BooksBarbecue
Back The Unwilling
Chapters (58)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. Epigraph
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. Epilogue
  55. ALSO BY JOHN HART
  56. Praise
  57. About the Author
  58. Newsletter Sign-up

LANESWORTH PRISON

May 18, 1972

My Dear Reece,

Or should I call you Teddy? That is your name, isn’t it? Theodore Small, born forty-two years ago in Fairhope, Alabama? It was your mother, I believe, who liked to call you Teddy. And curl your hair, I’ve been told. And dress you in lace.

But I digress …

The point I wish to make is achingly simple. I have broken no promise—I never would. It was Jason French who came for you, and he did it gratis.

But I digress again. Strange how that happens once there are so many thoughts to fill the mind …

Specifically, Teddy, my thoughts are of you, and of what might happen when next we meet. They are such deep and lovely thoughts, an endless parade. And I must thank you from the bottom of this bottomless heart. Before you made me so angry, I had little reason to feel or care or live. Now I burst with purpose …

I imagine this is disconcerting to you, but do take comfort from my other solemn vow. Once I am dead, you are perfectly safe.

Until such time, I remain yours,

X

ALSO BY JOHN HART

The Hush

Redemption Road

Iron House

The Last Child

Down River

The King of Lies

Praise

Praise for The Unwilling

“The Unwilling is crime fiction at its absolute best. An impeccable storyteller, John Hart weaves an intricate tale of family, war, prison, and murder into a thoroughly thought-provoking and enjoyable read that I absolutely could not put down.”

—Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Minute Out

“[The Unwilling] will confirm John Hart as one of the best crime fiction writers working today.”

—Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“Another embarrassment of riches from Hart’s seemingly unlimited basket of talents.”

—Bookreporter

“Unforgettable and propulsive … extremely well-written suspense with emotional depth.”

—AARP

“Often, the most gripping historicals take place during our immediate past as John Hart demonstrates in The Unwilling.… Hart skillfully mines the details of the early 1970s and the impact the Vietnam War had on the country.… The story’s strength is its deep examination of characters and the country. Each is a product of the times while trying to look to the future.”

—Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel

“A compulsively readable work propelled by not only race-against-time action but also the endearing bonds between siblings put at loose ends by war, prison, and addiction, John Hart’s The Unwilling provides a unique thriller, well suited for our times. Hart’s novel proves very much successful, as it allows readers a bit of escapism from the tumultuous world around them.”

—North Carolina Literary Review