LOVE this author

Author John Hart has long been a favorite of mine. I've read most of his books and have enjoyed them all. I especially appreciate that he writes mostly standalone books - beginning, middle, killer endings with no cliffhangers. He's not the most prolific of authors and I guess that makes the anticipation sweeter when I hear of a new book coming out.

This story takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1972. It centers on the French family that has sacrificed much to the Vietnam War and has had to pay a heavy price. One son, Robert, was killed in the war. The second one, Jason, came back dangerous and damaged. And the youngest, Gibby, just had to sign up for the draft. Their father is a city cop in Charlotte.

After a young woman is found horrifically murdered in town, events start spiralling out of control - with the different members of the French family, their friends, and especially those who hate Jason. There is rampant treachery at the local prison which figures strongly into the story.

I highly recommend this John Hart novel - and all his others too.

I received this Advanced Reading Copy from St. Martin's Press through Edelweiss and Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I usually love John Hart’s novels so I’m a bit confused why I don’t feel that way about THE UNWILLING. It might be that the characters felt a little off to me (an 18 year old that is never allowed to date or do extracurricular activities and is closely watched by his parents, is suddenly, overnight, out at all hours and no one really cares?). Mom’s character didn’t work for me either. Maybe it was just the plot—a little too gruesome to enjoy?  Whatever the reason, the writing is still strong and the suspense is riveting.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview The Unwilling by John Hart.  Hart is a superb writer - he takes pieces of history, and puts a story to it with great vengence.
This novel centers on three brothers - one has died, one has returned from prison, and one is a young high school student.
This is a long novel and the word "sprawling" comes to mind as Hart takes you on a long ride of family, frustration, and failure.
Hart will tear at your heart with this novel.  Well written and  memorable.
4 stars.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It had great reviews, but I struggled with the writing and the character development. 

It was still a good read, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Wow. This is the first book I've read involving the Vietnam War and its effect on family. It was absolutely gut-wrenching. I really enjoyed how human the characters felt. The book does get super dark in the second half but I'm used to it since I read a lot of mystery/thrillers. 

This was my first John Hart novel and definitely won't be my last. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Unwilling by John Hart

Multilayered magnificent look at a fractured family dealing with multiple issues. This book took me back to memories of high school when we sent cookies and letters to soldiers in Vietnam, letters I received thanking me, news clips, and the remembered dread of “what if someone I know is drafted?” It is not just the memories evoked that drew me…no…but those were as real to me as the characters described in this book. 

What I liked: 
* Jason: a complex man, war veteran, brother, son, and over time I grew to admire, root for, and wish him future success – would love to have a crystal ball to see how he was a decade later.
* Gibby: graduating from high school, interested in Beck, conflicted about his future, beginning to assert himself – on the brink of becoming a man to be reckoned with. 
* Robert: the twin that was lost to war and a big part of the story though never seen in the flesh.
* Chance: a good friend of Gibby’s through good times and bad. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in a story of his own a few years down the road.
* Becky: smart, attractive, empathetic, strong and a perfect first love for Gibby
* The darker side of the story and the impact of X on so many 
* Watching the growth of various characters as the story progressed. It wasn’t just the younger generation that grew and changed.
* The conflict within Detective William French and how he grappled with it.
* Ken Burklow: French’s homicide detective partner, Korean war veteran, good friend to both French and his sons. 
* The way some of the bad guys were outsmarted.
* The revelations that Gibby and his father made related to Jason.
* The closeness I felt between the brothers.
* The high dive aspect of the book that ties in well with the cover – loved how the decisions were made to or not to dive.
* The real feel of the story…or at least most of it.
* The excellent writing, plotting and overall story.
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like: 
* Knowing that there are sadists, sadistic mercenaries, and psychopaths that exist in this world just like the ones in this book
* Gabrielle: wife of detective French and mother to Robert, Jason, and Gibby. I had moments I wanted to smack her, sit her down and give her a talking to, or…something worse. 
* A few of the homicide detectives…

