Reviews

The King of Lies by John Hart

kolson687's review

2.0

I read the whole book and it was just okay. I could not find one like-able character which was a big reason I gave it two stars. I was committed to finding out who did it but in a way I didn't care.

sdcd24's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

missyjohnson's review

4.0

I really like John Hart books. the characters are real and he does a great job of bringing them to life. The mystery keeps you guessing.

anniepatt's review

3.0

I enjoyed reading this one. It had potential to be really good. However, there were "clues" randomly thrown in that seemed out of place. The twist ending was wrapped up too neatly in too few pages. The resolution wasn't well developed, IMO. Apparently this is the author's first novel, I plan on giving him another shot.

readingwithmygoldens's review

3.0

Well, I read this book rather quickly and really did enjoy it. The reason for 3 stars is twofold: 1) i cannot give it 3.5, which is what i would like to do. 2) The ending moved it from a 4 to a 3.5. I am terrible at figuring out who did it, but I kind of had an inclination as to who it was and it just wasn't 100% believable to me. I did believe it was capable, but I was hoping for something more shocking like "The Last Child". That was a terrific ending. So that is my disappointment. Otherwise, a good read.

bgg616's review against another edition

3.0

This was John Hart's first novel. It was set in North Carolina, but almost completely lacked any sense of place. The narrator of the audiobook read in a "standard" American accent which was a disappointment. This is an overdrawn saga of a brutal father, Ezra Pickens, whose body is discovered 2 years after his disappearance. Suspects are his son, "Work" and his daughter, Jean. Progress is slow. In the middle of the book, it is revealed that one character is using a false name and possibly fake identity. However, nothing is investigated until much later in the story. Work Pickens isn't a particularly likeable or compelling character. His motives aren't always clear. He's a lawyer, but doesn't want to be a lawyer. His father's wealth and large estate don't interest him. But we don't know why.

Hart's [b:Redemption Road|26883206|Redemption Road|John Hart|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1452743616s/26883206.jpg|45785424] was a 5 star read for me. I am glad that he developed into a top crime novel writer. [b:The King of Lies|82375|The King of Lies|John Hart|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1388265682s/82375.jpg|15682244] is a satisfactory read, and some readers will certainly like it more than I did. I will read more John Hart such as [b:The Last Child|5556466|The Last Child|John Hart|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1312058481s/5556466.jpg|5727588] which won an Edgar for best novel of 2010.

shawzy63's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

bookishcrafterde's review

4.0

Jackson Workman Pickens was not a hard man like his father Ezra. He hated his life. Everything in his life is not his own. He is in a career that he hates, working for a man that hates him, and living with a woman that would rather spend money that they don't have then have sex with him. When Ezra goes missing and is later found dead all hell breaks lose. Work is considered a suspect. He suspects his sister. His sister suspects him and so does everyone else in the small town in which he lives. I really loved this book. It was a quick, easy read and very beautifully written. What I loved most about this book was that the characters were well written and well developed. They were believable and came to life on the page. Can't wait to read more from this author.

gmclaughlin's review

3.0

I gave this book 3 stars because for a mystery/suspense/crime novel it kept me turning the pages. Having said that...I agree with a lot of the other reviewers. There were no likable characters and at times unbelievable. The themes...greed,infidelity,forgiveness etc are all predictable. If you are looking for an easy read, one where you don't have to get emotionally involved this is the book for you. I would try another John Harman book,especially given that this is his first book.

robinhigdon's review

4.0

good mystery with nice twists, but it was a tense read. the main character kept adding lie upon lie and you knew how it was going to end up. like watching a train wreck.