The Devil’s Right Hand
By J.D. Rhoades
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2005, $21.95
Pilot readers may think that they are not familiar with the name J.D. Rhoades. Perhaps if you think of the author as “Dusty” it will ring a bell. Rhoades has been writing a weekly column for The Pilot for several years.
This debut novel is of the hard-boiled variety, and let me warn the faint of heart and stomach that it might not be for them. That said, I think it’s a pretty good first attempt.
Jack Keller, the protagonist, works for a bail bondsman. In other words, he’s a bounty hunter. His area covers southeastern North Carolina in the Lumberton and Fayetteville area. Jack is a Gulf War veteran who is having issues about something that happened many years ago.
Cousins DeWayne and Leonard commit murder during an armed robbery. When the victim’s son, Raymond, seeks revenge, Jack gets caught in the crossfire because he is already looking for DeWayne for skipping bail on another charge. DeWayne and Leonard seem to be a few bricks shy of a load, and they do some stupid things while trying to stay ahead of both Jack and Raymond, not to mention the Colombian drug lords who are after Raymond. And let’s not forget the cops.
The book is full of shooting, cussing, fighting and car chases, with a little romance thrown in. Hopefully, in future books in the series, we’ll see the development of the relationship between Jack and Marie, a local cop.
J.D. Rhoades lives in Carthage with his wife, Lynne and their two children.
Forests of the Night
By James W. Hall
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2005, $24.95
Charlotte Monroe is a police detective; her husband, Parker, is an attorney. The two are often at cross purposes about the jobs, so they usually don’t discuss their daily activities with one another.
When Charlotte arrives home one evening, she finds Parker, along with their daughter, Gracey, talking with a man named Jacob Bright Sky Panther. Panther is supposedly the nephew of one of Parker’s childhood friends. Charlotte recognizes him as being on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. As an officer of the court, must call the authorities.
Panther disappears, along with Gracey. Parker and Charlotte figure they’re heading for the North Carolina mountains to the camp of his boyhood. The trip to North Carolina brings Parker face-to-face with his past, and he finds out some things he wishes he hadn’t. It’s a fast-paced read filled with thrills as well as human emotion.
Hall and his wife Evelyn and their two dogs, Carrie and Stella, divide their time between South Florida and the mountains of western North Carolina.
The Armistice Coin
By Tim Jackson
Northbooks, $16.95
Tim Jackson has just recently moved to Pinehurst after living in Alaska for several years. This little book, “The Armistice Coin,” is based on a story told to him by his mother.
On Sept. 2, 1945, a flawed coin is struck at the U.S. Mint in Denver. Jackson’s book tells of the travels of that coin and the adventures of the folks who carried it over the years. The coin seemed to have the properties of a “lucky charm,” bringing good fortune to its owner. The owner soon realizes that as soon as his dream is achieved, he should pass the coin along to someone who needs it.
This book offers a nice, quick read.
Faye M. Dasen may be reached at fdasen@thepilot.com.
