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Summary: Murder/ cruelty/ pathos/a 12 yr. old & Petra Connor
Review: Want to find out about Kellerman's newest sleuth? Pick up this book and enter the terrifying world of a runaway boy who has witnessed a murder. I disagree with a lot of statements in the reviews I have read. First of all, it is not a refreshing change from Alex Delaware. That implies that I am tired of Alex Delaware. I have read all Kellerman's novels and could read about Delaware constantly. It is altogether different from his former novels - so it IS a change and a cleverly woven mystery that wins my applause. That Kellerman can just change his tack and produce as equally scintillating a mystery as he ever has is mind boggling to me. Petra Conner IS refreshing, different, not all brain, not all beauty but an astonishing mixture of both. Her thought processes in solving the many involved aspects of this mystery are fascinating to follow. And Billy Straight is right behind her. He is an intelligent, moral kid whose background does nothing to help him become a survivor, but somehow he manages his day to day life in a scary adult world. His character is very believable - if one is a survivor his/herself and Kellerman has a very good handle on that. A terrific read - no, the killer is not obvious - you just THINK you know. And the end is slam-bang! Kellerman is the consummate writer. I particularly am impressed, in all his novels, by the desciptions of people, places and things. He does it in such a way that you do not realize it - and suddenly the entire picture is in your mind-down to the color of a man's tie and the shape of flowers on the hillside. How interesting that he managed to insert Alex and Milo in between the cracks of his new mystery. I am curious if they will all be together one of these days. All of his books are great- I have already ordered his next book on Delaware: MONSTER - but I am looking forward to more of Petra Connor. Kudos to Kellerman for giving something different a try - and SUCCEEDING!
Rating: 
Summary: Did Kellerman write this?
Review: What a riveting book. Billy's fears and anxieties are almost palpable as you follow Billy through his life at home and, subsequently, his life on the streets after running away from home. Here is a smart, sensitive, 12-year-old boy who runs away from home to escape his mother's abusive boyfriend, only to find himself living on the streets and a witness to murder. What follows is a race to see who can find Billy first. The police, who want to protect him; his mother's boyfriend, who wants to turn him in for the money; and the killer, who wants to elimiate him. Definitely a must read.
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Summary: A First Rate Page Turner from Jonathan Kellerman
Review: When the ex-wife of TV star Cart Ramsey is found stabbed to death in the parking lot of Griffith Park, Detective Petra Conner is called on to investigate the case. It doesn't take long for her and her partner Stu Bishop to focus on the actor, as the dead woman had accused him of abuse during the past. O.J. is on everybody's mind. The powers that be don't want to go through that again.They find that there was probably a witness to the murder, twelve-year-old Billy Straight, a runaway who had been living in the park. When the victim's parent's offer a reward for him, Petra realizes the boy in danger, because now the killer will be looking for him as well. BILLY STRAIGHT is a page-turner of the first order and though some Kellerman fans might be disappointed that it's not an Alex Deleware novel, they shouldn't be, because this novel is as good, if not better than anything Kellerman has ever done. Review Submitted by Captain Katie Osborne
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Summary: Great read! Can't wait for further developments.
Review: While I still love Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis, I was really kind of glad that he brought out some new characters. At first, I didn't much care for Petra but as time wore on, I found myself warming up to her. (Note to Jonathan: next book, I'd like to see her self-confidence boosted from solving this one!) Billy Straight. I really found myself rooting for him! (Guess I was supposed to, huh?) I expect to see a lot more of him in future books. Perhaps teaming up with Alex and giving him a teen's perspective on whatever they're working on and maybe following in Alex's or Petra's footsteps. There's a lot of potential here! Great ending. Throughout the book, I found myself flip-flopping from one suspect back to the other, trying to cipher little clues which would reveal the culprit. Then WHAM! Keep it up. Don't retire Alex, but bring back Petra and Billy!
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