A Killing on the Hill by Robert Dugoni @robertdugoni @BrilliancePub

the setup…
It’s 1933 and the country is in the throes of the Great Depression. William (Shoe) Shumacher leaves his home in Kansas City to start a job in Seattle arranged by his mother to help out his family financially. He’s hired as a beat reporter for the Seattle Daily Star being paid for the number of lines in his story. It’s been a year when he gets the call of his young career, a tip from a chief detective about a murder at the Pom Pom Club. It’s an incredible scoop where mobster and club George Miller has shot former prizefighter Frankie Ray. William is now playing in the big leagues and has to step up to the challenge while navigating a snake pit.

the heart of the story…
Everything plays out through William’s eyes, which was fascinating to say the least. I loved seeing him juggle the ethical lines in trying to deliver the news with the “pizzazz” his boss wants and stay factual and balanced. William also has to use his wits to figure out who he can trust, who he can’t, who’s corrupt and who’s just a bit gray. And, he’s trying to woo the daughter of the bakery owner whose shop he frequents every morning. Romance, intrigue, courtroom drama and a bit of danger…I was in book heaven.

the narration…
Of course I was worried about the author narrating the story but he sounded like William (Shoe)! He perfectly captured his naïveté and his strengths.

the bottom line…
This wasn’t anything like I’d expected (a good thing) and though it took a minute to develop, I was completely engaged in all aspects through the end. It’s twisty and suspenseful with lots of heart-tugging moments that kept my brain gnarled. I loved that it was based on a true story (be sure to listen to/read the author’s note and acknowledgments), which made it even more satisfying. Dugoni does it again!

Book Info

• Release Date: April 9, 2024
• Narrator: Robert Dugoni
• Audio Length: 11 hours, 29 minutes
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Listen to a Sample!

Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Audible

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)