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Wow, John Hart of many years ago is back with what was a fantastic literary thriller! This is the story of a shattered family, the Frenches have twins Jason and Robert and younger brother Gibby. Robert is killed in Vietnam and the family tries in vain to pick up the pieces. Jason enlists and comes back a changed man. Gibby struggles with his overprotective mother and cop father when one day Jason, who's been in prison, reenters his life and form then on chaos, drama, betrayal, murder, and more ensue. Hart knows how to lay on the suspense but at the same time makes the reader feel for these characters-the good and the bad. And there's no shortage of evil in this story. I loved that he set this in the late 60s early 70s when there were no cell phones or internet. The backdrop of the Vietnam War was also haunting and timely. I thought the story was well-plotted and the characterization excellent!

When I think of John Hart, I remember my mother finding The Last Child at the bookstore, devouring it over a weekend and then telling everyone she knew what an amazing story it was, followed by her buying all of John Hart's earlier novels and reading them as fast as she could.  Trust me when I say, The Unwilling will set you on the same path my mother experienced.  John Hart is am amazing storyteller and everything he writes is pure readers gold, in my opinion.  

Jason has just been released from prison and returns to his hometown, in hopes of reestablishing a relationship with his younger brother Gibby.  Unfortunately, Jason's past reputation follows him, both for his reported actions in the Vietnam War and the drug charges that sent him to prison.  Gibby feels torn between wanting to get to know his mysterious older brother and keeping his distance as his mother urges him to do.  Ultimately, Gibby meets Jason for a day together at the lake with older women and booze.  This seemingly simple day sets off a chain of events that have far reaching consequences for them all.  

The Unwilling is a multi-faceted novel, with suspense, crime, family drama and coming of age all rolled into a book that will keep you turning pages at a feverish pace.  Each character is authentic and genuine.  There are dark and evil characters that you will never forget and tragically flawed characters that will leave their mark as well. This novel was a little darker than what I typically read, but combined with the other aspects of the story, it made for a compelling plot.  

Another 5 star read for 2021!  I received this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Published by St. Martin's Press on February 2, 2021

The best thriller I’ve read in this young year will certainly be among the best of the full year. The Unwilling mixes the strong characterization of fine literature with an absorbing plot and the escalating tension that thriller fans crave.

The story is set during the Vietnam War. It focuses on two brothers. A third brother, Robert, was killed in the war. Robert’s death prompted his twin, Jason, to join the Marines. He became something of a legend but the military made him a scapegoat. Dishonorably discharged and addicted to heroin, Jason soon did a stint in prison, where his fighting skills caught the attention of X, a serial killer on death row who uses wealth and fear to control the warden and everyone who comes within his orbit. X employs killers of his own, including Reeves, who has a taste for young women.

Jason’s younger brother is Gibby. His father is a police detective and his mother, who has lost two sons (having written off Jason), is unbearably protective. Gibby is still coming of age and isn’t sure who he wants to be. When Jason comes back into his life after his release from prison, their parents fear that Gibby wants to become Jason. While Jason repeatedly tells Gibby not to follow in his path, he sends mixed signals, including bringing Gibby along to spend a raucous day with two young women, Tyra and Sara. Tyra teases prisoners on a bus during that trip, rude behavior that eventually brings Jason back to X’s attention.

When one of the women is tortured and murdered, Jason becomes the prime suspect, setting up the rest of the story. After the other woman disappears, some police detectives suspect Gibby’s involvement. Jason’s father is torn between his duty to the police and his love of his sons. Gibby never falters in his refusal to believe that Jason committed the murder. As Gibby and his loyal friend Chance begin a search for evidence to clear Jason, they face danger from the police and from the killer. Gibby’s father is then torn between his love of Jason and his need to protect Gibby from the man he fears Jason has become.

The story seems like it might be far-fetched, but John Hart makes every page seem real. This is a textured story, filled with small moments that evoke a variety of responses. The horror of discovering a woman who has been tortured and hung from chains is seen from the perspective of cops (and we’ve seen that before), but the aftermath is seen from the perspective of a troubled child who first discovered the body — a discovery that will likely shape his life. Those small moments help make the story memorable.

