Chalk’s Outline by J.J. Hensley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I finished this book last night, and I had to mull it overnight before I could write the review.
Ultimately, because of the inability to do half-stars, I’m going to round up and give this one four. Despite using characters from his first two books, Hensley has crafted a compelling story that pulls from that history, but doesn’t require the reader to have read the previous stories (I read MEASURE TWICE, but have not yet read RESOLVE). He’s also put together a cast of primary characters who are deeply flawed, but yet compelling and – dare I say it – likable.
The story will make you question the concepts of “right” and “justice,” and making you think is always one of my hallmarks of a good book.
I was able to figure out the name of the “mentor” and the motive, but hey – this is a thriller, not a mystery, so that’s okay. I still wanted to see how it all played out.
My need to think was occasioned by the ending. I will admit it. Like any good American, I tend to prefer happy endings. But I also don’t like trite endings, where everybody goes home completely unscathed by their brush with evil and they go merrily about their lives. After pondering overnight, I think the ending of this book was perfect for the characters – hopeful, but not completely tied off.
The book does suffer from a few flaws in editing, but I lay those flaws at the feet of the publisher and its editor, not the author.
Whether you’ve read the previous books or not, you’ll be able to understand and enjoy this one.