Red Hatchet Falls may be Ms. Goldner’s best yet.
She opens with an interesting character from another novel, Homer ‘Sullivan walking his pet raccoon finds a
severed hand. Her detective Radhouser may have a serial killer to catch. But before he comes to the crime scene, we
see him third base coach of his daughter Lizzy’s little league team. As coach and parent, he object’s to the umpire's
calling Lizzie out on her slide. But he explains to her that the umpire is always right, even when it hurts and even
when we are sure he’s not.
What a way to introduce a Muslem family whose son Kareem plays on a baseball team in the same league
as Lizzie’s team. Goldner is so realistic with her story of the playground brawl and bullies attacking the Muslim boy,
whose only retaliation is spitting on the leader. She must have been a wonderful teacher for she understands the
helpless and the aggressive equally.
Typical of our favorite detective, Radhouser has taken in a stray person, a young man who would rather
starve than live with his wealthy mother. Of course the fellow wins readers’ hearts for his kindness to Lizzy, his work
with the little league team, and his talent playing the piano. Cooper Drake works hard to earn his keep at the barn,
finding chores not even on his list such as mowing for Grace. Then when Cooper’s imperious mother visits, we see
why he refuses to live under her tyranny.
Radhouser’s first case is the murder of Marsha Parsons, brutally beaten and her hand severed. Despite
being sometimes brutal to her kids, she has befriended Mrs. Azami, mother of Kareem, the Muslim boy in Lizzy’s
league. Through the investigation, Goldner introduces several normal people, likable despite flaws in maybe her most
human book. Captain Murphy even apologizes for the first time in history.
The second murder involves Kareem’s baseball coach Brad Baker, a bully who berates his own son and
players in public. His hand was also severed and bore the marker drawing of adult holding a child, this time a man,
whereas Mrs. Parsons’ hand wore a woman and child. Though he despises the bully, Radhouser works relentlessly to
find the truth, even if it could involve his friend Ahmed. Goldner crafts the frustration within the detective as he
continues his job.
The final crime is the unwarranted police shooting of Ahmed Azami, Radhouser’s Muslim friend. Radhouser
cannot do much because it all takes place in a nearby city out of his jurisdiction. I’m glad our writer did not force a
happy ending on this event but left us with the feeling that injustice still needs to be fought.
One of Goldner’s main themes is how grownup actions affect the children they deal with—the principal’s
action with Kareem, Coach Baker’s effect on Landon, his son, and on the kids on his team. We see the contrasting
positive effects of Radhouser on his children, and on the school kids he creates the bullying program to help. He even
affects the Parsons kids, and Kareem who admires him. Radhouser also deeply affects Cooper Drake, who is
Goldner’s example of his mother’s disastrous effect on his life. In contrast to their mother, their dad’s girlfriend Cheryl
brings a potential saving effect for the Parsons kids. Readers of the series pick up on Homer Sullivan’s kind effect on
Rishima, the transgender girl. Part of crating the complete Cooper Drake, Goldner shows his great patience with his
ballplayers and his piano student Lizzie.
With a salute to symmetry, Goldner ends the novel with Kareem in the batter’s box to match her beginning.
Even the pet raccoon as new team mascot completes the wrapping up of the painful lessons her characters have
faced and worked through. Readers are tested emotionally and rewarded with the satisfactory feeling at the end.
What a fine job , Susa Clayton, Goldner!
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
