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    Billy Straight: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Billy Straight: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Billy Straight: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    Billy Straight: A Novel

    Written by Jonathan Kellerman

    Narrated by Alexander Adams

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In this riveting, astute, high-tension thriller, the creator of psychologist sleuth Alex Delaware weaves a Dickensian tale of innocence, urban depravity, and the resilience of the human spirit, and brings to the page one of the most endearing and finely drawn characters in contemporary fiction.

    Twelve-year-old Billy Straight--precocious, heartbreakingly perceptive, relentlessly moral--has fled the chaos and abuse of his life at home and is fighting to survive on L.A.'s meanest streets. All alone, Billy has fashioned a precarious existence for himself, using principled tricks to nourish his body and his mind. Late one night he watches from his hiding place as a man viciously butchers a woman. The victim turns out to be the ex-wife of a television celebrity with a history of domestic violence, and Billy becomes the center of terrifying attention--from the media, from violent bounty hunters, and from the murderer himself. As he runs for his life, relying on his native wit and instincts for survival, Billy is also tracked by a potential savior: Petra Connor, a tough, gifted, beautiful LAPD homicide detective with a past of her own.

    Breathtakingly paced, Billy Straight brings to life one street kid's efforts to survive in the face of unspeakable evil. Richly layered, emotionally compelling, and peopled by a vivid cast of supporting characters--including Alex Delaware himself in a strong cameo role--this gripping novel represents one of the century's great story-tellers at the top of his form.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 10, 2009
    ISBN9780307576712
    Unavailable
    Billy Straight: A Novel
    Author

    Jonathan Kellerman

    Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty bestselling crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted, and True Detectives. With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he coauthored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children and With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. 

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    Reviews for Billy Straight

    3.5/5

    242 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      One of Kellerman's few novels not focusing on forensic psychologist Alex Delaware, this one tells the story of a bright runaway boy who witnesses a brutal murder. Well-written and suspenseful, with adequate character development. But not up to the caliber of his Delaware books.
    • 3/5
      This is a cautionary tale about what happens when you put a bunch of hormonal teenagers in charge of a nation. Lots of destructive violence interspersed with dialogue like "When we were in your room you said you wanted me to remember that I wanted you to kiss me" (that one tied my brain in knots).This was easily the worst of the trilogy for me, I was expecting an explosive finale but all the dramatic set-ups fizzled out with a whimper, not least the romance side of it. It's practically compulsory nowadays for the female protagonist in a YA novel to have two rivals for her affections (thinking of Twilight, Hunger Games - both employ this device) and in this case I was expecting the situation to be resolved with a bit more of a twist and a bit less of a shrug of the shoulders. The trolls' special abilities too seemed under-used. They seemed to forget they could do cool stuff like move things through thought power. I'm sure if they had got a handle on that a lot of the problems they had could have been solved a lot quicker and without all the convoluted plans. At one point Wendy instructs her people that they are to stick with the plan, but the only problem was I couldn't remember what the plan was any more.So it's a three star for me, but five stars and total respect to the author for what she has achieved though sheer hard work and determination.
    • 3/5
      An twelve year old boy witnesses a murder in a park. He has already fled an abusive home situation and now he is on the run from a murderer. Petra Connor, a beautiful, tough and talented LAPD detective is assigned to the case with her partner who is distracted because his wife has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. All leads point to the victim's husband but it all looks too pat.We are also introduced to the boy's background where we witness the life his mother has created for the two of them. The man she now lives with is brutal to both of them and eventually the boy, Billy flees to LA hiding in parks which is how he happened to see the murder. Even in flight, he has the misfortune to run into crazies who want to take his money or use him for sex. Kellerman sure paints an unattractive picture of life in LA after dark.An intriguing read that has many characters who come in and out of the narrative much like they would in real life. A page turner.
    • 5/5
      Jonathan Kellerman's books are always compelling to me and this one is no exception, although it's not an Alex Delaware novel.
    • 4/5
      One of my favorite Kellerman books. Much better than many of his others.
    • 3/5
      Not as strong as the Delaware novels but a decent crime novel.
    • 2/5
      On the fringes of the Alex Delaware series. Not quite enough of the title character, and too much other stuff. Too many other plot lines. I am not a fan of this particular way of approaching the perpetrator. Somewhat sappy twist at the end, but you knew something like that was coming.
    • 3/5
      This is my first Kellerman. I don't know why I haven't picked one up before but after seeing lots of recommendations I sought this one out. Fairly middle of the road fare, nothing earth shattering new for the genre. There were a few little plot twists that kept it interesting. Petra reminded me on occasion of a female Harry Bosch, which made me laugh a few times. Kellerman doesn't overdo introducing her so I'm interested enough to read the next one.