John Hart gets better from book to book. This complex tale of betrayal and ambition is rich and compelling from first sentence to last.

Interesting book....John Hart does great characters

Having read all of John Hart's past books, I was particularly excited to receive an ARC for his latest. However, I ended up being quite disappointed. While I am a bit of a fan of magical realism, it was so off the mark of what I expected from a John Hart book that I did not enjoy it. Too much description and not enough character development, with the last 25% being so long and flowery, I just wanted it to be over. My apologies but thank you for the copy.

To say that I was just plain ol' excited to see on Netgalley that John Hart had new material, then have the good fortune of being given the opportunity to read and review that new treasure would be a gross understatement. The Hush was calling my name for a while but I wanted to read it closer to the release date and especially when I had the time to dive in. I've had the pleasure of being acquainted with Hart's work and I can honestly say I've never been let down... until now... but only kinda, sorta, if that makes sense.

One of the books that made me an instant fan of his, directing my literary compass was The Last Child. The Last Child followed Johnny Merrimon and his best friend, Jack Cross, as they journey through the depths of hell to find Johnny's missing twin sister. This coming of age (so to speak) journey they embark on forever changes them. The Hush, picking up 10 years later after the explosive conclusion of The Last Child (actually a couple a years shy of the original release date), gives fans an update of what's been happening with the two since.

When I initially requested The Hush for review, I approached it like I do most titles I receive as an ARC. If I'm familiar with the author, I usually begin the book without reading the back jacket blurb or any reviews until about 20% in. As I read the first chapter, I was vaguely reminded of a character in one of John Hart's other titles. My incessant need to figure out where I'd heard the seemingly "common" name before forced me to read the promotional summary. The Hush brags about being the long awaited sequel to the harrowing story of Johnny and Jack, yet... and in all fairness it's been quite some time since I'd read The Last Child... I didn't see much resemblance.

For those who wish to read The Last Child I must warn I will spoil that a little with my recap. The Hush opens with Johnny Merrimon reveling in the land he inherited from a great, great grandfather. Land that was once gifted to the freed slave men that lived and died on that same land. Johnny has become somewhat of a hermit, living in seclusion from the local town and the celebrity that came with finding his twin sister and busting up a crime ring grown men were too afraid to embark upon.

I won't pretend to remember much about the 13 year old Johnny of The Lost Child but he certainly wasn't anything like the Johnny introduced in The Hush. Actually, that mystery thriller is replaced with a more mystical, mythical, fantastical story of past ghosts, magical swamps, and dreams of a tortured past. I love a good ghost story. What I don't love is how this ghost story exploited a crime procedural and kinda disappoints those who are looking for an actual follow-up to The Last Child.

Just to be fair, I actually enjoyed The Hush. I am very familiar with people from the south's penchant towards promoting stories involving ghosts, spirits, or tortured souls that roam the earth in a state of unrest. It's almost as if John Hart put together all the stories he'd been told as a child and made a book of them. I'm fine with that no matter how convoluted. The ghosts of the past don't need to make sense. The magic of the Hush doesn't need to make sense in order to make for captivating reading.

The only problem is that... ultimately it does. The links in this title felt a little far fetched after a while and by 80% I was just ready for the end. John Hart doesn't sacrifice good writing, descriptive atmosphere, fully fleshed characters, and an initially intriguing plot in hopes of pulling in readers for the long haul.

I can't find much negative to say about The Hush except it wasn't what I expected in a follow-up to The Last Child. In Hart's defense, I just may need to re-read The Last Child. It's possible I missed all signs leading to The Hush.

Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley

Could not get into this book...too long of descriptions. Very slow to build. I stopped reading it

I love John Hart and now wish I'd read The Last Child before I read this one. I was intrigued from the start as Johnny and Jack have such an interesting friendship and clearly ties that bind them because of their past. But I struggled a little as the novel wore on as I just wanted to know the secrets of the area and what could cause such terror and disbelief in those that encountered the swamp. But Hart is such a talented writer that I knew I would persevere and be rewarded in the end. And it didn't disappoint! Although it's over 400 pages, it's worth the read as it blends the supernatural, the unforgiving nature of the wild, and very human but fallible characters in their quest for the truth.