Hart’s ability to create conflict through the interaction of characters while avoiding melodrama is one of his strengths. The growing desperation felt by Gibby’s father, coupled with his growing realization that he’s not been a supportive father to Jason, is emotionally agonizing. Gibby’s internal struggle with his feeling about Jason and Chance’s struggle against life-defining fear are captivating. Hart deftly balances atmosphere and characterization with a plot that builds pace and tension until it races to a conclusion.

John Hart has grown as a writer over the years. Of the Hart novels I’ve read, The Unwilling stands as his best effort.

RECOMMENDED

3.25 stars

I think it’s time for me to give up on John Hart. It’s not him; it’s me. Others love his books. I keep trying and they don’t quite work for me. I know why I keep trying. The settings and atmosphere are alluring. But the stories always end up feeling overwrought. I liked Unwilling more than [book:The Hush|31450687], but I still found the emotions and story to be a bit much. The story is set in 1972, and focuses on two brothers, Jason and Gibby. A third brother, Robert, was killed in the Vietnam war. Jason is a Vietnam vet and just out of jail for drug offences. He has lots of dark secrets. And Gibby is 18, just graduating from high school, and trying to decide which of his older brothers to model himself off. Great set up, right? But it’s all shot to pieces by some crazy storyline involving over the top psychopaths lurking in the background. Enough said. I didn’t hate it, but I wish Hart toned it down. Thanks to Netgalley and Edelweiss and the publisher for giving me access to an advance copy.

The Unwilling is John Hart's newest book, published last week. Hart's books reliably offer deftly crafted, often stark landscapes, character-driven stories, heartbreaking situations and compromises, and enough protagonists' strength and grit to stick with you. 

The Unwilling offers all of those elements and more, unraveling the workings of a family in the South during the Vietnam War, including brothers at odds; as well as complex issues regarding corruption, prison, war, money, power, and violence; and a brother's unfailing loyalty in the face of terrible conflict and danger.

Hart tells a captivating story of broken boys and men, battered by experiences of wartime brutality or frozen by the fear of their potential involvement in battle; the destruction of drugs and other desperate attempts to forget; limited choices and bad decisions; deeply felt loss; and crushing familial and societal expectations. 

There are intensely grisly elements here--deeply upsetting, excruciating torture and willful cruelty; a shockingly corrupt prison system in which inmates' reaches extend disturbingly far beyond the walls; extensive page time spent with a sociopathic serial killer on death row; and a complicated wartime-hinged flux of feelings about duty, destiny, and death.

But Hart also offers the hope of young love, the bedrock of true friendship, and brothers and their father who are earnestly trying to heal rifts that threaten to split them forever.

The twists and turns here are excellent, with interestingly layered motivations and complications. One moment is shown to turn multiple situations and lives on their heads.

The book is set in Charlotte, although the setting is not pivotal to the plot.

I mentioned my love for Hart's book The Last Child in the Greedy Reading List The Six Best Mysteries I Read Last Year. He's written many other books, including The Hush, the second in the Johnny Merrimon series, and the wonderfully written, often tough-to-read Redemption Road.

I first mentioned The Unwilling (along with The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James and Beneath the Keep by Erika Johansen) in the Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 1/28/21 Edition.

I received a prepublication copy of The Unwilling courtesy of St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.

