Okay, this is an older book but I just got around to reading it. Thomas Thompson did a masterful job of taking me down roads with so many twists and turns that I was unsure of where I was going to end up. Just when I thought I was on top of what was happening, I was blindsided with a surprise twist.
Set in the 1960’s, this begins with the murder of Joan Robinson Hill. Adopted child of a rich Houston oil and land tycoon, you are drawn into the story of Ash Robinson, her father, and of her husband, Dr. John Hill. Honestly, I can’t tell you much more beyond this without ruining the book. Suffice it to say, halfway through the book, I was stunned with a twist that Hollywood could not have conceived.
Thompson takes us into the lives of unsavory assassins, prostitutes, the rich, and the demented. It is an American story of power, justice, justice-denied, and startling bravery. I came away drained, knowing more about Houston of the 1960’s than I could have imagined – a mix of Peyton Place and the TV show Dallas.
This book has easily become one of my favorite true crime books and sets a bar in terms of investigative journalism. I was enthralled with the book, but it took a long time to get there. This book is a journey and one that is well-worth the trip. Easily five-out-of-five stars for me.
