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Wil Hardesty #1
The Innocents
In 1990, a flash flood rips through a lonely section of the California desert, unearthing the skeletons of seven murdered children. Amid the outcry for justice following the discovery, the media gives them a The Innocents.
The Innocents case soon becomes a pressure cooker of media hype and political heat. Who are they? Who put them there? How were they killed? Clues are a nick in the bones that tells investigators the murder weapon was likely a knife, and a tarnisned Saint Christopher medal bearing the inscription Vaya Con Dios, Benito. Papa, 1967.
One man recognizes those words, fully understands their meaning; they were once inscribed on the final gift to a six-year-old son who promised to be good. The man is Ignacio Reyes. Reyes must find out who killed his child; he knows, however, that the answer will unleash long-buried demons of memory and desperation, he turns to Wil Hardesty, a troubled private investigator who knows all too well about such things. He still grieves for his own young son.
As Hardesty digs deep, aided by a risky deal with the law, he exposes monstrous crimes, other burdens of guilt to be shouldered and discarded, and the chance, finally, to forgive himself for his own loss. But now he and those close to him have become the hunted.
The Innocents case soon becomes a pressure cooker of media hype and political heat. Who are they? Who put them there? How were they killed? Clues are a nick in the bones that tells investigators the murder weapon was likely a knife, and a tarnisned Saint Christopher medal bearing the inscription Vaya Con Dios, Benito. Papa, 1967.
One man recognizes those words, fully understands their meaning; they were once inscribed on the final gift to a six-year-old son who promised to be good. The man is Ignacio Reyes. Reyes must find out who killed his child; he knows, however, that the answer will unleash long-buried demons of memory and desperation, he turns to Wil Hardesty, a troubled private investigator who knows all too well about such things. He still grieves for his own young son.
As Hardesty digs deep, aided by a risky deal with the law, he exposes monstrous crimes, other burdens of guilt to be shouldered and discarded, and the chance, finally, to forgive himself for his own loss. But now he and those close to him have become the hunted.
234 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 11, 2020
Now here is a private eye novel that has a lot going for it. First, the private eye is NOT the typical wise-cracking smartaleck popularized in the genre. Instead, he is a hard-working, serious minded guy. He works hard to cooperate with the police rather than obscure his investigation. The writer uses quality prose and finely tuned analogies. At one point he writes about solving mysteries being something like panning for gold. Powerful imagery!
A clever mystery, even though it involves a much used cliche-- the characterization is clever and the actual killer comes almost as a total shock. The author manages to seed the story with appropriate clues. The private eye is an interesting character study. It's hard for me to picture him as a Vietnam veteran, but the novel is a little older (didn't look at the date)--
Good story, excellent characters, a good mystery-- and it is good stuff.
A clever mystery, even though it involves a much used cliche-- the characterization is clever and the actual killer comes almost as a total shock. The author manages to seed the story with appropriate clues. The private eye is an interesting character study. It's hard for me to picture him as a Vietnam veteran, but the novel is a little older (didn't look at the date)--
Good story, excellent characters, a good mystery-- and it is good stuff.
February 18, 2018
A bit confusing with multiple characters and factions of Catholic church, mystic religion, police, Vietnam, with Wil Harstad considered a friend by many but not even his own friend.
September 16, 2022
It tried to be a more complicated story than it's amount of pages would allow.
Instead, it stalls a lot and comes across as heavy.
Instead, it stalls a lot and comes across as heavy.
June 8, 2023
The book was 273 pages and it could have been 173 pages. Main character is likable, but the supporting cast is lacking.
December 30, 2020
Un buon esordio per l'investigatore Will Hardesty. Risolverà un terribile caso relativo alla scomparsa e all'omicidio di 7 ragazzini, ribattezzati dalla stampa, gli Innocenti. Piacevole.
April 3, 2011
Imagine reading the news that the bodies of seven children are found in the California desert? Reporters are horrified and call the deceased children The Innocents.
The bones are old and cannot be identified except for a St. Christopher's medal and an inscription dedicated to Benito.
Eventually, a man who learns of the inscription believes that this might be the body of his six-year-old son. He contacts private investigator Wil Hardesty for help.
With heartake showing through his words, Ignacio Reyes explains how desperately poor his family was in Mexico. They heard about a border runner named Bolo Zavala. When he was contacted and saw the family, Zavala knew they had no money to pay. However he told them that if they gave him Benito, the child would be placed in a good home in the United States. He'd be well taken care of and with the money Zavala would get from placing the boy in adoption, he would take Reyes and his family across the border. Eventually, the father agreed and has lived with the sadness and loss since then.