Unwilling
John Hart
Fiction
Nancy (NancysBookNook on Facebook)
5


The French family is only one of tens of thousands to have given up a son to the war in Vietnam, but losing Robert is somehow magnified by the return from the war of the second son, Jason. The horror of Robert’s death is mitigated by his heroism, the horror of Jason’s life magnified by the drugs, the crime, the physical scars so much less painful than the secrets he carries, the void his life has become. Now, after serving three years in prison, Jason is back in his hometown where only one member of his family still matters to him: his brother Gibby, now a highschool senior confronted by his family’s demons and facing the fear of every teenaged boy of the era, the military draft. Jason is determined not to lose his chance for a relationship with Gibby, despite the kind of life he knows he’ll be showing him, even though the day he has planned has the potential for innocence, a potential that vaporizes with Jason’s inclusion of two young women (young, but certainly too old for Gibby). It’s obvious that Tyra and Jason are a couple, leaving Gibby and Sara to get to know each other. From the beginning, the day unravels in a tangle of the sex and booze Jason and Tyra are focused on, and on a country road, a new and ugly future begins as Tyra, partially naked and completely drunk, torments a busload of convicts. 

There is little surprise that when murders happen, ex-cons are among the first suspects so Jason’s arrest is not unexpected. When the violence continues, though, and the range of victims widens, Gibby is caught up in trying to prove his brother’s innocence while trying at the same time to keep himself alive.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Unwilling in exchange for my honest opinion.

John Hart is an author that can take some of the most difficult situations and twist them until you are left heartbroken and aching.  I have so many thoughts as I have closed the last page and set the book aside.  The book is set during the Vietnam War and I would have to stop myself and remember that this was a different time period.  Family relationships is a major focus in this book.  And how those relationships can be twisted and the characters misunderstood or judged is disheartening.

There are some twists and you learn some of Jason’s background story and how he has been misrepresented.  He is NOT who you think he is.  His life has been destroyed and he is having to make decisions based on what others assume to be true.

The younger brother, Gibby, is a teenager who is confronted with a family that is falling apart, wants to have a relationship with his older brother, Jason, endures his mother’s over-the-top protectiveness, interacts with a father who is struggling to deal with the changing family dynamic, and discovering his sexuality and developing relationships with females.

There are two serial killers.  And their extreme evil is disturbing.  The ugliness of their lives and deeds was appalling.  And how it affected the lives of the other characters was disturbing.

Even with all of the negative aspects of the story, there are some positive things to take away.  Family and friendship are precious and should be protected and treasured.  The fragility of our lives and the time we have together should be cherished.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy.  All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The Unwilling, is a compelling story difficult to put down. At its' heart, this novel is about the centrality of family in our lives, a fact that has shaped the lives of the French family, with a focus on the father, a police detective and his three sons. Two of those sons' lives have been shaped in large part by their experiences in Vietnam, with one dying there and another, Jason, losing much of his soul because of his experiences there. The youngest son, Gibby, has been deeply affected by what has happened to his brothers, and at the age of 18, stands on the precipice of adulthood.
Outside of the interactions within the French family, are the experiences and relationships which have resulted in Jasons' criminal record and dangerous companions, including X, the wealthiest and best connected killer imaginable.
All of this comes together in a brutal but honest story that kept me on edge and made it difficult to stop reading until I was done. John Hart is a great writer but for me, this book was easily his most exciting and compelling. I'd love to read more about the characters in this novel and so will you once you've read it.

I'll start by saying I'm a fan of everything by John Hart and this was no exception.  This a  book about family, war, tragic loss and crime.   You'll feel the pain of each character and be on the edge of your seat with anticipation.  The French family has experienced so much pain and loss - Robert lost his life in the Vietnam War, Jason returns from a prison term after 3 tours of duty in the Vietnam War, Gibby the youngest struggling with adulthood and the losses of both brothers.  Their father, the policeman, trying to protect his family and still do his duty.  There are 2 stories - that of the family and also a murder investigation and some serious criminals.  Not one part will disappoint.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is another great mystery/thriller by John Hart. I always look forward to his books because they are so well written, and the stories are so original, that it's an immense pleasure to read them. This book is set in the South during the Vietnam War and follows one family as they struggle with the invisible wounds of PTSD and the growing pains of coming of age.

Gibby has twin older brothers. Both went to war. One died in combat and the other, Jason, came back completely changed. After serving 3 years in prison Jason returns home seeking a connection with 18 year-old Gibby. Warned to stay away from Jason by his parents, Gibby nonetheless goes on a day trip with Jason to the lake with two older women.

