Helpful Score: 5
A very gripping book because the hero is a 12 year old boy. You can't help rooting for Billy Straight. There are unexpected turns and close encounters that keep your attention and keep you wanting to read long past bedtime.
Helpful Score: 5
Good book. Kept my attention the whole time. The protagonist is Petra Connor, who is a side character in a couple of J. Kellerman's "Alex Delaware" mystery novels. She's a detective with the LAPD (a sometime associate of Milo's).
Helpful Score: 2
The hero is a 12-year-old runaway whose sharp mind and straitlaced moral sense make him fit to survive the lurid jungles of Hollywood. One night hiding in Griffith Park, Billy witnesses the butchering of Lisa Ramsey, the cokehead ex-wife of Cart Ramsey, a crummy actor-golfer once busted for pummeling Lisa. Did Cart knife Lisa, or was it his pathetic old football sidekick Greg Balch?
Psychologist Dr. Delaware has a bit part here, but the heroine is Detective Petra Connor, his distaff equivalent.
Psychologist Dr. Delaware has a bit part here, but the heroine is Detective Petra Connor, his distaff equivalent.
Gena S. (SouthernDestiny) -
Helpful Score: 2
Spunky twelve-year-old Billy Straight is a runaway managing to survive in L.A.'s Griffith Park. Billy is a remarkable boy who ran away from an abusive home life in a mobile home. He spends his time sneaking into libraries to read and planning and plotting how he'll get an education and get along in the world. Then he unexpectedly witnesses a brutal murder. He decides not to reveal what he has seen for fear he will be returned to the trailer with his alcoholic mother and her brutal boyfriend.
Los Angeles homicide detective Petra Connor is the lead detective on what turns out to be a high profile murder case. The victim, Lisa Lee Ramsey, is the gorgeous ex-wife of a prominent TV actor, Cart Ramsey, who stars in the syndicated TV detective show "The Adjuster." The investigation takes a lot of delving behind the scenes of the precarious, competitive, sometimes sleazy world of television and the police administration is terrified of a media circus.
Petra is told to solve the killing quietly and quickly, but while she is trying to do just that Billy is being pursued by a pair of wackos in the park who scare him into hiding. Then a media slip reveals there has been a witness to the murder and he is in deep trouble.
BILLY STRAIGHT, a solid mystery adventure loaded with suspense and good, old fashioned police work. It's a super way to while away a quiet evening by the fire.
Los Angeles homicide detective Petra Connor is the lead detective on what turns out to be a high profile murder case. The victim, Lisa Lee Ramsey, is the gorgeous ex-wife of a prominent TV actor, Cart Ramsey, who stars in the syndicated TV detective show "The Adjuster." The investigation takes a lot of delving behind the scenes of the precarious, competitive, sometimes sleazy world of television and the police administration is terrified of a media circus.
Petra is told to solve the killing quietly and quickly, but while she is trying to do just that Billy is being pursued by a pair of wackos in the park who scare him into hiding. Then a media slip reveals there has been a witness to the murder and he is in deep trouble.
BILLY STRAIGHT, a solid mystery adventure loaded with suspense and good, old fashioned police work. It's a super way to while away a quiet evening by the fire.
A resourceful runaway alone in the wilds of Los Angeles,twelve-year-old Billy Stright suddenly witnesses a brutal stabbing in Giffith Park. Fleening into the night,Billy cannot shake the horrific memory of the savage violence,nor the pursuit of a cold-blooded killer. For wherever Billy turns-from Hollywood Boulevard to the boardwalks of Venice-he is haunted by the chuck chuck sound of a knife sinking into flesh. As LAPD homicide detective Petre Connor desperately searches for the murderer,as the media swarms mercilessly around the story, the vicious madman stalks closer to his prey. Only Petra can save Billy. But it will take all her cunning to uncover a child lost in a fierce urban labyrinth-where a killer seems right at home...
I read this out of sequence, the child broke my heart and the detective saved it.