Will is assisted by his friend Paul Rodriguez. The men were Vietnam buddies and as they talk we learn that Wil has a particular reason for wanting to help with the case. Wil lost his ten-year-old son to a surfing accident and still feel the acute sadness that grips the parent who has lost a child.
As the search for Zavela continues, possible leads arrive and the reader learns that the title of the novel, "The Innocents" doesn't only apply to the children who had been murdered. It describes the men searching for Zavela and his associates.
The chronical is filled with the grief of Benito's father. His mother died not long after he was given up for adoption. There is also the sadness that Wil and his wife have after the loss of their child and their discussions about having another child. One more child is part of the story. This is a little baby who might be the next child murdered.
The drama gives the reader pause to think about what evil can exist and how fortunate they are that others take the responsibility to find and stop criminals and killers such as are described in this novel.
The bones are old and cannot be identified except for a St. Christopher's medal and an inscription dedicated to Benito.
Eventually, a man who learns of the inscription believes that this might be the body of his six-year-old son. He contacts private investigator Wil Hardesty for help.
With heartake showing through his words, Ignacio Reyes explains how desperately poor his family was in Mexico. They heard about a border runner named Bolo Zavala. When he was contacted and saw the family, Zavala knew they had no money to pay. However he told them that if they gave him Benito, the child would be placed in a good home in the United States. He'd be well taken care of and with the money Zavala would get from placing the boy in adoption, he would take Reyes and his family across the border. Eventually, the father agreed and has lived with the sadness and loss since then.
Will is assisted by his friend Paul Rodriguez. The men were Vietnam buddies and as they talk we learn that Wil has a particular reason for wanting to help with the case. Wil lost his ten-year-old son to a surfing accident and still feel the acute sadness that grips the parent who has lost a child.
As the search for Zavela continues, possible leads arrive and the reader learns that the title of the novel, "The Innocents" doesn't only apply to the children who had been murdered. It describes the men searching for Zavela and his associates.
The chronical is filled with the grief of Benito's father. His mother died not long after he was given up for adoption. There is also the sadness that Wil and his wife have after the loss of their child and their discussions about having another child. One more child is part of the story. This is a little baby who might be the next child murdered.
The drama gives the reader pause to think about what evil can exist and how fortunate they are that others take the responsibility to find and stop criminals and killers such as are described in this novel.
March 6, 2009
THE INNOCENTS (PI-Will Hardesty-So. Cal-Cont) - VG
Barre, Richard - 1st in series
From Fantastic Fiction: In 1990, a flash flood rips through a lonely section of the California desert, unearthing the skeletons of seven murdered children. Amid the outcry for justice following the discovery, the media gives them a name: The Innocents.
Ignacio Reyes must find out who killed his child; he knows, however, that the answer will unleash long-buried demons of memory and desperation, he turns to Wil Hardesty, a troubled private investigator who knows all too well about such things. He still grieves for his own young son. As Hardesty digs deep, aided by a risky deal with the law, he exposes monstrous crimes, other burdens of guilt to be shouldered and discarded, and the chance, finally, to forgive himself for his own loss. But now he and those close to him have become the hunted.
It took me awhile to get into the rythum of Barre's writing but, one I did, I liked the book very much.
Barre, Richard - 1st in series
From Fantastic Fiction: In 1990, a flash flood rips through a lonely section of the California desert, unearthing the skeletons of seven murdered children. Amid the outcry for justice following the discovery, the media gives them a name: The Innocents.
Ignacio Reyes must find out who killed his child; he knows, however, that the answer will unleash long-buried demons of memory and desperation, he turns to Wil Hardesty, a troubled private investigator who knows all too well about such things. He still grieves for his own young son. As Hardesty digs deep, aided by a risky deal with the law, he exposes monstrous crimes, other burdens of guilt to be shouldered and discarded, and the chance, finally, to forgive himself for his own loss. But now he and those close to him have become the hunted.
It took me awhile to get into the rythum of Barre's writing but, one I did, I liked the book very much.
August 2, 2012
I read a lot of first mysteries in a series and seldom go on to other books that follow, even if I like the first book. I do think that this may be an exception. I like the p.i. and his life is
interesting and definitely fits in with the murders he is solving. He did not seem over smart or
intuitive, but rather a common man, makes it easier to relate.
interesting and definitely fits in with the murders he is solving. He did not seem over smart or
intuitive, but rather a common man, makes it easier to relate.
Read
October 15, 2016The first Hardesty novel, is a powerful, moving tale. The detective cliché of, murder, mystery and deceit, fits the bill well here. With some nasty villains and a likable sympathetic protagonist, this is a solid debut. Deserving of winning the Shamus for Best First Novel.
March 17, 2012
I thought it was chilling, dead children.
June 14, 2012
This book blew me away. It's a tough but wonderful read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews