OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mars Hill Murder" by Mary Tolan.]

Madeline ran away from her wealthy but abusive husband to Flagstaff. However, not long after her arrival, a Spanish immigrant was stabbed by an unknown killer while working a night shift. During a night out, she met Miles, a reporter who was also a friend of Luis, a police detective. While the town was still trying to unravel the killer's identity, another bright young boy was tragically killed. The questions arise: Who are the killers, or who is the killer? Is Maddy's arrival in the town related to the killings? Will the killer or killers be identified before striking again? What role will Miles play in all of this? Find out in the book titled Mars Hill Murder by Mary Tolan to get answers to these questions.

One of the criteria I use to rate a book is the author's ability to maintain suspense until the final ending, and Mary did just that in this book. Being her first novel and also set in her hometown, Flagstaff, I commend her. The author's writing style reflects her experience as a journalist and a lecturer. I appreciated how the author introduced various characters in the book and balanced their roles. I admire how she addressed different issues that impact our existence as humans, such as racism and abusive relationships. I still don't understand why we can't accept people for who they are or the choices they make. Maddy's husband, Arthur, is one of many abusive, manipulative husbands who hide behind a facade of gentleness. I am satisfied with what he received at the end and the transformation in Madeline. Her landlady is also another endearing character, emphasizing the value of friendship.

I firmly believe that people should only have children when they are ready for parenting. Perhaps if Boyle's parents had been together and he hadn't experienced such a difficult childhood, he might have turned out differently. There are numerous captivating events and stories that readers will enjoy and remember for a long time.

There was nothing about the book that I disliked. I enjoyed the writing style, character development, plot, and story pacing. It was professionally edited and well-deserving of 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend the book to those in abusive relationships, fans of crime-themed novels, and readers of well-crafted fiction.

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Mars Hill Murder
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I agree that the childhood experiences affect a child's growth. Parents have a role to create a good childhood environment for their children. Thank you for the review.

This is a captivating and mind-hacking read with a compelling review and I long to read this book and see what you've read. I like your review. Good job.

One of the most interesting quality of a good thriller novel is the ability to keep readers hooked. And from your review, itt seems this book has the ability to keep readers hooked. I'll definitely check it out when I get the chance.

I always want to know with a murder mystery, firstly did the book keep the identity of the killer a secret to the reader and secondly if so did you correctly guess the killer?

This seems like an engaging mystery that also addresses some very serious issues offering suspense and food for thought at the same time. Thank you for your great review!