Crosshairs: A Novel of Suspense

By Russ Heitz

Life in Klinkton County, a large, mountainous and sparsely populated area of north-central Pennsylvania, has always revolved around deer hunting, trout fishing, four-wheel-drive pickups, and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596635479
• ISBN13: 9781596635470
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Yellowback Mysteries
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

My head is still spinning!

What a great read! My head is still spinning! Crosshairs has more curves in it than the Pennsylvania landscape in which the novel takes place. Just when you think the story has reached a plateau and you can start breathing again, another event creates another level of suspense. I couldn't put the novel down! Crosshairs packs a powerful punch from the first page to the last. Who is the serial murderer and why is this happening? And, along the road, what will we learn of the life-like characters before, or after they meet their maker? Author Heitz is a splendid story teller who should not be allowed to read his crafty capers to too young of an audience too close to bedtime.

Grab a cold drink and curl up on the sofa -

Purported to be a Novel of Suspense, Crosshairs by Russ Heitz surpasses the expectation for readers of the genre. Jesse Eichenlaub, the newly-elected sheriff of Klinkton County, seems an unlikely candidate for the job. In an area that revolves around deer hunting, Jesse doesn't hunt because he doesn't like killing things; he doesn't like guns and he has no previous experience with law enforcement. To rev up the tension, Gil Klinkton, the man he defeated in the election, the man whose ancestors founded the county named after them; the man who is now his boss, bears an unreasonable antipathy toward his rival He'll use any excuse to oust Jesse from his post. What he doesn't know is that Jesse is hiding something. Now, in the sleepy town of Glen Haven where the most heinous crime is illegal parking, a serial killer is on the loose and no one is safe. Jesse has two things going for him: his administrative aide, Franky Boone, the leave-no-fact-unturned, Girl Friday who spent ten years learning from the former sheriff, and Clay Letterman, his rotund, but devoted to duty and to the sheriff deputy. Together, they put the Musketeers to shame. Russ Heitz employs a liberal use of original similes and his novel is devoid of cliches. He excels at plot, structure, pacing and on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense. In this first novel, Heitz has established a unique voice that captivates the reader, pulling him into the heart of the action. His readers will be impatient for his next novel.

It kept me Guessing Until the End

"Crosshairs" introduced me to a part of rural America that was foreign to me, yet fascinating. The beautifully-drawn description of the area is as much as part of the story as are the colorful characters who come and go. I was quickly immersed in the suspense, which shocked me and took my breath away. As the horror unfolded, I wanted to solve the mystery along with the three main, very likable characters. But the story kept me guessing, going one direction and then another, until the surprising, action-filled finale. A must-read novel for those who love suspense.

Be Sure to Add to Your List of Summer Reading

This is a "must read" to take with you to the shore or keep for a rainy day. The story quickly grabs your attention and the suspense mounts to a crescendo as the tale unfolds. You will not want to put this book down. It is one of those books that keeps your attention and before you know it you are at the end, you check the time, and think - "wow, that was a great book".

Suspense That Reads Like A Dvorjak Symphony

You're snapped to attention in the prologue. You settle in and relax into your seat, briefly. As you get to know the three main characters, you're lulled, almost teased, into a wondering, a guessing game. Gunshots are rumbling like kettle drums, softly at first, in the shadows. Victims begin to fall. Clues and unsavory characters begin to drop around you like tinkling brass. The conductor waves his wand and the tempo starts to build. It's crisp. It's clear, almost melodious. It tugs at you. You start to lean forward ever so slightly in your chair. The pace smoothly, but steadily, quickens. Suddenly, almost violently, cymbals clash! The crescendo peaks, yanking you forward to the edge of your seat and almost to your feet. At the conclusion, you fall backward in your chair, sigh heavily, and as the music fades, realize your heart is racing . . . Definitely, a winner, Mr. Heitz. Susan Haley, Author RAINY DAY PEOPLE FIBERS IN THE WEB