listening to him speak for days! I bought this book, which he autographed, and I dove right in! I could not put it down. I am an English teacher, so I read all of the time! This book is unbelievable! You will not be able to stop reading once you start, and his words will live within you long after you turn the last page.

this book left me hanging. I was expecting more. Don't want to say to much with the fear of giving up the plot. If you have never read an Ernest Hill book, PLEASE pick up Cry me a River!!! That is a GREAT read!! I am still a fan, and can not wait until the next novel, but I was just expecting more on this one.

It was a page turner. The flow was fast and interesting. I enjoyed it. the only reason I didn't give it a 5 because am a sucker for happy ending. I didn't like the ending. I kept hoping for girl to finally find happiness with the man she loves.