MY THOUGHTS ON "THE LAST TRACK" BY SAM HILLIARD

"THE LAST TRACK"

BY SAM HILLIARD

Published:  Buddhapuss Ink LLC (February 13, 2010)

Details:  paperback, 286 pages

isbn:  ISBN-10: 0984203516 ISBN-13: 978-0984203512

DESCRIPTION (from publisher)

Imagine if being late meant a child disappeared forever. That is the fear that drives Mike Brody--the man you want, when the one you love is missing. Mike is more than just a master tracker. An ex-Special Forces operative, smoke jumper, and now extreme adventure tour guide, he also possesses a unique ability to tap into the memory and emotional state of those he pursues. In The Last Track, a police detective recruits Mike to help find an asthmatic boy lost in the dense woods surrounding a dude ranch in Montana. An unwitting murder witness, the boy burrows ever deeper into the rugged terrain, fearful of being found. As Mike and a local officer search for the boy, the killer follows them. While the investigation expands, Mike's ex-wife, a well-connected journalist, uses her contacts to unravel the truth behind the murder. Her discoveries threaten to snare them all in a treacherous conspiracy . . .

A BIT ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Kansas City, MO, near the center of the United States, I arrived during a very scary period of the 1970s. According to many noted historians, that included nearly every moment between 1970 and 1979.

I was baptized on five different occasions--once in the back of a speeding Dodge Satellite--before reaching the age of six months. The final baptism--an official ceremony--happened in a quiet Midwestern church. Family members who had taken matters into their own hands had worried my father's procrastination and daredevil driving would prevent the ceremony from ever happening. Apparently someone had my back.

After the first six months, childhood was pretty typical. That is, if typical means a mother who served books like they were warm cookies and a kid who had abysmal eyesight and even less athletic ability. This combination resulted in a slightly introverted boy who spent a lot of time inside reading, looking terribly pasty. Not saying that was me. Only that it was someone who resembled me. That pallor cleared up around 27. I still avoid the sun, though.

My parents had the sort of jobs that required frequent moves. Those relocations happened often enough that I thought saying good-bye forever to friends was just something one did for fun.

Along the way we lived in Hannibal, MO, where Mark Twain wrote some of his finest work, plus a collection of suburbs in Missouri, Kansas, Southern California, Utah, Upstate New York, Maryland and New Jersey. Looking back, maybe we were actually in the witness protection program. Sorry, Mom and Dad, for blowing your cover after all these years.

During high school, I earned the distinction of being the student who cared the least about being there, yet had the most anxiety ever recorded about doing well.

Fortunately there was life after 18. I played bass and drank a lot of beer. Changed majors in college a few times. Drank some more beer. Learned to take black and white photographs--before the age of digital cameras. Then one day, as a sophomore in college, I locked myself in the study lounge and came out with a ten page story. I hadn't felt that alive in a very long time. I promptly drank some more beer and forgot all about writing.

About a year before finishing college, my family moved to Red Bank, New Jersey, which at the time was rated the hippest town in the Garden State. I worked in a convenience store and sold cigarettes to Kevin Smith. At that moment I knew what kind of writer I wanted to be: the sort who never admitted to living in New Jersey. Thanks to Jersey Shore, I have another reason.

I graduated. I worked a bunch of jobs, got married and divorced. Suddenly I was back in that dorm study lounge, ( except this time it was an apartment ) and a book came out of it. Roughly one out of every four waking hours for the next two years was spent writing The Last Track. The feeling from college came back--and, with it, a lot more empty beer bottles.

Now I live outside New York City with my girlfriend and an army of four cats--one feline under the legal limit. When I'm not writing, I'm the Director of IT at an all-girl boarding school and witness world class drama first-hand. It's also the reason I study Krav Maga and Tai Chi.

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed this read even though I really didn't know what to expect.  I thumbed through it first and noticed it all takes place in a few days and then was wondering how can you get this much book in a few days and keep my attention?  I was surprised to say the least. I found that this book was very interesting and I really liked Mike Brody as he turned out to be a great character.  I found that I liked the way the book was laid out by the days and minutes it makes it all come together pretty good.  This was a great story and had good characters with nice details, just enough to keep you reading on and not too much to over do it I thought that it was a nice mix.  The story had several twists and turns and a couple times I thought I new who was doing what and I was wrong.  I like that in a book. One other thing I thought was good was the cover design which is done by Elynn Cohen I thought it fit perfect as I was reading along and came to the part where Mike Brody is placing his hand in the footprint with the details and the picture it just fit together nicely.  This book was well written and put together nicely.  If you like a good mystery and one that is believable then you should try this one.  I will be waiting for the next one.

I would like to thank the author Sam Hilliard and Jaime through Pump Up Your Book for supplying me with this book to review.

I was provided this book from the author Sam Hilliard, Buddhapuss Ink LLC and Jaime from Pump Up Your Book. This review is of my own honest opinion on the book that I have recieved from this author free of charge to do this review and that in no way influences the way I do my reviews. I am under no obligation to give a positive or negative review. All reviews are of my own thoughts and should not influence a non-purchase on any item soley based on my reviews as these are only my own opinion.