Final Truth
A
Thriller in the "Truth" Series
Mariah
Stewart
Ballantine Books (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-345-48383-9 (0345483839)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-48383-6 (9780345483636)
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 © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
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 Books (Hardcover), June 2006
ISBN-10: 0-345-48383-9 (0345483839)
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-48383-6 (9780345483636)
Omnimystery keywords for Final Truth ...
Location(s) referenced: Florida, North Carolina.