Highway Robbery
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- Synopsis
- When road construction by West Virginia's highway department uncovers human remains near the small town of Barkley, everyone involved stops dead in their tracks. Everyone, including Owen Allison, whose mother calls him home right away on a trumped-up excuse, seems to have a theory on the skeleton's identity. But when another dead body is discovered--this one a lot fresher-- the simple forensic investigation turns into something much deeper.And it all seems to begin and end with the Allisons, for thirty-five years ago, Owen's father, West Virginia highway commissioner Wayne Allison, disappeared, thought to have drowned when a burst dam flooded the town. Owen's mother is convinced the skeleton is her husband's. But that's not all of the trouble on the Allison home front. Now Owen's troubled older brother George is highway commissioner, and he's facing problems both personal and professional, from his political appointee boss to a team of environmental activists determined to stop local highway expansion. Owen must piece together the mysteries in Barkley's past - as well as those in his own family history - and uncover the truth before he becomes the next victim. Highway Robbery is an outstanding follow-up to John Billheimer's original and acclaimed debut, The Contrary Blues, once again tackling small-town politics with humor and a good measure of suspense. From The Critics ForbesA wonderful blend of numerous, superbly developed-and often eccentric characters; wry, politically incorrect humor; surprises and suspense . . . Library JournalIn his second mystery after The Contrary Blues, largely unemployed risk consultant Owen Allsion returns to Barkley, WV, at the request of his other when a raod construction crew uncovers a skeleton. She believes the remains may be honest highway commissioner, who supposedly drowned in a dam collapse some 35 years earlier. So Owen delves into his family past and highway scandals, defends his brother (also a highway commissioner) who suddenly disappears, and looks for at leat one murderer. Low-key, competent narration; country characters, dry humor, and a surprise culprit; for most collections. Steve Forbes - Forbes MagazineA wonderful blend of numerous, superbly developed-and often eccentric-characters; wry, politically incorrect humor; surprises and suspense, spiced with some of West Virginia's legendary skullduggery-encrusted politics makes for an always interesting murder mystery.
- Copyright:
- 2001
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Excellent
- Book Size:
- 275 Pages
- ISBN-13:
- 9780373264049
- Publisher:
- N/A
- Date of Addition:
- 03/10/08
- Copyrighted By:
- John Billheimer
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Literature and Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers
- Submitted By:
- NW
- Proofread By:
- Vicente Llanes
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.