The Whole Truth

Rating:
Summary: Bring back Jenny Cain!
Review: As a longtime fan of Pickard's Jenny Cain books, and having been impressed by the Pickard short stories I've read in different anthologies, I was prepared to be impressed by this book--especially considering the raves it has received. In fact, I had to force myself to finish the book.

The main character doesn't have any of the appeal or complexity of Jenny Cain, Pickard's previous series heroine; after spending a whole book with Marie Lightfoot, I felt that she had never really come to life or engaged my interest or sympathy. The chapters from "her" book interspersed with the mystery are flat, shallow, and disappointing as they reduce the potentially intriguing story to conventional, even cliched phrases and flat characterizations. That the chapters from Lightfoot's book are so uninspired makes me less sympathetic to her as a character, and all the more skeptical that everyone else in the book recognizes her as a literary phenomenon.

Perhaps the series will improve, but I'm in no hurry to continue reading. I miss the humor, self-awareness, and spunkiness of Jenny Cain and her supporting characters; this book and heroine rate little more than a disappointed sigh--or yawn.

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: As a mystery writer with my first novel in current release, I greatly admire any novel that successfully breaks with the established patterns of American crime fiction. Nancy Pickard does break with our patterns in THE WHOLE TRUTH, and she succeeds masterfully. The book opens with the conviction of Raymond Raintree for the murder of Natalie McCullen. Marie Lightfoot is preparing a nonfiction book on the murder, and THE WHOLE TRUTH deals with Marie's struggle to complete her book, THE LITTLE MERMAID. THE WHOLE TRUTH is an awesome accomplishment.

Rating:
Summary: This new series for Nancy Pickard is a real winner!!!!
Review: I have read and enjoyed Nancy Pickard's Jenny Cain novels for many years but this new series is really fabulous. As a true crime novel, you are aware of the outcome of a particularly heinous murder trial and the defendant who has just been found guilty. An outbreak in the courtroom, a shooting of the defendant by the judge and an unexpected jail break are the beginning of the unraveling tale of the story behind the story. How could Ray Raintree have no traceable past? Was it true he had no memory of his childhood? Why did he kill the young girl in such a brutal way and steal one of her organs?
Marie Lightfoot is the very likable heroine, a true crime writer. Despite all the knowns, she slowly finds out more of the story and creates suspense as we too discover what really happened. There are lots of plot twists that make things interesting and great character development makes all the key characters very appealing. You will have a hard time putting this book down and the ending is a real surprise. Pickard throws in a teaser about the heroine--we find out that she is an orphan and it just looks like she too will find out about her past and what happened to her parents....But wait and see. I was so hooked on this series that I immediately got and read the next installment, Ring of Truth... You will not be disappointed with this new series.

Rating:
Summary: This new series for Nancy Pickard is a real winner!!!!
Review: I have read and enjoyed Nancy Pickard's Jenny Cain novels for many years but this new series is really fabulous. As a true crime novel, you are aware of the outcome of a particularly heinous murder trial and the defendant who has just been found guilty. An outbreak in the courtroom, a shooting of the defendant by the judge and an unexpected jail break are the beginning of the unraveling tale of the story behind the story. How could Ray Raintree have no traceable past? Was it true he had no memory of his childhood? Why did he kill the young girl in such a brutal way and steal one of her organs?
Marie Lightfoot is the very likable heroine, a true crime writer. Despite all the knowns, she slowly finds out more of the story and creates suspense as we too discover what really happened. There are lots of plot twists that make things interesting and great character development makes all the key characters very appealing. You will have a hard time putting this book down and the ending is a real surprise. Pickard throws in a teaser about the heroine--we find out that she is an orphan and it just looks like she too will find out about her past and what happened to her parents....But wait and see. I was so hooked on this series that I immediately got and read the next installment, Ring of Truth... You will not be disappointed with this new series.

Rating:
Summary: first time reading Nancy Pickard
Review: I liked this book and disagree with all the people that were disappointed in the ending. I feel like the ending was not only a total surprise(I never had a clue)but that the author wrapped it up neatly and explained everything rather well. The only thing she failed to explain was why Ray Raintree escaped from the courtroom after sentencing if he was so eager to go to jail to escape the villian. He had not been sentenced to death yet, so that kind of irked me. It was a slow story in spots and I skimmed a coupla times, but all in all it was pretty interesting and I liked Marie. Will I read her next book in this series? I may, but I am not dying to get my hands on it like some series.

