Heartstone

Heartstone is a fast-paced murder thriller that reads like a true crime story—In Cold Blood by Truman Capote comes to mind. It starts with the brutal slaying of a high school boy, Richie Walters, whose body is found in Lookout Point, a popular makeout spot in the town of Portsmouth. His girlfriend, Elaine Murray, is missing, but not for long. After Elaine's raped and tortured body turns up two months later, the story follows Detective Roy Shindler's obsession with finding the murderers. The book explores the lines detectives, witnesses, and even prosecutors will cross when involved in a sensationalized murder case where their futures hang in the outcome. A mesmerizing read to the shocking end.

From Amazon:

They were young, popular, the perfect couple—an all-American boy and a beautiful cheerleader. But the youthful passion that led them to Lookout Park thatterrible evening would prove fatal. For Richie Walters the end came swiftly, as death descended upon him in a savage orgy of horrific violence. Elaine Murray would live long enough to learn just how lucky her boyfriend had been. Two brutal slayings have rocked a stunned city. But the murders are merely the nightmare's beginning, flinging open a terrifying Pandora's box of sordid secrets and dark revelations more deadly than the blood lust that lives in the rock-hard heart of a killer.

My Thoughts:

A book with an interesting plot and story line. Two "lesser" characters end up show more being the brightest stars in this novel. Esther's character is very, very well written and she holds the book together. It's interesting, also, to see the development of young Mark Shaffer, the up and coming lawyer, who finds himself defending the accused Bobby Corbett. He starts out totally ineffectual and enamored with the defendant's live-in girlfriend, and ends up becoming savvy and accomplished. And you can't help but continue to read in hopes that that the cop and the D.A. will get their "just dues". Overall a very worthwhile read with a whopper of an ending. show less

What a ride! Great suspense. I do not want to give away the plot so that is all I have to say. Read it!

Interesting. I thought I had the mystery figured out, but I did miss a twist or two.

I spoke with Phil after his presentation to Rotary. Said the beginning of the book is accurate (Peyton - Allen (Beverly) murders), body found 6 weeks later, sunset hwy corridor - believe it was Ed? Jorgeson and Brawn convicted, - Carl was acquitted, all on the same evidence, 3 seperate trials, all maintained innocence. Another theory (there were no drifters as there were in Heartstone) black gang and a white man said they showed him the girl, so he could get layed, saw Lewis? strangled her, no one really knows what happened, she was found with sperm in her vagina, which breaks down in 72 hours so (unless protected by the cold) had sex in 72 hours before death. Only evidence was the hypnosis (unreliable) of Nicky Elly? the girl who lost show more her glasses - hypnosis too suggestive would not be allowed in court today show less

Richie Walters, All-american Boy. Elaine Murray, cheerleader. They made the perfect couple. And that evening out at lookou point - Richie fumbling at the buttons of her blouse, Elaine Thrilled and terrified - They were about to take the final step. But the step would never be tatken. Richi Walters would die that night - die in a hot and savage ecstasy of violence. Elaine Murray too would die. But not that night, or the next. She would live long enough to know just how lucky Richie had been...

True first edition, good