A review by chillcox15
Citrus County by John Brandon

5.0

This book doesn't try to explain. It just happens. John Brandon doesn't want you to feel anything, really. He lets you feel, but he doesn't push you in one way or another, he lets you feel what you want to feel. He doesn't try to make Toby, or any of the other characters, 'likable' like other authors do. Whereas other authors may set up certain morally egregious scenarios that they have to then write themselves out of to make the protagonist agreeable, Brandon presents what happens and nothing more. You might like the characters, or you may find them annoying. I particularly enjoyed the fact that many characters aren't fully fleshed out, such as Aunt Dale and the FBI agent. There is more story to all of these characters, but Brandon doesn't owe us those stories. In that way, I found this novel much more realistic and enjoyable than others, because it allows in characters without having to 'explain' them.