Rating:
Summary: first time reading Nancy Pickard
Review: I liked this book and disagree with all the people that were disappointed in the ending. I feel like the ending was not only a total surprise(I never had a clue)but that the author wrapped it up neatly and explained everything rather well. The only thing she failed to explain was why Ray Raintree escaped from the courtroom after sentencing if he was so eager to go to jail to escape the villian. He had not been sentenced to death yet, so that kind of irked me. It was a slow story in spots and I skimmed a coupla times, but all in all it was pretty interesting and I liked Marie. Will I read her next book in this series? I may, but I am not dying to get my hands on it like some series.

Rating:
Summary: A First Time Reader
Review: I too am a first time reader of author Nancy Pickard and I did not know just what to expect. Bottom line.. I liked this book well enough not to turn ahead a few pages to see what was going to happen and then fill in. I read it within 24 hours of getting it. I wanted to know why Ray Raintree did what he did and why he acted the way he did. Once the truth comes out you will ask yourself why you didn't see it coming. That is what makes this book so good and why I gave it five stars. I do not like books when I get it all figured out in the first chapter or two. Pickard draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. It is fast paced and well done. Packard has a new fan and I look forward to reading other titles by her.

Rating:
Summary: Fictional true crime is not a contradiction
Review: I used to laugh at lists of mystery books that were divided by the occupation of the protagonist. Cop, PI, amateur - what did it matter? Several hundred mysteries later, I've come to appreciate that each player in a mystery has access to different information not to mention having differenct perspectives and agendas. I've also read true crime. But never before have I read fiction written from the perspective of a true crime writer. It really is a great idea. First, true crime writers are only going to write about pretty sensational crimes. Even better, Marie has access to virtually all the players and a legitimate reason for talking with them. And for the reader, there's the interesting format where Pickard switches from excerpts of the book within the book (written in true crime style) to the personal narrative of Marie as the post trial search for the truth reveals itself.

For a summary of the plot of this book, I refer you to the excellent editorial review by Amazon editor Flynn. Pickard works the Florida setting well. This book worked great as a page turner though I agree with other reviewers that the ending is just a little to tidy and easy for the author.

Suffice it to say that Pickard has launched a series with great potential. I agree with other reviewers that the book is a bit skimpy on details about Marie Lightfoot -- but it only whets my appetite to learn more in future books. And since true crime happens everywhere, Pickard should be able to justify lots of travel expenses as she "researches" settings.

For fans of the the Jenny Cain series, this is a very different type of book. While hardly a "hard-boiled" gorey affair, it isn't a cozy either. It is a good summer read for fans of both genres.

Rating:
Summary: Tired prose, weak plot, even weaker characters
Review: Ms. Pickard made her name in the light-weight, fluffy detective world of the ever-perky, tart-tongued female detective. Men also creep into this odious offal of a mystery category. In this novel Ms. Pickard pulls her perky detective from the scene and tries to bring some grit and grunge into her writing. Doesn't work. Say it again: Doesn't work. She lionizes rich people in Ft. Lauderdale, shows insufficient understanding of a mentally retarded young man. A grimy salesman from the wrong side of the tracks is invidiously belittled. You have to smell nice to be nice in Pickard's world. I read the entire book and was rewarded with one of the grossest images ever present in a novel. Still didn't do anything for the novel. Also, the black prosecutor's romance with the white reporter was sooo P.C. Why not a Cuban and an American white woman. Not P.C. Simply awful book.

Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: Nancy Pickard has found an ingenious device, making her series protagonist Marie Lightfoot a true crime author. She presents us with a story within a story. Chapters from her tale "Little Mermaid" are interwoven with her non-publishable thoughts and actions about the murder of a little girl by Raymond Raintree.

Raymond, a curiously young appearing man and perhaps mentally deficient, has confessed. The prosecution has him dead to rights with hard, incontrovertible evidence. The most expensive law firm in the area vigorously defends him. Can there be any doubts? Well, yes. The reader senses something is wrong. Raymond has no motive, no past, and no present. It is as if Raymond has been dropped out of the sky to go on trial for murder. Who is paying for his defense? Sometimes he is totally withdrawn, other times voluble and fantastical about his past and reality. Is he lying? Does he truly not remember anything of his childhood?

Ms. Pickard does an excellent job of keeping the story taut and forward moving. She is dealing with many characters, and they are shot with reality. The ending is a fine, satisfying climax. The introduction of the protagonist's missing parents is a mistake; it never goes anywhere and just distracts from the story. But that is a small complaint. Because of the child victim, the story could be painful for some people to read, and the violence is graphic. However, I think most readers will find this intriguing mystery poignant and sad.