Billy Straight

A Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: Alexander Adams

In this riveting, astute, high-tension thriller, the creator of psychologist sleuth Alex Delaware weaves a Dickensian tale of innocence, urban depravity, and the resilience of the human spirit, and brings to the listener one of the most endearing and finely drawn characters in contemporar fiction.

Twelve-year-old Billy Straight - precocious, heartbreakingly perceptive, relentlessly moral - has fled the chaos and abuse of his life at home and is fighting to survive on L.A.'s meanest streets. All alone, Billy has fashioned a precarious existence for himself, using principled tricks to nourish his body and his mind.

Late one night he watches from his hiding place as a man viciously butchers a woman. The victim turns out to be the ex-wife of a television celebrity with a history of domestic violence, and Billy becomes the center of terrifying attention - from the media, from violent bounty hunters, and from the murderer himself. As he runs for his life, relying on his native wit and instincts for survival, Billy is also tracked by a potential savior: Petra Connor, a tough, gifted, beautiful LAPD homicide detective with a past of her own.

Breathtakingly paced, Billy Straight brings to life one street kid's efforts to survive in the face of unspeakable evil. Richly layered, emotionally compelling, and peopled by a vivid cast of supporting characters - including Alex Delaware himself in a strong cameo role - this gripping novel represents one of the century's great story-tellers at the top of his form.

©1998 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

"The writing is vivid, the suspense sustained, and [he] has arranged one final, exquisitely surprising plot twist to confound the complacent reader." ( People)
"Taut, compelling....Everything a thriller ought to be. The writing is excellent. The plotting is superior. The characters ring true." ( USA Today)

Raw and revealing view of unknown circumstances

Trek through the life and times of our vulnerable and unsuspecting youth in America.

Masterfully Kellerman

WOW! Kellerman can really weave a compelling plot! Best ever even after reading 28 Alex Deleware books.

Rambling story, too much introspective narrative

Really struggled to listen 9nly because I wanted to figure out the seemingly unrelated characters and how they come together. This could have been 4 hours shorter.

Even without Alex, the story was pure Kellerman.

The narrartor did an awsome job, each character was alive, & the story engrossing.

Loved it

This was an excellent story. Had me hooked all the way through. Great character development.

excellent read<br />loved it. want more Petra and Bill

well structured suspenseful. totally engrossing. Love the characters,storyline and suspense. I want more Petra stories

Another great story from Kellerman

I thoroughly enjoyed Billy Straight. I liked the way he tied it all together in the end.

The best!

Of all the JK books I've read, this is, by far, my favorite. Besides the character Billy, Petra Connor is fascinating and a well-rounded personality. More, please!

the perfect book.

I can say this is my favorite Jonathan k. book so far. (only 2 books left). It has it all...great narrator, twisting plot, character development & an ending that you don't see coming but pulls it's all together. Didn't want to stop listening.

Wanted to like this book

I don’t know why I had so much trouble getting into this book. I really liked the main character - billy straight - and wanted to see things work out for him … I liked the detectives, the plot, the author - it had all of the elements I look for in a novel. Overall the narrator was ok but All the voices sounded the same and I couldn’t tell when he was moving on to the next character, or scene. I guess this is why I had trouble w this book.