The Hush by John Hart is a wonderful book. I was completely involved in following the growth and development of Johnny, the main character, Once I started reading The Hush I couldn't put it down and wanted to follow Johnny on his mystical journey to the end. John Hart is an wonderful mystery writer who has created complicated and interesting characters in his novels.

Water Moccasin, Copperhead, Black Swamp Water.

It's all there churning in the underbelly of Hush Arbor in Raven County. The Last Child redux.

John Hart sets down the characters of Johnny Merrimon and Jack Cross, once again, in the periphery of their own natural habitats. Their friendship locks in tightly and never skips a beat even from the mysterious shooting from 10 years ago. Secrets serve as steely links in an unbreakable bond between these two men that was rooted in the mud and the mire of unspeakable past events.

Johnny continues to live on the acre upon acre land that has been in his family since the 1850's. Resilient beyond words, Johnny hunts, fishes, and grows an enormous garden in order to sustain himself. Although "land rich", his money prospects are drying up. His mother, Catherine, and his stepfather, Clyde, are among the few that interact with him.

Jack Cross has come full circle since his childhood days in Hush Arbor. He now has a law degree and has ventured back into the shadowy segments of Raven County once again. His concern for Johnny prompts him into recommending that Johnny discuss his financial situation with Leslie Green, an appellate lawyer in the same law firm as Jack. Perhaps Johnny can benefit from his treasure of land.

But the thread that lifts and falls frequently at the core of this storyline is the eerie goings-on in regard to this land of Johnny's and what transpired so very long ago. We cannot escape the past and the past has no reason to escape its host. It is in this genre of magical realism that Hart uses as his vehicle for the layers of his storyline. It works to some degree, but it also breathes like forced air in a mine shaft. A lot of space to fill in a short amount of time.

Storytelling is what John Hart does best. You find yourself leaning in, absorbing every word. And he crafts those words like the wordsmith that he truly is. He can create a scene in soft whispers and then ratchet it up, unexpectantly, into a sonic boom.

You need not have read The Last Child in order to read this one. Ironically, few elements are the same and many elements are not in the same wheelhouse. A different avenue for Hart, and yet, a longing for the familiar shimmering that makes Hart........Hart.

I received a copy of The Hush through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the very talented John Hart for the opportunity.

Wow.

Time truly is a flat circle.

First of all, I’m beyond happy I had the chance to read this so early. This book moved me. When I’d start reading, I’d fall into such a groove and not be able to stop. John Hart is such a well versed author, he knows exactly how to keep his readers interested, how to make them care for his characters, and these are characters I’ve loved so deeply since The Last Child. This book had such scary and unnerving parts that had my entire body frozen and only my eyes moving until I had to change the page on my kindle. This is a book that even though I read it digitally, I’ll need a physical copy on my bookshelf when it releases. This is a book everyone should read.

Well, that was not what I was expecting.....but I really enjoyed it. I did not read "The Last Child" and found that this book worked well as a stand-alone novel for me. Although, I was not privy to the events of that book prior to reading this one, I felt the Author did a good job describing how close Johnny and Jack were and have been since childhood. How each feels a closeness and kinship with the other. Of course, there were references to events in the past, but I don't feel that not having knowledge of them affected my enjoyment of this book in any way.

Johnny Merrimon lives in a Cabin on the six thousand acres of land that he inherited from his father's side of the family. Johnny's ancestors owned the land which contained the swamp and rocky sections. A distant relative signed over the land to freed slaves and the land reverted to Johnny when the last male relative of the freed slave died. Johnny values his privacy and enjoys living off the land. One part of the land he owns is called "the Hush" and he is drawn to the Hush and seems at times to be attuned to it. He mainly comes into town for supplies and has been known to run off anyone who attempts to hunt or travel onto his land. Johnny knows this land has secrets and he is more than willing to protect those secrets even if he means keeping secrets from the people who care about him.