One of the women is murdered and Jason is immediately considered a suspect. Gibby desperately tries to investigate the crime, but when the second woman is kidnapped while Jason is in jail, the police turn their eye on Gibby. Gibby and his police officer father race to establish Jason's innocence and discover the secrets Jason tried so hard to hide - what happened to him in the war, why he was framed, and why the most dangerous man alive wants him back in prison.

This book is a wild ride. The main characters are well-developed. Their interactions with each other are hard to read sometimes, but they are so dynamic and raw that you feel like you're in the room with them. Just when you think you know what's going on, the author unravels another secret and your opinion changes. I was just a baby when the Vietnam War was going on, but from everything I've read and seen, it seems like it was a devastating thing to endure. It's no wonder it left so many young men scarred for life. It's a shame that PTSD was not understood as well during this era so that people could have been given better treatment.

The book is a rollercoaster of emotions and action and it's hard to put down. The ending is bittersweet, but fitting for the storyline. I highly recommend you read this book. You won't be disappointed!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions in this review are my own.

A thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book that I initally heard was going to be released last year and when it wasn't, I was left a little bereft. Seriously. I loved Redemption Road with a passion and after that went back and read Hart's earlier works. His novels easily fall into the thriller/mystery category, but they truly are so much more - near panaramic scopes of family, friends, foes, and communities that are consistently well executed and with characters that are not only intriguing, but also well developed. This one did not disappoint and thankfully, came at a time when I really needed a rockin' good read! If you've enjoyed his previous novels as I have, or are a fan of Michael Koryata and/or books like The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and Badlands by C.J. Box, I think this might be your cup of tea.

THE UNWILLING
John Hart
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN-13: 978-12500167729
Hardcover
Historical Thriller

John Hart does not write frequently but does write wonderfully. He has for several years demonstrated an unequaled capability of mining memorable and haunting tales about the downtrodden and unfortunate in his native North Carolina, people whose lives are played out in desperation beyond the reaches of the interstate. Given that his appearances are on the bookshelves are sporadic rather than regular each new title with which he favors his reading public is a cause for dark joy. This is particularly true of THE UNWILLING, a frightening coming of age tale highlighting the capability of both depravity and redemption of the human soul.

THE UNWILLING is set in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1972, a roiling period in the history of the Republic due to the country’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The tale is partially told in the first person by Gibby French, a high school senior who as graduation approaches is at the crossroads of his life. The war has cost the French family dearly. Gibby’s older twin brothers have been casualties of the conflict in markedly different ways. Robert was killed in action while Jason’s wounds are more complicated and include a dishonorable discharge and a prison sentence of several years. Jason returns to Charlotte unannounced and unexpected as THE UNWILLING begins, his presence only a rumor to his parents, who are concerned about his potential bad influence upon Gibby. Gabrielle, the boy’s mother, is particularly concerned, and her default overprotectiveness of Gibby kicks into high gear with the news that Jason, the lost and bad son, is back in town. William, their father, is a law enforcement officer who is also worried but more understanding, a state of mind that causes him to be caught between his wife and sons as well as his sons themselves, not to mention his policing duties. Gibby is chafing at his mother’s limitations, particularly so when enigmatic Jason reaches out to him with ready access to liquor and older (than Gibby) women. Jason has a problem, however, in the form of an imprisoned serial killer known as X, who is awaiting his own fate on death row. X, for reasons which are eventually revealed, has more money than God and almost as much influence. X and Jason formed an odd relationship while Jason was in prison and X manipulates the system in order to bring him back under his influence. X is willing to do anything --- anything --- to get his way, and what he does is nightmarish, to say the least. One of the hairraising elements of THE UNWILLING, however, is that X is not the worst of the characters in the book. The web of relationships eventually sets Gibby and his best friend on a course that intersects with a monster who walks in the shadows of the good people of Charlotte, and, oddly enough, brings the French family together --- as the story proceeds to a chilling ending. 

