Jonnie Jacobs The Only Suspect

The Only Suspect

Jonnie Jacobs

Kensington, Oct 2005, $23.00

ISBN: 0758208006

One juror held out causing a hung jury, which led to the freeing of Dr. Sam Russell from being convicted of strangling to death his pregnant wife Lisa. Her Bostonian parents are fully convinced he murdered their daughter while his Californian father is supportive of him. Sam accompanied by his child Molly leaves the East Coast to live near his dad.

Seven years later, Sam awakens in his car with no idea what happened; blood is under his fingernails. When he gets home he finds his second spouse Maureen missing. D j vu is all he can think of as this is exactly what occurred in New England. Monte Vista detectives Hannah Montgomery and Dallas Pryor lead the missing person's investigation knowing most likely a homicide committed by the husband happened. Monte has recently learned that her deceased husband Malcolm had an affair with her sister Claire while Dallas detests Sam from their high school days together. Both believe he killed his wife, but Hannah attempts to consider Sam's claims about a ransom call and a vehicle leaving the drop off locale. When her corpse is found, the vultures circle Sam.

Very few writers if any can take an everyday person like Sam is and place him in a nightmarish realistic scenario caused by events outside his control as well as Jonnie Jacobs can. The story line grips readers because of Sam who is like one's neighbor, friend, or doctor so that the audience feels everything that occurs to him. Though a late twist has been used too often in suspense thrillers, THE ONLY SUSPECT is a fabulous tale because Sam is just that.

Harriet Klausner