I am a big fan of King's Mary Russell books and I looked forward eagerly to reading Lockdown. Perhaps because of my high expectations, or perhaps because my great-nephew was a first grade student at Sandy Hook when the shooting occurred (thankfully, he and his classmates were saved by the quick thinking of their teacher), I was very disappointed in King's latest offering. The title gives away the climatic event before the story even begins; coupled with the rather simplistic writing and lack of real character development, the book was a big letdown. Despite the use of different voices, and brief look backs at characters' flawed pasts, it was hard to truly understand any of them in any more than a superficial way. King greatly underestimates the power of viewing horrific and senseless killing or of losing someone to an unexplained force in fundamental ways. She also greatly underestimates the heroism that arises unexpectly when the need presents itself. Ironically, I am also currently reading Yokoyama's Six Four, a large complex story, one also of vengeance, violence, and revenge, with complex plot elements and deep character development. I much prefer it to King's shorter and lighter approach. I look forward to King returning to the arena in which she best shines.

Laurie R. King’s books are always a favorite of mine, and the opportunity to read “Lockdown” came just as a bought of bad weather was hitting my little area in Kentucky. This book, a nasty storm rolling through, and a quiet afternoon was very soothing to my soul. Once again, King didn’t disappoint.

Principal Linda McDonald has been in charge of Guadalupe Middle School for the past year, working tirelessly to transform it from a gang-ridden, crime infested school. Her husband, the charming but mysterious Gordon, helps out and supports his wife in her endeavor. Unfortunately, this may ultimately cause the unravelling of their four year marriage. Nosy and astute cop Olivia knows that there’s more to Gordon than meets the eye, but nothing prepares her for what’s about to happen at Guadalupe.

Told from alternating perspectives, the story of Guadalupe’s Career Day and how it changes people’s lives forever, was told in tantalizing bits and pieces. Backstories abounded, and the explosive conclusion took me by surprise. Few writers can bamboozle me, but King’s writing did it in a way that I didn’t feel cheated or bamboozled.

Each character was developed to lead readers right along the story. There was a bit of a mystery within this mystery that was hauntingly left open to reader’s interpretation/expectation.

The expected publication date for this latest book from King, June 13 of 2017, makes this a perfect book to take to the beach. I encourage all my mystery loving friends to read this book the first chance they get.

Review of LOCKDOWN by Laurie R. King

Prolific author Laurie R. King has an immense talent for bringing her novels into the lives of readers. While reading LOCKDOWN, I felt I lived through its events and through the present and past lives of its character populace—yes, vicariously, but so vividly!

LOCKDOWN is the story of Guadalupe Middle School in tiny Central California farming community San Felipe, but its reverberations stretch also to the Midwest, Mexico, and New Guinea. Guadalupe could be a school almost anywhere, and because its students, staff, administrators, and parents are so realistic, they could be us, our neighbors, our family and friends. The events at and around Guadalupe are both joyful and horrifying, both hopeful and horrid—such is real life, is it not?

Lockdown is probably the scariest word that school students and employees can hear over the intercom. Having been through more than a few of them myself, I know the uncertainty, fear and sometimes out right terror those announcements can bring. In King's story, a career day at a local school goes terribly wrong, and during the mass panic and confusion there are too many people to blame, too many questions with no answers and too much grief and sorrow to process. Scary because it's all too real