Jack Cross is an attorney and he enjoys attempting to sneak up on Johnny in the woods but Johnny always seems to sense him coming. Jack understands Johnny's desire for privacy, but he has concerns about the land and his friend's connection to it. Jack fears what he feels and what he observes of his friend's behavior in the swamp. He worries about his friend's safety and his mental status. Jack does not appear to feel the heaviness or other symptoms other's feel when they step foot on Johnny's land, but he does feel the eerie cold and senses danger.

I do not want to say much else about the plot as I don't want to give any spoilers. What I will say is that there is a magical/paranormal vibe to this book. I was not expecting this from John Hart. There is a whole other story going on here, but I don't want to give anything away except to say that Johnny is not the only character in the book with a connection to the land. There are others who are connected to land as well. Their stories are also told, and we see more of them as the plot unfolds.

Well written, eerie, dark and entertaining. I found this to be good story-telling. Sure, you have to suspend some disbelief, but the tale is a good one. I can see how this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it worked for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

What is the truth of Hush Arbor?  A mist rises through the trees, shimmering and glimmering with tricks of light.  And of movement.  The vast swamp lies low, heavy and shifting.  The very stillness is disquieting.   A bitter old woman kneels under an ancient tree, her prayers full of spite and rancor.  Two lifelong friends share a debt that continues to weigh heavily years after the fact.  As deadly secrets come to light, the fate of Hush Arbor and its inhabitants hangs in the balance.

My only quibble is with the ending, which seemed to lose the mystique that had carried the tale, a complete change of tone.   It may be that it was necessary in order to wind things down.  Other than that, I felt like I had hit the jackpot.  John Hart tells a great story.

The Hush is the second book to John Hart’s The Last Child which we also did as a Sisters Read not too long ago.  We read The Hush with three of our Traveling Sisters and we were all really excited to read it as we all absolutely loved The Last Child.  We were so hoping that it would live up to all of our expectations but unfortunately we were somewhat disappointed as we didn’t think it had the same feel to it as The Last Child.  It did work for some of us though but not as well for everyone.  We didn’t expect the dark magic and the supernatural within the storyline but we all tried to have an open mind and just enjoy the story.  I think for some of us if we would have read the synopsis or researched the book a little better we would have enjoyed it that much more as some of us really do love a little dark magic and the supernatural within the storyline.  “I know I do, said Norma.”

THE HUSH by JOHN HART was an unexpected and attention demanding book that took us on a magical and mythical journey here into Johnny’s world of the Hush. There was definitely some need to suspend disbelief here and we really needed to focus on the story and accept the black magic and the supernatural as part of the storyline to make this one work.  This was hard for some of us to do especially Brenda.  Once some of us did accept it and we started to understand where the story was going, especially for me (Norma) then it was an enjoyable read. For Brenda she never did and was completely lost throughout this whole story.

We loved the relationship between Johnny and Jack and really would’ve liked to have seen that explored some more. We loved the way they protected and cared for each other and we could really feel their loyalty, friendship, and love that they had for one another giving the story a warm feeling.

The ending left some of us confused and we thought our discussion was really helpful and enjoyable as we worked out the ending amongst ourselves, pulling the story together for some of us especially Brenda.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and John Hart for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

DNF

Not going to rate this, as it wouldn't be fair.

I didn't realize this was a sequel to [book:The Last Child|5556466], which I didn't read.

While some reviewers have mentioned that this could be easily read as a stand alone, I myself have been struggling. Maybe had I read book one I would be more invested in the characters and be intrigued enough to take this journey further.

Unfortunately I have found the opening pace to be slow and the plot a bit flatlined for my taste to continue. There are some solid ratings behind this, so don't let my DNF send you away!

ARC provided by NetGalley

I was so thrilled to get my hands on an advanced arc of John Hart's new novel! I loved The Last Child and could not wait to catch up with good ol Johnny and Jack.

The Hush is a little different then what I'm used to experiencing from John Hart. I would have to say he took a little bit of a risk with this one and jumped into a paranormal/magical suspense novelishhh?

I absolutely LOVE having a hint of magic in my novels... but I'm sorry to say that this was a little too much for my liking. The last 20-25 percent of the book I was pretty miserable. And that is SO HARD for me to say with John Hart. I just couldn't get past the supernatural aspect and was wondering to myself... is this really where Hart is taking this novel?!!!

