Bones of Coral

Shaw Chandler and Trula Montoya were high school sweethearts growing up in Key West. But they went their separate ways. Shaw became a paramedic in Miami and Trula an actress in New York. Now, some twenty years later, they are both compelled to return to their hometown because of a sinister mystery that has darkened their lives. Bones of Coral by James W. Hall is a marvelous novel. The very "readable" narrative contains a number of insightful passages about life, love and happiness. The characters are vividly drawn and the intricate plot unfolds in a way that is both smooth and satisfying. Of course no modern South Florida mystery would be complete without some bizarre, over-the-top characters to infuse the proceedings with a black comedy aspect. And Bones of Coral has its share of those. At the top of the list is Dougie Barnes a dull witted, cold blooded killer who speaks in rhymes and is quite proud of his freakishly high threshold for pain. This is a remarkably well crafted novel that succeeds in telling an interesting story in an artful and satisfying manner. Highly recommended.

My #1 James Hall product; the kind of book I re-read probably once a year, just to remind myself how to create characters. In here he covers not only the spectrum of human characteristics, but also of emotions--from rage to joy--and human virtues and depravities. Highly recommended reading; not just for fans of this particular genre. A very 'moralistic' work; more so than his others----with the moralizing well concealed under a story that alters between bizarre, funny, harrowing and very touching. Till Noever, owlglass.com

James W Hall has a knack for creating quirky characters and sleazy bad guys. In this book, he has outdone himself with Dougie Barnes, a dimwitted, muscle-bound, rhyme-spouting, trash-talking thug with an appetite for murder and sex. If you think he's bad, wait until you meet his dad, Douglas, Sr.In Bones of Coral, ambulance paramedic Shaw Chandler of Miami finds his long lost dad dead in an apparent suicide. Then he gets a frantic call from his Mom. The next thing you know, Shaw is headed to his hometown of Key West to learn the truth about his dad's death and some startling discoveries about his past. James W Hall is an excellent story teller and Bones of Coral is a knock down thriller that will stay with you long after you put it down. FIVE STARS!!

Hall has the ability to bring you right into setting and engross the reader in the story. As in all of his books, he always has great villians and that is the fun part of the book.

James W. Hall not only tells an intriguing story, but his quality of writing is superior to most in this genre.