King of Lies – John Hart

By Sioban Churchill

This is the second book of Hart’s that I’ve read. The author writes like a poet. His descriptions of scenery and atmosphere are highly evocative and his insights into human weaknesses are right on the money. I always have a deep respect for authors who are able to touch the dark places in one’s soul.

The book starts where lawyer Jackson Workman Pickens father, Ezra’s, body is discovered after he went missing 18 months before. “Work” becomes the primary suspect in his father’s murder and the carefully constructed façade of his day to day life begins to disintegrate as he tries to cover for his sister, who he believes is the killer.

Work’s sister Jean has tried to commit suicide on several occasions and Work knows that she would never survive prison if she is found guilty of her father’s murder. So he sets out to cover for her, knowing that he has an alibi if things get bad. His efforts to help Jean manage to further implicate him and the cops make sure he is publically humiliated during searches of his home and office and finally, his arrest. Work finds out exactly who his friends really are and realises he is in very hot water when his alibi disappears. I have a few chapters left to go, so I don’t know how it ends and I can’t wait to find out!

John Hart reveals his lead character like unfolding an origami. At first there is the picture of the successful professional with the perfect wife, the flash house, the BMW’s, the country club membership and the “right” friends. Each chapter leads further backwards into what makes him tick and strips away the illusion until the flat page of him is laid bare. While on the face of it, the book is a whodunit, and a good one at that, it’s also a brooding commentary on what is important in life when all is said and done.