Customer Reviews

Sober Justice (Mike Connolly Mystery Series #1)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excellent book by Joseph H. Hilley. Needed this book to complete the series and was delighted to find it in excellent condition. Great service - quick shipping.

On a hot, sticky evening in Mobile, Alabama, Avery Thompson witnesses a brutal murder. Two days later, Mike Connelly is pulled out of a drunken stupor long enough the be informed that he will be representing Avery Thompson, who has been framed for the murder that he witnessed. The victim is Peyton Attaway, a lawyer for a powerful local firm.

Mike Connelly is a 58 year old, divorced drunk. His daughter hates him and, when he sober enough to actually drive home, he lives with a stripper. But, Connelly is still somewhat competent, and goes to work unraveling the threads that hold the frame on Thompson together.

This is the first book to feature Connelly and also the first book I've read by Hilley. I found a lot to like. Hilley excels at pacing, moving the plot forward from one scene to next. Hilley spends a lot of time showing the action instead of telling, but the novel also could have used some more introspection from the third person point of view narrator. There were a few scenes where I wondered what had exactly happened and could have used a little explanation by Connelly.

In all my reviws, I try and point out some negatives in order to not appear biased. Unfortunately, there are few big negatives that really hurt his book. Connelly is a drunk for a reason. He's really hurt his family. His wife tolerates him, and his daughter hates him. In the book, Connelly beats the alcholism that had held him down. Yet Hilley misses his chance to create a character I'd truly care for. Only one scene focuses on what caused Hilley to take the path that led him to where he was. In fact, none of the characters seem real to me and it felt like there had been a book before this one that contained all the back story I wasn't getting. It's a fine line to draw, because Hilley's writing style and pacing are a strength too. He never lingers too long on one scene, but I still feel there could have been room for more. My biggest complain of the novel is the spiritual aspect. I just don't think it fits. It is something I've never seen in a Christian novel other than someone like Ted Dekker, where you expect something different to happen. I just don't beleive the two spirtiual events that occur fit in with a legal thriller. Just my opinion. Read and judge for yourself. The jury is still out on whether or not I will continue to read the other four books in the Mike Connelly series.

Move over, John. This is a page-turner from 1st-time novelist, Joe Hilley. The plot turns and twists and the interesting characters kept me up at night -- 'til I could reach the surprising end. Can't wait to read Hilley's next one.

This is the first book I have ready by Joe Hilley. I loved it! It is fast pace and a legal thriller. It is very well written. I have read the second in the series and am starting the third. He is an excellent writer. This is a real page turner!

Marilyn Fitzgerald
Carlsbad, CA

Could not put the book down, a great suspense novel w/ a Christian connection

Joe does a fantastic job of writing about southern characters and mannerizms to a T. Throughout the book you can see the transformation Mike makes and Joe does a wonderful job of telling Mikes story.

I enjoy this series and have read it several times now but every time the lead character gets into a car, I skim over the section because this author documents every street and turn like he is writing for MapQuest. I can see if the character is following a suspect but he writes this way all throughout. As I said I enjoy the books enough for a re-read but wish the author would improve his writing in this area.

I got this book on a recommendation. It was one of those books you just can't put down once you start. So good I immediately bought the next book in the series.

"Sober Justice" is a pretty good novel. I did find it kind of slow to begin with, but it did get better as it progressed. If you like legal drama, this book has much of that. The mystery was pretty well done and the plot does have some interesting twists and turns. The characters are fairly realistic.
The biggest downside to this book was the ongoing geographical references. After a while I found them annoying. At first they were effective in setting the atmosphere for the places, but they got old fast. For example the author will write something like, "He drove downtown and turned left on this street then went six blocks and turned right on that street, then parked his car in front of the place." The book would have flowed better if he just wrote, "He drove through downtown and parked in front of the place."
This was not too bad overall, but was annoying.

This is nothing new or spectacular but a decent tale about an alcoholic lawyer who finds a new lease on life through an appointment to represent a fall guy. More of a morality tale than a mystery.