Book Reviews of Billy Straight (Petra Connor, Bk 1)

A very gripping book because the hero is a 12 year old boy. You can't help rooting for Billy Straight. There are unexpected turns and close encounters that keep your attention and keep you wanting to read long past bedtime.

Good book. Kept my attention the whole time. The protagonist is Petra Connor, who is a side character in a couple of J. Kellerman's "Alex Delaware" mystery novels. She's a detective with the LAPD (a sometime associate of Milo's).

Compelling story; a real page-turner.

Billy Straight is a runaway olone in the wilds of Los Angeles. He witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith Park. He flees into the night with the cold-blooded killer in pursuit. As the LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor searches for the murderer, and the media swarms mercilessly around the story, the madman stalks closer to his prey.

Spunky twelve-year-old Billy Straight is a runaway managing to survive in L.A.'s Griffith Park. Billy is a remarkable boy who ran away from an abusive home life in a mobile home. He spends his time sneaking into libraries to read and planning and plotting how he'll get an education and get along in the world. Then he unexpectedly witnesses a brutal murder. He decides not to reveal what he has seen for fear he will be returned to the trailer with his alcoholic mother and her brutal boyfriend.

Los Angeles homicide detective Petra Connor is the lead detective on what turns out to be a high profile murder case. The victim, Lisa Lee Ramsey, is the gorgeous ex-wife of a prominent TV actor, Cart Ramsey, who stars in the syndicated TV detective show "The Adjuster." The investigation takes a lot of delving behind the scenes of the precarious, competitive, sometimes sleazy world of television and the police administration is terrified of a media circus.

Petra is told to solve the killing quietly and quickly, but while she is trying to do just that Billy is being pursued by a pair of wackos in the park who scare him into hiding. Then a media slip reveals there has been a witness to the murder and he is in deep trouble.

BILLY STRAIGHT, a solid mystery adventure loaded with suspense and good, old fashioned police work. It's a super way to while away a quiet evening by the fire.

Very good mystery.

excellent! An older Kellerman book, but a definie must read!!

A-

A thriller. I enjoyed reading the book.

Another example of how brilliantly he writes.

It was a good book

A resourceful runaway alone in the wilds of Los Angeles, twelve-year-old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith Park. Fleeing into the night, Billy cannot shake the horrific memory of the savage violence, nor the pursuit of a cold-blooded killer. For wherever Billy turns-from Hollywood Boulevard to the boardwalks of Venice-he is haunted by the chuck chuck sound of a knife sinking into flesh. As LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor desperately searches for the murderer, as the media swarms mercilessly around the story, the vicious madman stalks closer to his prey. Only Petra can save Billy. But it will take all her cunning to uncover a child lost in a fierce urban labyrinth-where a killer seems right at home...

This was a great read.

A resorceful runaway alone in the wilds of L A twelve year old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a butal stabbing in griffith park. Fleeing into the night Billy cannot shake the horrific memory of the savage violance nor the persuit of a cold blooded killer for wherever billy turns from hollywood boulevard to the boardwalks of venice he is haunted by the chuck chuck sound of a knife sinking into flesh. As LAPD homicide detective Petra Connor desperately searches for the murderer as the media swarms mercilessly around the story the vicious madman stalks closer to his pery only Petra can save billy but it will take all her cunning ato uncover a child lost in a fierce urban labyrinth wher a killer seems right at home

Pages are a little wavy, but otherwise in good condition.

My book has a different cover, if it matters.
This is a fab suspense novel featuring Petra Connor--with tiny guest spots from Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis.
If you're a Kellerman fan, you'll love Petra and Billy Straight.

Jonathan Kellerman has justly earned his reputation as a master of the psychological thriller. The writing is vivid, the suspense sustained, and he has arranged one final, exquisitely surprising plot twist to confound the complacent reader.- People Magazine

Great story, just what you expect from a Jonathan Kellerman novel.

It's not my kind of book so I'm passing it on.

Kellerman at his absolute seat-gripping edge.

I read this out of sequence, the child broke my heart and the detective saved it.

Kellerman makes you worry and care for the 12 year old child, Billy Straight. A good read!

Who is Billy, a young runaway, who witnesses a cold blooded murder. He doesn't see the killer but he does get the plate number on the car. LAPD detective Petra Connor chases down a killer in Hollywood to Venice. Then his mother's boyfriend starts to hunt him. Poor boy is hidden by a Jewish goodguy, who can't hide him safely it seems. This is a tension-filled thriller, fast read, Kellerman's usual good writing.

A resourceful runaway alone in the wilds of LA, twelve-year-old Billy Straight suddenly witnesses a brutal stabbing in Griffith park....

A 12 year old runaway witnesses a brutal stabbing in the park. He is haunted by the sound day and night.Only the detective on the case can help him.

Suspense filled story, excellently written. Very enjoyable as are all Kellerman books.

If you enjoy Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, you won't be disappointed with this one; although Alex only has a small part. Petra Connor makes her debut here and it's a compelling novel. Highly recommended.