One might be forgiven for characterizing THE UNWILLING as “the Hart of darkness,” if you will, given that such a description is entirely accurate. While THE UNWILLING is complete in itself, there are enough ends dangling at the conclusion that Hart could at some future time to revisit these unforgettable characters if he wished. What we have here, however, is yet another embarrassment of riches from Hart’s seemingly unlimited basket of talents all by itself. Strongly recommended, if wonderfully dark.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
© Copyright 2021, The Book Report, Inc. All rights reserved.

John Hart is an author that I buy his books the day they are released. As a matter of fact I preordered a signed copy of this book before I even started listening to it. He is that good! And this book is his absolute best.

Jason has just been released from prison. He has returned to his hometown just to see his little brother, Gibby. He has a complex relationship with his family. Heck, Jason is a very complex character. He is a Vietnam vet with a high kill rate and huge secrets.


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Gibby is a high school senior. His mother has sheltered him from many activities and especially from Jason. When Jason shows back up in his life it opens a whole new world. Then, Tyra, Jason’s girlfriend, is murdered. Gibby is determined to prove that Jason is innocent.

There are so many intricacies in this story. The characters are amazing and believe it or not…Jason was my favorite. He broke my heart with his damaged self. But then he has such strength and intensity. I could not help but be pulled into his orbit.

Wow! Just Wow! I cannot say enough about this story. Captivating, thrilling, mysterious and mesmerizing are just a few words to describe this tale…I could go on and on! And the narrator, Kevin Stillwell is fantastic. He hit just the right level of intensity at the right time! Need a book you cannot put down or an audiobook you do not want to stop listening to…THIS IS IT! You will not be disappointed!

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

I’m a huge fan of John Hart’s novels.  I love them because even though they’re thrillers, they’re always so much more than that.  The Unwilling is the sixth book I’ve read from Hart, and yes, it’s a thriller, but it’s also a coming of age story, as well as a story about a family torn apart by war.

Set during the Vietnam War, The Unwilling follows the French family.  They’ve lost two sons to the war, Robert, who was actually killed in action and Jason, who turned to heroin and ended up in prison.  Their youngest son, Gibby, is all Mr. and Mrs. French have left, and they are terrified of losing him too.  When Jason gets out of prison, they’re determined to keep him away from Gibby.  Gibby can’t resist the allure of hanging out with his big brother though and so he sneaks out to see Jason and to meet up with some girls.  When one of the girls turned up dead soon after and Jason is named as the prime suspect, both Gibby and Jason find themselves knee deep in a bad situation that could cost them both their lives.

I loved so many things about this book!  First, I just became so attached to the French family.  It was so heartbreaking to think of all the losses they have suffered and their grief is just so palpable throughout the story.  I was especially heartbroken for the father.  As a police detective, he’s in an impossible spot. He wants to believe his son is innocent but has to admit that he’s not sure, primarily because of his son’s past misdeeds.  He loves Jason but he is also desperate to protect what’s left of his family.

I also really adored Gibby.  Much of the story comes to us from Gibby’s perspective and it is through him that we get the coming of age element in the story.  Gibby is torn between not wanting to upset his parents and wanting to break free from this sheltered bubble they have him living in.  He wants to have a relationship with his brother, he wants to date girls, he just wants to grow up and is frustrated at every turn by his parents.  I was really rooting for Gibby to come into his own and was really impressed by his growth as the story progressed, especially when he decides he’s going to prove his brother is innocent. I admired his determination, loyalty, and bravery.

The thriller aspect of the story as it relates to the murder is amazing too. I don’t want to give anything away with respect to that, but wow, what a dark and twisted tale it is.  Also, be forewarned that Hart’s descriptions of the violent acts in the novel are vivid and gruesome.  I know I won’t be forgetting the images I read about anytime soon!

If you’re interested in a riveting thriller as well as a heartbreaking story about the effects of war on a family, definitely check out John Hart’s The Unwilling. 4.5 STARS.