The Hush is hinted to be a continuation from the Last Child but in no way do you need to read The Last Child beforehand. The Hush has a completely different feel and overall sense of tone/writing style. I would definitely go into this one with an open mind.... like super open mind haha.

But, I do have to say that John Hart is an incredible storyteller and I have been in awe with his talent. I may not have enjoyed this as much as I have his previous novels but again I look forward to what I see next from Hart ;).

This was a Traveling Sisters read/review. Please check out the Traveling Sisters' fantastic blog: https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am slow to read synopses. I often skip them, or at the least, forget them once I pick up a book. I rely on authors I love, reviews from friends, and sometimes I can't resist a pretty cover! In this case, John Hart. Completely John Hart.

I fell hard for The Last Child when I read it a couple weeks back. It was just about the perfect book in my mind. The characters, Johnny and Jack, I don't think I've ever "met" two more devoted friends. Their poignant vulnerability twisted my heart. When I had the chance to read The Hush, I jumped at it; when I was approved, I felt like I had hit the Netgalley jackpot!

But here's the thing. The Hush <i>is</i> a continuation of Jack and Johnny's lives as adults; however, the book has a completely different feel than The Last Child almost from the start. Where TLC was a suspenseful mystery with well-developed, vividly drawn, <i>corporeal</i> characters, The Hush takes on a more supernatural, magical, earthy, a little out-there feel.

So all of this to say, I wish I had gone in to The Hush with a completely open mind. I wish I hadn't had expectations based on the wondrous experience I had reading The Last Child. I wish that the supernatural-ness hadn't bothered me a little because at times I found it hard-to-follow. But all the same, I am grateful to have gotten an update on Jack and Johnny. I have high hopes that this won't be the last we see of these noteworthy friends.

This was a Traveling Sisters' read/discussion, and what an interesting and magical discussion we had! For this and other wonderful reviews, please check out the Traveling Sisters' blog: https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, John Hart, and Netgalley for the complimentary copy.

If, like me, you were completely enamored with Johnny and Jack from The Last Child, here’s your chance to find out where time and space has landed the childhood friends. Be warned though, this might not be what you had in mind when you thought about a follow-up.

From the suspense driven whodunnit of The Last Child, to a mystery swathed in magical realism, it’s safe to say, John Hart took a bit of a risk with The Hush. If you’re not a reader that suspends disbelief easily—hello, that’s me!—this might not work for you. Missing was the frantic page turning frenzy his writing usually incites; replaced instead by this mantra, “keep an open mind . . . keep an open mind . . . keep an open mind.” That’s never a good sign, am I right?

Hush Arbors or The Hush—6,000 acres of dense woods, swamp, rocky terrain, creatures and spookiness—is known for having a bit of a shady history. Once belonging to Johnny's ancestors, but ultimately signed over to a group of freed slaves, the land reverted back to Johnny on a technicality after the death of one of the pivotal characters from The Last Child.

Something about Hush Arbors captured Johnny’s heart immediately and he chose to become a hermit of sorts, living in a desolate cabin and watching over his property from a ancient tree. People that step foot on the land experience a host of things—weightiness, the sense of being watched, hours unaccounted for, disorientation and for some, it costs them the ultimate price. Unearthing what transpired between Johnny’s ancestors and the slaves is ultimately the mystery that drives the story. Who or what are the strange beings that now inhabit the land and torture the visitors? Again, not a storyline that got my blood pumping. In fact, the last 25% of the story was sort of torturous. Ludicrous. Pointless. Blah. You pick the adjective.

While this is technically a follow-up, in no way is The Last Child required reading beforehand. In fact, although most of the characters are present and accounted for, so much time has passed between the two stories—there’s a 10 year gap in the timeline—they’re almost unrecognizable, along with the writing itself. It’s like starting all over with a new cast and maybe even a new author.

One of my favorite authors does it again! Another masterpiece that kept me up most of the night. I just had to finish it in one sitting to see how it ended. Here's hoping an Edgar is awaiting.

