A Killing on the Hill

A Thriller

De: Robert Dugoni

Narrado por: Robert Dugoni

A gripping new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

The Great Depression. High-level corruption. And a murder that’s about to become Seattle’s hottest mystery. It’s the kind of story that can make a reporter’s career. If he lives to write about it.

Seattle, 1933. The city is in the grips of the Great Depression, Prohibition, and vice. Cutting his teeth on a small-time beat, hungry and ambitious young reporter William “Shoe” Shumacher gets a tip that could change his career. There’s been a murder at a social club on Profanity Hill—an underworld magnet for vice crimes only a privileged few can afford. The story is going to be front-page news, and Shoe is the first reporter on the scene.

The victim, Frankie Ray, is a former prizefighter. His accused killer? Club owner and mobster George Miller, who claims he pulled the trigger in self-defense. Soon the whole town’s talking, and Shoe’s first homicide is fast becoming the Trial of the Century. The more Shoe digs, the more he’s convinced nothing is as it seems. Not with a tangle of conflicting stories, an unlikely motive, and witnesses like Ray’s girlfriend, a glamour girl whose pretty lips are sealed. For now.

In a city steeped in Old West debauchery, Shoe’s following every lead to a very dangerous place—one that could bring him glory and fame or end his life.

©2024 La Mesa Fiction LLC. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“The elements of a scandalous crime are everywhere: a dubiously employed moll who could be a ringer for Jean Harlow, a former boxer with big money problems, a nattily dressed gangster insisting he shot his assailant in self-defense and the illegal nightclub whose patrons are rumored to include the mayor, various council members and even the chief of police.”—Alida Becker, New York Times Book Review

“William’s romantic coming of age takes up almost as many pages as his journalistic work, giving parts of A Killing on the Hill a poignant sweetness reminiscent of Thornton Wilder. But William’s forays into his new hometown’s shadier regions are as hard-boiled as any pulp-magazine novella.”—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal

"Dugoni scores a decisive win with this tale of greed, lust, and bloodshed: it’s chock-full of expertly drawn characters and plenty of historical lore, and its note-perfect noir atmosphere could accommodate James Cagney. Here’s hoping this gets the series treatment.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Killing on the Hill

Robert Dugoni is an excellent mystery writer and a good narrator also. In this book Frankie Ray a former fighter has been killed. Basically William Schumacher (Shoe) is a reporter. Shoe is the main Character. All suspects are telling the same story. This book was easy to follow and held my interest. Shoe is covering the story of the century. He becomes famous. He meets the love of his life. I highly recommend this book. You'll love how William Schumacher becomes a successful reporter and a man. The trial is also a big part of the book. This book is written about a time in the 1930's. I learned a lot about the way things were in that time era. Robert Dugoni did a good job writing and narrating this book. If my review is any help will you please click on the helpful link below. Thank you.

Great story and reader

A delightful glimpse into Seattle’s depression, era world. The story was entertaining and engaging, and fairly clean to listen with the family on a long road trip.

This was “real fiction”

Living near Seattle but not born here I’m limited in my knowledge of its seedy history. This book brought it before me in a great story based on actual events during the depression. Add in the references to the geography here it drew me in from the first page to the last word. The author’s ability to create such stories puts him at the top of the list of
my favorite authors. You can’t do much better when looking for an entertaining read.

Author does a good job narrating

This was a good narration by the author as he read it as he wrote it, and he interpreted his characters the way he wanted us to view them. However, again this author is not an automatic download for me. While the story was good, for me it was a bit too long. . A good historical mystery The author enjoyed writing. If there is a book 2, it won’t be for me. frankly, as I review my library of this author, none of the stories seem to feel like they were written by the same person? I can’t put my finger on it. but it’s not my imagination. I like the lead in of a story with the attorney who comes home and I sense book two is coming .
Where are my comments of help?

Love this book!

I am a serious fan of Robert Dugoni’s books, but this may be my favorite. The twists and turns in this mystery captuep

A fun listen! Entertaining!

At first I was skeptical of the author reading his own book, but his narration fit the main character perfectly. The story was engaging and easy to listen to. I wish I could listen to it for the first time again.

The story was historically accurate

The ending was excellent, although the story itself was long and drawn out and somewhat dry.

An amazing period of history

Characters, historical events, mystery, performance takes reader back to a fascinating time in northwest America. good read!

Great characters

The author did a magnificent job of character voicing…. My first inclination was he might not be able to do so. 

Grit and Desperation

Robert Dugoni has a way of drawing you into his stories. For this novel set in the depression, grit and desperation are practically their own characters.