Throwback Thursday continues as I scour my shelf for old favorites . I like that these older books are usually much easier than new releases to get a hold of at libraries and elsewhere.
My pick this week is:
Published January 2006 by Little, Brown and Company
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
When a twenty-year-old murder case comes back to life, a detective must race against his failing sight to unravel the mystery
When Allison Wallis was beaten to death, Detective Francis X. Loughlin found the killer—Julian Vega, a teenager with a crush on the murdered girl. Using his natural sense of empathy, he cozied up to young Julian, convincing him to give a confession that would put him away until he was thirty-six.
Twenty years later, Julian is finally out of jail, attempting to remember how to live in a world without bars, and Detective Loughlin is still on the job, his sight fading, though his instincts are still sharp. But when Allison’s blood appears at a new crime scene, everything he thought he knew about that long-ago murder is called into question. Was it really Allison they buried? Was Julian actually the killer? And if he wasn’t, who else is in danger now?
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Although this book was published many years ago, I just read it in 2014 when a good reading friend passed it along to me. I have a strong interest in stories where teenagers under 18 are pitted against our criminal justice system. In light of the recent success of Making a Murderer and Serial Season 1 with Adnan Syad, this book explores many of the same legal, ethical, and moral issues highlighted in those stories. It’s also a fantastic mystery with some of the best characterization I’ve read in recent years. These characters are flawed; they feel real. And if you can figure out the answers to the above questions at the end of the blurb, you’re a better detective than me because I didn’t have this puzzle figured out! If you like mysteries with flawed characters that pull your emotional strings, I think you’ll love this book.
If you’ve already read this one, drop me a quick comment, I’d love to hear what you thought of it:)
I haven’t read this book, but it does sound quite interesting. Can anyone participate in Throwback Thursday?
Absolutely, I saw different forms of it around online and made my own, feel free to use my picture and jump on anytime. If you do one, send me a link and I’ll add yours to mine that week as well:)
Awesome! Thanks 😊
Didn’t know this one! Seems like my kind of book definitely. I watched Making a murderer but I was so convinced he was guilty that I felt weird hahaha
I’m very undecided about his guilt,but the investigation was a sham and I was so angry about how they questioned Brenda without a lawyer present or a parent. I think you might really like this one if you try it
Yes, I mean I think he’s guilty but they were abusive and they should’ve never behaved like that with him or the cousin 🤐🤐🤐
You might like the ethical/legal parts of this book then as far as how Julian’s case was handled and the mystery involved:)
This sounds great. I didn’t know about it before this post but I am definitely intrigued now. Thanks for sharing!
Sure, thanks for commenting:) I hope you like it if you read it, it’s a really good book!
Great post. I love the idea of Throwback Thursday! There are so many wonderful books I read before I started blogging… This looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing. I hadn’t heard of it.
Thanks! I’m going to start encouraging others to jump on with their own Throwback Thursday as so many have said they like the idea. I started it as a way to share all the great books I’ve read before blogging…I love sharing book recs and chatting about old favorites:) This was a really good book, I hope you get to try it. Love your new blog design also!!
You could start a meme. I’d be on board. 🙂