The King of Lies (Mass Market Paperback)
$7.99
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Description
Jackson Workman Pickens--known to most as "Work"--mindlessly holds together his disintegrating life: a failing law practice left to him when his father, Ezra, mysteriously disappeared, a distant wife who shares their loveless marriage, and an estranged sister who bore the brunt of their childhood trauma.
And then Ezra's body is discovered.
Set to inherit his father's fortune, Work becomes a prime suspect. But so does his sister, Jean. As much as Work's life was overshadowed by his domineering father, Jean's life was nearly destroyed by him. But does that make her capable of a vicious murder? Fearing the worst, Work launches his own investigation, crossing paths with a power-hungry detective, a string of damning evidence, and the ugly rumors that swirl within his small, moneyed Southern town.
Desperate for the redemption that has eluded him for so many years and stripped of everything he once valued, he fights to save his sister and clear his name--in this poignant and thrilling anatomy of a murder and its ripple effect within a family and a community.
About the Author
John Hart was born and raised in North Carolina. For a time he practiced criminal defense law, but left his practice to write The King of Lies and work for a major Wall Street firm. John used to do foolish things, like fly helicopters and sail small boats across large oceans. Now, with two young daughters and a wife whom he loves, he writes books, which is harder but safer. John still makes his home in North Carolina.
Praise for The King of Lies…
"A seething, roiling, boiling North Carolina murder story… crossbreeds enough Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding to make for a sulfurous mix."--Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"A gripping performance."--People
"Don't miss this book."--Winston-Salem journal
"...have-to-keep-reading suspense."--Denver Post
"If you want entertainment that will ensnare you, deprive you of sleep... You won't be disappointed." --Rocky Mountain News "A striking new talent."--Entertainment Weekly
"Reads like a book on fire."--Pat Conroy
"An exceptionally deep and complex mystery thriller."--Publishers Weekly (Starred review) "There hasn't been a thriller as showily literate as The King of Lies...since Scott Turow came along." --Janet Maslin of The New York Times, recommending the book on "CBS Sunday Morning"
"[An] ambitious debut thriller...well-spun...a gripping performance." --People (3.5 out of 4 stars)
"Hart has wedded the two writing forms, creating a marriage of carefully crafted prose alongside have-to-keep-reading suspense."--Denver Post
"More than anything else--more than a terrific whodunit, an unsentimental, clear-eyed story of love and forgiveness, and a gripping family saga--The King of Lies is a masterful piece of writing."--The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
"Rookie of the Year."--Bookpage
"One of those fine books that is both a gripping mystery/thriller and a fully fleshed, thoughtful work of literature…The prose is lush and poetic without being overdone or self-indulgent…Don't miss this book. The only problem with taking The King of Lies on vacation is that you'll finish it too soon."--Winston Salem Journal
"Neophyte author John Hart has written a brilliantly intricate novel with a plot so flaming, its pages burn at your fingertips…a spectacular read. His descriptive prose and clever language allow The King of Lies to play out like a movie right before your eyes."--TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online)
"[A] fast-paced debut mystery."--The Wall Street Journal
"If you want entertainment that will ensnare you, deprive you of sleep, and have you button-holing your friends about its greatness, you won't be disappointed….When Hart is famous, you'll brag about reading The King of Lies before anyone had heard of him….Treat yourself to something new and truly out of the ordinary. (Grade: A)"--Rocky Mountain News
"All of Hart's characters ring true... Indeed, The King of Lies pulls off the almost impossible: It makes you like a lawyer."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"The best thing about reading The King of Lies is watching the character of Work Pickens evolve. Though there's plenty of intrigue here, with dead bodies and villains galore, the real change happens inside the character of Work Pickens as he's forced by external circumstances to take a hard look at his assumptions and values. An ambitious debut from a promising new novelist."--Sheri Reynolds, author of Rapture of Canaan and Gracious Plenty
"John Hart's debut in the world of fiction is that most engrossing of rarities, a well-plotted mystery novel that is written in a beautifully poetic style...The King of Lies will mark the beginning of a long and stellar career".--Mark Childress author of Crazy in Alabama
"Absolutely relentless. I dare you to read the first chapter of The King of Lies and not be hooked."--Steve Hamilton, author of Ice Run
"A rare, remarkable book, a marvel from the first page to the last. At times blunt and startling, at times full of grace subtle wisdom, this novel is, without a doubt, one of the most compelling pieces of fiction I've ever read."--Martin Clark, author of Plain Heathen Mischief
"The writing is beautiful and the story is gripping, but it is the character study of a damaged Southern lawyer that puts this debut novel on the must-read list." --Library Journal (Starred Review)
"Hart is a fine stylist, turning phrases with a panache that recalls Raymond Chandler. Readers will breathe in this fine novel like a breath of fresh air and, immediately after finishing it, wish for more. --Booklist (Starred Review)
"A suspenseful novel about the unraveling of the poisonous legacy of a Southern lawyer brings us a strong new voice in crime fiction. A writer to watch."--Thomas Perry, author of Dead Aim
"Speaking of wonderful debuts, John Hart has such a lovely writing style that's full-bodied and lyrical." --Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (Sarah Weinman's Mystery Blog)
