Billy Straight

by Jonathan Kellerman

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679459596
• ISBN13: 9780679459590
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 467 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

I wish I hadn't read this book ...

... because then I could look forward to a great story and hours of thrilling suspension! I only just recently 'discovered' J.K. and I must say I haven't read a bad book by him so far. And Billy Straight is definitely the best. This is an absolutely great story with plenty of layers and a good plot. I was unable to put it down once I got started and it cost me a good nights sleep and ruined the next day - but who cares :-) Do yourself a favour and read this book - you won't regret it. And then check out some of the other books by Jonathan Kellerman...

A MUST READ!

J. Kellerman leads you on a roller coaster ride of twists and turns in his new novel Billy Straight. I could not put this book down. Each character is so detailed. Billy is a fantastic, brave, and yet vulnerable boy, and Petra is a strong willed leader with a very sensitive side -- both are characters I would like to see in future novels. The book is filled with detailed information only a child phycologist could right about. An added bonus was Alex Delaware's cameo role. A must read for J. Kellerman fans.

A very good read!

I have been a loyal fan of J.Kellerman for years and yet I put off reading Billy Straight for the mere fact that my favorite character, Alex Delaware was not in it. Boy, what I have missed. This book was great from page one! If I could have jumped through the pages to save Billy, I would have, although that tough little guy did a pretty good job on his own. I was captivated to the end and thoroughly enjoyed the plot twists. I have to say the ending had me surprised. Mr. Kellerman, I sure hope to read about Billy in the near future. Bravo!

Murder/Cruelty/Pathos/a 12 year old and Petra Connor

Want to find out about Kellerman's newest sleuth? Pick up this book and enter the terrifying world of a runaway boy who has witnessed a murder. It is a refreshing change from Alex Delaware. This is not to imply that I am the least bit tired of Alex.I have read all Kellerman's novels and could read about Delaware forever. It is altogether different from his former novels-so it a change of pace and a cleverly woven mystery that wins my applause. That Kellerman can change his tack and produce as equally scintillating a mystery as he has, is mind boggling to me. Petra Connor is refreashingly different, not all brain, not all beauty but an astonishing mixture of both. Her thought processes in solving the many involved aspects of this mystery are fascinating to follow. And Billy Straight is right behind her. He is an intelligent, moral kid whose background does nothing to help him become a survivor, but somehow he manages his day-to-day life in a scary adult world.His character is very believable: if one is a survivor his/herself (and Kellerman has a very good handle on that).A terrific read: no, the killer is not obvious- you just THINK you know. And the ending is slam-bang! Kellerman is the consumate mystery writer. I particularly am impressed, in all his novels, by the descriptions of people, places and things. He does it in such a way that you do not realize it and suddenly the entire picture is in your mind-down to the color of a man's tie and the shape and color of flowers on the hillside.How interesting that he managed to insert Alex and Milo(from his Delaware novels) in between the cracks of his new mystery. I am curious if they will all be together one of these days. All of his books are great-I have already ordered his next book on Delaware "Monster" due out soon-but I am looking forward to more of Petra Connor,also. Kudos to Kellerman for giving something new and different a try - and succeeding.

Murder/ cruelty/ pathos/a 12 yr. old & Petra Connor

Want to find out about Kellerman's newest sleuth? Pick up this book and enter the terrifying world of a runaway boy who has witnessed a murder. I disagree with a lot of statements in the reviews I have read. First of all, it is not a refreshing change from Alex Delaware. That implies that I am tired of Alex Delaware. I have read all Kellerman's novels and could read about Delaware constantly. It is altogether different from his former novels - so it IS a change and a cleverly woven mystery that wins my applause. That Kellerman can just change his tack and produce as equally scintillating a mystery as he ever has is mind boggling to me. Petra Conner IS refreshing, different, not all brain, not all beauty but an astonishing mixture of both. Her thought processes in solving the many involved aspects of this mystery are fascinating to follow. And Billy Straight is right behind her. He is an intelligent, moral kid whose background does nothing to help him become a survivor, but somehow he manages his day to day life in a scary adult world. His character is very believable - if one is a survivor his/herself and Kellerman has a very good handle on that. A terrific read - no, the killer is not obvious - you just THINK you know. And the end is slam-bang! Kellerman is the consummate writer. I particularly am impressed, in all his novels, by the desciptions of people, places and things. He does it in such a way that you do not realize it - and suddenly the entire picture is in your mind-down to the color of a man's tie and the shape of flowers on the hillside. How interesting that he managed to insert Alex and Milo in between the cracks of his new mystery. I am curious if they will all be together one of these days. All of his books are great- I have already ordered his next book on Delaware: MONSTER - but I am looking forward to more of Petra Connor. Kudos to Kellerman for giving something different a try - and SUCCEEDING!