THE HUSH by John Hart
John Hart has written some of my favorite novels – THE KING OF LIES, THE LAST CHILD and REDEMPTION ROAD to name a few. Each of these stories was almost perfectly written and introduced readers to fascinating characters who lived exciting lives and got caught up in engrossing personal dramas. So it was with great anticipation I picked up his latest novel THE HUSH, which is a sequel of sorts to THE LAST CHILD.
I went into this novel with expectations and that is a mistake. I expected it to be set in the same normal world that his other stories had occupied. This book deals with the paranormal and the supernatural. That was a shock. Since reading the book I have heard Hart say he gave hints of supernatural elements in THE LAST CHILD. Those hints must have gone right over my head.
This book does deal with the lives of Jack Cross and Johnny Merriman, the two main characters from THE LAST CHILD. They are adults now and Jack has even obtained a law degree. Johnny lives on a vast tract of land passed down to him by his ancestors. He has a small cabin and basically lives off the land. This is not enough to give him money to pay the taxes on the property, and it doesn’t give him money to fight off a lawsuit by others who claim their right to the land. So having a best friend who is an attorney is a plus.
The two young men meet often to share a meal, drink some beers, and go hunting and/or fishing. Life is good, for the most part. One problem spoiling this this eden like setting is trespassers. People like to hunt on Johnny’s land and he does not want them there. There have been some run ins with the law over this, so when some hunters end up dead on the property Johnny becomes a prime suspect.
The deaths that occur in “hush arbor” or “”the hush,” which is the name given to Johnny’s property, are the result of a supernatural power that lives within the boundaries of Johnny’s property. It is a strong, perhaps evil force that plans to maintain the boundaries established. Johnny feels its presence but he does not understand the source of its presence.
Several years ago John Sandford decided to interrupt his Lucas Davenport/Virgil Flowers series of books in order to bring out SATURN RUN, a futuristic sci fi thriller. It was not met with great acceptance by Sandford fans. Hart is also dedicated to bringing this sci fi element into his new story and for many readers it will be a surprisingly enjoyable venture into a new genre. But for the purists among us it will be a shocking change that doesn’t fill the need we have for a true John Hart book.
At least if you read this review you will know what to expect and that may soften the blow. I wish I had known in advance. I must stress however that I enjoyed the skill and expertise of Hart’s writing, but this new adventure into the world of the supernatural was not for me.
THE HUSH is published by St Martin’s Press. It contains 432 pages and sells for $27.99.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
