Final
Truth
A
"Truth" Series Thriller
Mariah
Stewart
Ballantine
(Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-345-48383-9 (0345483839)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-48383-6 (9780345483836)
Publication Date: June 2006
List Price: $19.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): All that stands between Lester Ray Barnes and the state
of Florida’s death chamber is a judge’s signature.
He is sentenced to die for the rape and murder of a young woman, his
conviction hinging on two pieces of evidence: DNA testing and an
eyewitness who placed him at the scene. But when the story breaks that
the DNA testimony at trial had been fabricated and that the eyewitness
was coerced by a cop, all hell breaks loose. In the absence of credible
evidence to sustain the conviction, the court is forced to set Lester
Ray free. It’s the sort of circus the media
adore–until it turns into the kind of Grimm’s fairy
tale the media love even more.
Intrigued by the story of a young man railroaded by justice, true-crime
writer Regan Landry is drawn into Lester Ray’s camp like a
moth to a flame. For Regan, writing is a way to stay connected to her
late literary-legend father, and her knack for detective work makes her
a natural when it comes to uncovering new leads in even the murkiest
mysteries.
Eager for the spotlight, Lester Ray willingly agrees to work with Regan
on a tell-all about his experience as an innocent man on death row. But
less than a week after leaving prison, he vanishes from the Sunshine
State. Soon after, darkness descends on the outer banks of North
Carolina as a string of women are raped and murdered in a frenzied
spree. Fearing the worst, Regan, along with Special Agent Mitch Peyton
and the FBI, sweeps in to confront the unspeakable: the horrifying
possibility that they have helped to free a cunning monster with an
insatiable appetite for death–and a ruthless determination
never to be caged again.
Review:
Final
Truth is the 4th, final, and
possibly best, book of Mariah Stewart's "Truth" series of suspense
thrillers.
The premise of this book is all the more chilling because it is so
plausible. Stewart has crafted a remarkable traditional whodunit-style
mystery together with a topical thought-provoking study on capital
punishment. Regardless of which side you may take on the subject (and
Stewart is careful not to take sides), Final Truth
is not likely to change your mind but it will probably make an
interesting topic of conversation among good friends — ones
that can agree to disagree with you.
Though Final
Truth is part of a series, it
stands alone on its own merits. Some characters have previously
appeared in earlier books, but it is not necessary to have read these
books to fully appreciate the complexity that Stewart has imparted to
them. Stewart should consider bringing one or more of them back in
another series, they are that interesting.
Finally, the subplot involving the mystery of Eddie Kroll neatly ties
together this series that began with Cold Truth.
Final
Truth should be on your
summer reading list, and is highly recommended.
Special thanks to Book Trends for providing an ARC of Final Truth for this review.
Review Copyright © 2006 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Have you read Final Truth? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series ...
Cold
Truth
Ballantine (Mass Market Paperback), August 2005
ISBN-10: 0-345-47665-4 (0345476654)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-47665-4 (9780345476654)
Hard
Truth
Ballantine (Mass Market Paperback), September 2005
ISBN-10: 0-345-47667-0 (0345476670)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-47667-8 (9780345476678)
Dark
Truth
Ballantine (Mass Market Paperback), October 2005
ISBN-10: 0-345-47669-7 (0345476697)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-47669-2 (9780345476692)
Final Truth
Ballantine (Hardcover), June 2006
ISBN-10: 0-345-48383-9 (0345483839)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-48383-6 (9780345483836)
Omnimystery
keywords for Final Truth
...
Location(s) referenced: North
Carolina, Florida.
