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3 out of 4 stars
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Bryce Wilkerson was brought to trial for sexual misconduct with a ten-year-old female named Hope. The case ended in a mistrial after his wealthy father bribed a juror to declare him not guilty. Shortly afterward, Bryce was assassinated; a dead fish and a picture of Hope were left with his body. It soon became apparent that multiple people would love to see Bryce dead, but who actually murdered him? Detective Bennett Coleman must discover and examine all the evidence to find the perpetrator.
The Truth in Hope by R.A. Simpson is an intriguing 375-page crime novel written from the third-person point of view. There are 32 chapters, each with a title that gives a clue as to what the chapter is about. An epilogue concludes the book with answers to all the remaining questions.
The author has a 45-year history as a criminal trial lawyer. His book showcases his experience in this area; the step-by-step process that detectives take to find evidence to ensure the guilty person is brought to trial and convicted is shown. This sometimes means laying a trap for that person. Therefore, it is not only informative but also very realistic.
The writing is simple and easily understood by the general audience. The suspects are introduced to us early on, although not all the reasons are identified right away. We are misled occasionally, making it difficult to know for sure who the murderer is and, therefore, helping to concoct an excellent mystery.
Sexual abuse, along with the mental problems it causes, comprises a significant aspect of the plot. The descriptions are not terribly graphic but could possibly trigger some victims. However, I suspect most will appreciate the attention that the author is bringing to the mental trauma that remains after abuse occurs.
The book jumps into the action in the first chapter when Bryce is slain and easily gets the reader’s attention. The story slowed after that as the backgrounds of different characters were being disclosed. Unfortunately, unimportant details in the book dragged the story down more than was needed. A lot of these could easily be done away with. An example is a description of how one suspect started his day, including the step-by-step route he would take to work. This went on for a page and a half and did not add anything significant to the plot. The second half of the tale was better, but some unnecessary details still could have been shortened or omitted, which would make it more captivating.
Because of this, The Truth in Hope achieves a rating of three out of four stars. This was an excellent mystery, and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was. Subsequently, it deserves better than two stars. It is enthusiastically recommended to readers who enjoy crime dramas and mysteries. People who prefer to avoid obscenities need to be aware there are definite profanities encountered in this book; however, this most likely represents true-life situations.
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The Truth in Hope
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