By Eryk Pruitt

Who killed two teens in North Carolina along the crosses jurisdictions in 1972? In modern times, podcaster Jess has found her grandfather’s notes from the case. But what did Big Jim Ballard know? And why won’t her mother talk about grand dad? Teaming with disgraced journalist Dan Decker, she goes looking for the answers…

The story takes place in the modern day and with Big Jim in 1972. It was interesting, until it was maddening. For instance, an old school year book was used by Jess to try to get someone to talk. And after all of the discussion about the yearbook – there is a fairly obvious (and I mean stupidly obvious) detail or two completely missed that comes as a big “surprise” a chapter or two later. The things I liked – it treated Big Jim’s condition and its status in a realistic way.

I think this may the beginning of a new series, I’m not sure I would continue.

440 Pages

3/5