I don’t read a whole lot of historical fiction, but I have enjoyed books by Robert Dugoni, so decided to try his new historical mystery. What did I think? I thought that A Killing on the Hill is Law & Order 1930s Style! Will you like it? Let’s find out!
Jen’s Quick Take on A Killing on the Hill
- Historical mystery set in Depression-era Seattle
- Law and order format that covers both an investigation and a trial
- The murder of a former prizefighter with shady associations
- A very idealistic (yet scrappy) main character who is a cub reporter
- An inspirational story about righting wrongs
A Killing on the Hill
380 pages
To be published on April 9, 2024 by Thomas and Mercer. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review consideration, which I accepted under FTC guidelines.
A Killing on the Hill is Law & Order 1930s Style
A Killing on the Hill had a similar “law and order” format that I enjoyed in Her Deadly Game, the other book I’ve read by Robert Dugoni. First the main character covers a murder investigation as a reporter and then he covers the resulting trial.
The book starts on a compelling note. It’s set in Seattle in 1933. William “Shoe” Shumacher has left his home in Kansas City after high school graduation to take a job that he hopes will help out his family in trying financial times.
Shoe is a cub reporter for The Seattle Daily Star. He’s looking for a scoop that could make his career and get him a much-needed raise. One morning, he receives a phone call at his boarding house.
It’s the Chief of Detectives, inviting him to meet him on Profanity Hill at the scene of a gangland shooting. The victim, former prizefighter Frankie Ray, has been shot dead in a speakeasy.
What I Enjoyed about A Killing on the Hill
Loved Shoe! He’s such an appealing character with a maturity that belies his young adult-level age. (He’s nineteen at most.) Principled, eager, and enthusiastic, he’s thrilled to get some scoops that impress his boss. Shoe feels like the master of his destiny. But right off, I was suspicious that Shoe might be just a pawn in someone else’s game. Was I right? You’ll have to read to find out!
Even though it might sound like an oxymoron to describe a book about gangsters as “cozy,” I thought that A Killing on the Hill did have some cozy vibes. Shoe’s mother-hen landlady looks out for him and he has a huge and somewhat awkward crush on a girl who works at his neighborhood bakery.
Shoe is also idealistic in a way that might seem quaint and old-fashioned today. He believes in the justice system, the court system, and the free press. He’s patriotic and optimistic about his future. He was a fun character to follow (though I swear I worried about him more than his landlady did!)
In the author’s acknowledgments at the end of the book, Robert Dugoni discusses his inspiration for A Killing on the Hill, a real life Seattle case from the 1930s. If you read the book, do NOT skip that part because it’s as fascinating as the story itself. As someone who just helped clean out a very cluttered family house filled with memorabilia, I urge everyone to talk to the elder members of your family and hear their stories while you can!
If you like historical fiction, give A Killing on the Hill a try. Or if, like me, you don’t read it often and are looking for a change of pace, this could be the book for you.
If you DO love historical fiction, please recommend a title to me in the comments!