Mary P. (riverratreader) - , reviewed Billy Straight (Petra Connor, Bk 1) on + 164 more book reviews
A resourceful runaway alone in the wilds of Los Angeles, twelve-year-old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith Park. Fleeing into the night, Billy cannot shake the horrific memory of the savage violence, nor the pursuit of a cold-blooded killer. For wherever Billy turns-from Hollywood Boulevard to the boardwalks of Venice-he is haunted by the chuck chuck sound of a knife sinking into flesh. As LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor desperately searches for the murderer, as the media swarms mercilessly around the story, the vicious madman stalks closer to his prey. Only Petra can save Billy. But it will take all her cunning to uncover a child lost in a fierce urban labyrinth-where a killer seems right at home...
excellent! An older Kellerman book, but a definie must read!!
Jonathan Kellerman has justly earned his reputation as a master of the psychological thriller. The writing is vivid, the suspense sustained, and he has arranged one final, exquisitely surprising plot twist to confound the complacent reader.- People Magazine
Suspense filled story, excellently written. Very enjoyable as are all Kellerman books.
Great story, just what you expect from a Jonathan Kellerman novel.
If you enjoy Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, you won't be disappointed with this one; although Alex only has a small part. Petra Connor makes her debut here and it's a compelling novel. Highly recommended.
Kellerman at his absolute seat-gripping edge.
Who is Billy, a young runaway, who witnesses a cold blooded murder. He doesn't see the killer but he does get the plate number on the car. LAPD detective Petra Connor chases down a killer in Hollywood to Venice. Then his mother's boyfriend starts to hunt him. Poor boy is hidden by a Jewish goodguy, who can't hide him safely it seems. This is a tension-filled thriller, fast read, Kellerman's usual good writing.
Kellerman makes you worry and care for the 12 year old child, Billy Straight. A good read!
This was a great read.
A thriller. I enjoyed reading the book.
Story about a runaway 12 year old boy who evades police and killers. Very good!!
Billy Straight is a runaway olone in the wilds of Los Angeles. He witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith Park. He flees into the night with the cold-blooded killer in pursuit. As the LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor searches for the murderer, and the media swarms mercilessly around the story, the madman stalks closer to his prey.
Billy Straight is a great character! This was a great read!
Compelling story; a real page-turner.
Another example of how brilliantly he writes.
It was a very good read!
Very good mystery.
A resourceful runaway alone in the wilds of LA, twelve-year-old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith park....
A 12 year old runaway witnesses a brutal stabbing in the park. He is haunted by the sound day and night.Only the detective on the case can help him.
A resourceful runaway alone in the wilds of Los Angeles, twelve-year-old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith Park. Fleeing into the night, Billy cannot shake the horrific memory of the savage violence, nor the pursuit of a cold-blooded killer. For wherever Billy turns --- from Hollywood Boulevard to the boardwalks of Venice --- he is haunted by the chuck chuck sound of a knife sinking into flesh. As LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor desperately searches for the murderer, as the media swarms mercilessly around the story, the vicious madman stalks closer to his prey. Only Petra can save Billy. But it will take all her cunning to uncover a child lost in a fierce urban labyrinth --- where a killer seems right at home ...
Not one of his strongest books but good non the less!
It was a good book
A resorceful runaway alone in the wilds of L A twelve year old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a butal stabbing in griffith park. Fleeing into the night Billy cannot shake the horrific memory of the savage violance nor the persuit of a cold blooded killer for wherever billy turns from hollywood boulevard to the boardwalks of venice he is haunted by the chuck chuck sound of a knife sinking into flesh. As LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor desperately searches for the murderer as the media swarms mercilessly around the story the vicious madman stalks closer to his pery only Petra can save billy but it will take all her cunning ato uncover a child lost in a fierce urban labyrinth wher a killer seems right at home
It's not my kind of book so I'm passing it on.
My book has a different cover, if it matters.
This is a fab suspense novel featuring Petra Connor--with tiny guest spots from Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis.
If you're a Kellerman fan, you'll love Petra and Billy Straight.
This is a fab suspense novel featuring Petra Connor--with tiny guest spots from Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis.
If you're a Kellerman fan, you'll love Petra and Billy Straight.
It's by Johnthan Kellerman (hardback) what else can I say
These books were given to me and I am just passing them on to thoes who would enjoy them.
Haven't read this one it was a box of books I rec'd. A friend said it was a good read and similar to other Kellerman books.
Pages are a little wavy, but otherwise in good condition.
