Book Review: Bullets of Rain

Reviewed By: Jon Jordan - Crime Spree Magazine - RAM

Bullets of Rain     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
David J. Schow
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
2003, Dark Alley (an imprint of Harper Collins), 304 pages/ $13.95

Art Latimer is a bit of a hermit and a recluse. Actually, he is almost phobic about his privacy. Since his wife died he keeps to himself living in a house that was designed to withstand the harshest of weather, hurricanes included. Spending his time reading, practicing his marksmanship (his wife hated guns), and debating getting back to work, the only companionship is his dog Blitz, a failed police German Shepard. Art also spends a lot of time going over things in his head.

Things take an interesting turn when he gets a postcard from an old friend he hasn’t seen in years. Plus an invitation to a party shows up in his mailbox. To make things even more interesting, he finds a note in a bottle in the surf near his home. All of a sudden life may have some adventure again. A visit from an old buddy, neighbors who want him to come over to a party and a mystery.

As things progress we find Art spending an evening alone pondering strange things in his life as a storm brews, possibly the biggest hurricane to hit the area in 90 years. While wondering if he is indeed going crazy, a woman appears at his back door, weather beaten and tired. A refugee from the party down the way. Art decides to let her in and his life takes a turn that he can’t pull out of.

Things become more and more bizarre and Art’s control over his life slips away.

This book was amazing. It sucked me right in and kept me up all night. I read it in one sitting. It’s like riding in a wagon on a steep hill, really fast and out of control. David Schow sucker punched me, and strangely, I’d let him do it again.

Jon Jordan - Crime Spree Magazine - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Jon Jordan - Crime Spree Magazine - RAM