Another supernatural tale from the author. Suspense and adventure leads the reader from chapter to the next mesmerizing chapter. A book I recommend to all.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31450687-the-hush" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Hush" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476553744m/31450687.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31450687-the-hush">The Hush</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47072.John_Hart">John Hart</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1990290558">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Ok y’all, Johnny and Jack are back! Ten years have passed since the tragedies in The Last Child, and their bond of friendship is as tight as ever. Jack is now a lawyer and Johnny owns a lot of land left to him from his fathers side and within that land is The Hush were he lives his solitary life in a small cabin. Sinister things happen here due to events of the past! Very very sinister things!<br />John Hart never disappoints! Such a great storyteller!<br /><br />Digital galley from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12851291-karen">View all my reviews</a>

This novel uses the same setting and characters from the author’s award-winning thriller “The Last Child,” picking up the story ten years later. It can be read as a standalone, although reading the previous book first would enrich the experience.

In “The Last Child,” Johnny Merrimon helped solve the mystery of what happened to his missing twin sister Alyssa. Now 23, Johnny lives alone in the isolated and forbidding back country outside of town in Raven County, North Carolina. He stays there in part because he dislikes his “celebrity” status in town from the old murder case, as well as the constant questions along the lines of “What really happened?” and “How are you holding up?” He also wants to avoid his mom, because he knows she looks at him and sees the face of his murdered twin, as well as the face of his dad who tried trying to save Alyssa. The wilderness offers him escape, as well as beauty, serenity, and sustenance. Even the portion that is the swamp once occupied by slaves, Hush Arbor, is magical to him, not only figuratively, but literally. But that’s a truth Johnny doesn’t want to share.

When Johnny is in Hush Arbor, he has a supernatural awareness. He can sense movement in the grass, the water, the air, and the activities of all life around him, both seen and unseen. Moreover, he gets healed from any ailment when he is there. He loves the entanglement with nature he experiences in the Hush, and hates leaving at all.

Johnny rarely has visitors, except his best friend Jack Cross, who comes once a month for dinner. For Jack, Johnny had been “more father than Jack’s father, more brother than any brother God had seen fit to give. In every way that mattered, Johnny Merrimon had defined Jack’s childhood.”

Jack is now an attorney, and Johnny asks him to help with the legal battle to save his family’s land. Johnny owns 6,000 acres, and doesn’t want to lose it. A rich New York hedge-fund owner, William Boyd, wants it for trophy hunting. And Johnny faces a legal challenge from a descendant of Isaac Freemantle, the first freed slave in Raven County. Johnny’s ancestor had freed Isaac and given him all 6,000 acres. No one understands why that transaction took place. In addition, the deed stipulated that the land would go back to the Merrimon family when and if the last male Freemantle died. That happened ten years earlier, and the land went to Johnny. But now a female descendant, Luana Freemantle is challenging the transfer.

Jack has only been in practice a short time, and in any event, does bankruptcy law. He asks an appellate attorney in his firm, Leslie Green, if she would take the case pro bono, since Johnny is out of money. She agrees to look into it, in part because she is one of the celebrity gawkers when it comes to Johnny. She tells Johnny that Luana could indeed have a case - not because of an error of law, but on the grounds of public policy, equity, and gender inequality.

Meanwhile, William Boyd also asks for Leslie’s help, and he is offering her twice her yearly salary as well as his fund’s hugely profitable business for her firm. He claims he only wants the land because “hunting is my passion.” But Boyd’s grandfather was born in Raven County, and Boyd is desperate for the land for reasons he won’t say.

Luana wants to sell the land for complex reasons, but her daughter Cree wants the land to keep it. Freemantle relatives also get involved in the struggle. As Johnny and Cree learn the secrets of the Hush through their dreams, the danger increases to all who are trying to interfere with the fate of this magical space.

Evaluation: There is an element of magic in this book that might put off some readers, but Hart handles it with dexterity. Rather than seeming like a “paranormal” story, Hart uses the magic to expose the history of slavery in the area, as well as a way to reveal the complex nature of temptation and greed. Through it all, the bonds of friendship and family moor the story to reality, and the mystery of what is happening adds tension and interest.