Rating: 
Summary: The best Jonathan Kellerman book yet, don't miss
Review: I have read all of J. Kellerman's books, but was getting a little bored with the same characters, even though they were very likable. In Billy Straight, I loved the new characters, especially Petra Connors, the homicide policewoman. I identified with her character and loved the partnership she had, I hope she is back in his next book. Also loved how a little bit of romance was included along with other great side characters. I loved Billy, and disagree with other reviewers, that he was to good to be true. In alot of cases, kids that come from alcoholic backgrounds, are very much the adult and very intelligent, because they have to grow up sooner than most. I even wrote Mr. Kellerman telling him how much I enjoyed this book, and hope this is a start of a new series, and still has cameos with Alex Delaware. The story itself was very suspenful and I loved the subject matter. Read like something right out of the news. Mr. Kellerman, please bring these characters back, its the start of a good thing!
Rating:
Summary: Rivetting!!!
Review: I don't usually read this genre but I'm so glad that I did. An abused 12 year old,Billy Straight runs away from his unable to cope mother and her vile,abusive,redneck bikie boyfriend and goes to Hollywood where he lives in a park .He's an intelligent,well read little boy who loathes living in poverty and dirt and,unfortunately,witnesses a murder and remembers the licence number of the murderers car. The author gives a very vivid description of low-life people who live on the edge 0f society and who scramble to keep alive by scavenging,stealing and violence. This would make a great thriller movie and I can even visualise the boy actor in the starring role--Joel Hayley Osmond who starred in "The Sixth Sense".Needless to say,I'll be hunting out other books by Jonathon Kellerman.
Rating:
Summary: Super Thriller by a Superb Writer
Review: Spunky twelve-year-old Billy Straight is a runaway managing to survive in L.A.'s Griffith Park. Billy is a remarkable boy who ran away from an abusive home life in a mobile home. He spends his time sneaking into libraries to read and planning and plotting how he'll get an education and get along in the world. Then he unexpectedly witnesses a brutal murder. He decides not to reveal what he has seen for fear he will be returned to the trailer with his alcoholic mother and her brutal boyfriend.Los Angeles homicide detective Petra Connor is the lead detective on what turns out to be a high profile murder case. The victim, Lisa Lee Ramsey, is the gorgeous ex-wife of a prominent TV actor, Cart Ramsey, who stars in the syndicated TV detective show "The Adjuster." The investigation takes a lot of delving behind the scenes of the precarious, competitive, sometimes sleazy world of television and the police administration is terrified of a media circus. Petra is told to solve the killing quietly and quickly, but while she is trying to do just that Billy is being pursued by a pair of wackos in the park who scare him into hiding. Then a media slip reveals there has been a witness to the murder and he is in deep trouble. BILLY STRAIGHT, a solid mystery adventure loaded with suspense and good, old fashioned police work. It's a super way to while away a quiet evening by the fire.
Rating: 
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!
Rating:
Summary: Billy Straight
Review: Billy Straight is a thrilling, story that manages to carry two plots at once. Its about a 12 year old boy that runs away from his abusive home to the streets of L.A.. During one of these homeless nights in a L.A. park he witnesses the murder of women. The books turns in to a man hunt to find the killer of Lisa Ramsey, and the search for Billy Straight. The women murdered happens to be the ex-wife of a television celebrity, with a history of abuse. Billy soon come to the center of attention in the media, and begins to run for his life. This book will catch your attention at page one and keep you hooked till the end.
Rating:
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
Rating: 
Summary: Pleasing and proficient thriller
Review: Billy Straight is a 12 year old homeless person ,living on the streets and in the open spaces of Los Angeles .He is escaping an abusive homelife with a feckless mother and her numbskull boyfriend. Billy witnesses a murder ,and the book then becomes essentially a tale of two hunts.The hunt for the killer of Lisa Ramsey ,under the leadership of LA detective Petra Connor ,and there are two principal suspects--her former husband ,the TV star Cart Ramsey and his business manager ,Greg Baulch.Then there is the search for Billy ,a srearch involving the killer ,the boy friend , the police and others after the reward posted for information on the killing.The case is not solved until there have been further killings and some narrow escapes for Billy. Kellerman is a big seller with a loyal readership and has not achieved these feats without being able to produce page turners of some quality .The book is strong on narrative and there is a good depth of characterization not to mention some sharp criticism of police bureaucracy and the way in which fear of publicity in potential high profile cases can retard a police investigation.The juggling of the two searches is dexterously handled
My only real reservation is an old bugbear of mine -excessive length .The book runs nearer 600 pages than 500 and much of this is due to what strikes me as padding --for instance ,the domestic worries of Petra's partner contributes nothing to the evolution of the plot and merely serves to slow proceedings down. Good solid read and fans of the regular series character Alex Delaware may like to know he makes a cameo appearance in the last chapter
Rating: 
Summary: Too Many Plot Holes to Recommend
Review: I thought the premise of this novel sounded similar to Grisham's, The Client but I thought maybe Kellerman could craft a better novel out of the intriguing premise. Unfortunately, this novel, although much better written than The Client, covered much of the same territory and had many of the same shortcomings as that book. Billy Straight the character was well written and was by far the most believable character in the novel. Unfortunately, the murderer, whose thoughts and crimes become increasingly unbelievable made some deductions and guesses that put the Psychic Hotline to shame.The ending of the novel was so far fetched and improbable you'll be glad that you can move on to another author say Harlen Corben or Jeffrey Deaver who really know how to close the deal.
Rating:
Summary: Has potential but falls flat
Review: Fine writing style, quite creative really, with good character development. But the story was a bit weak. The situations and resolutions were a bit too convenient. Flipping back and forth between the sub plots was ok, but they didn't cohere very well. Billy Staight's situation had little contribution in the end. The Ramsey investigation was small. What did Stu's character have to do with anything other than an attempt to show a considerate, domestic side of Petra. I really expected Stu to play a major role but he became unnecessary to the story. So some of the sub plots went nowhere. The Grandmother? Overall there was some real potential with this book but too many loose ends and lack of build up. However, I am really looking forward to starting on the Alex Delaware series. Looking forward to finding a character as strong as Sanford's Lucas Davenport.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best Kellerman of all!
Review: This book grabs your attention from the first page. It never boggs down as it races to the finish. There are not a lot of characters to keep track of, and best of all, Alex Delaware's personal life is kept to a minimum. (You don't have to suffer through reading about what Alex and Robin had for breakfast and dinner!!)
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