Night is the Hunter by Steven Gore---A Review

SYNOPSIS:

They call it pulling the trigger.

Not by a killer in the night, but by a judge on the bench.

Twenty years ago, Judge Ray McMullin proved to the people of San Francisco that he could pull that trigger by sentencing Israel Dominguez to death for a gangland murder. But it meant suppressing his own doubts about whether the punishment really did fit the crime.

Now, as the execution date nears, the conscience-wracked judge confesses his unease to former homicide detective Harlan Donnally on a riverbank in far Northern California. And after immersing himself in the Norteno and Sureno gang wars, which left trails of bullets and blood crisscrossing the state, and in the betrayals of both cops and crooks alike, Donnally is forced to question not only whether the penalty was undeserved but the conviction itself.

Soon those doubts and questions double back, for in the aging judge's panic, in his lapses of memory and his confusions, Donnally begins to wonder whether he's chasing the facts of the case or just phantoms of a failing mind. But there's no turning back, for the edge of night is fast closing in on Dominguez, on McMullin, and on Donnally himself.


FROM MY MIND'S EYE:

In every situation in life, there is the good, the bad and the ugly.   Cliche' but so true.  Steven Gore is a master storyteller dealing with all three.  His characters come to life on the page.  They are realistic, dimensional, and suffer all the mental frailties humans are plagued with.

Gore masters a thought provoking and investigative suspense tale as he weaves in and out of the lives of his characters.   His story is revealed one nuance at a time, thoughtfully, well plotted and flows smoothly.   This novel also explored an aging mind as a sub story and was well delivered.

I recommend it to all who enjoy mystery suspense and love accompanying the Harlan Donnally's of the world as they figure out the who and why dun its.    Very enjoyable read.

I rated this a 4 wink read.

 Steven Gore:

Steven Gore is the author of the Graham Gage thrillers and a former private investigator in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been honored for his investigative achievements, has been featured on 60 Minutes, and has lectured to attorney and investigator organizations on subjects ranging from police misconduct to the design of investigative databases.

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a copy of this book from the author or their representative in exchange for an honest review.