The Unwilling

Hart’s historical mystery is set in the deep South during the Vietnam War. The war has been hard on Gibby’s family, one of his brothers was killed in action, the other came back a decorated hero who saw things no human being should ever have to see. Changed forever by his time in Vietnam, Jason has made mistakes at home and spent time in prison; now he wants to get to know his little brother. He and Gibby hit the road with booze and women where they encounter a bus full of prisoners . One of the women with the brothers makes a nasty comment to the prisoners and is later found murdered. Because of his background, Jason is the prime suspect. When the other woman is kidnapped, the police turn their attention to Gibby. It’s up to him to save both himself and his brother, but the journey to prove their innocence will cost Gibby, more dearly than he can imagine. Why isn’t John Hart a household name? He is one of the best writers America has produced in the 21st century. If you aren’t reading his books, you need to start

John Hart has written several worthy character-driven crime novels that have affected this reviewer each time. His latest, The Unwilling, focuses mostly on two brothers drawn into danger as they strive to live up to what they believe in: integrity, not giving up, and most of all, each other. Brothers Gibby and Jason tackle unfairness, family misunderstandings, and killers that are insanely evil, set against the timeframe and anxiety of the Vietnam War.. Emotion and action pair well throughout the story, and the interactions and personalities are in most cases pitch-perfect. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5

If you are not reading John Hart's books, you are missing out on one of the best writers in fiction.

This book tells the story of the men of the French family: Vietnam Vet Jason, 18 year old Gibson, and their police officer father. When Jason returns to town after a stint in prison he connects with Gibson over a day at the lake and an outing with two older women.

When one of the women is brutally killed, Gibson seems to be the only one who believes his brother might be innocent.

I don't want to give too much away, but I could not put this book down. The plot was enthralling and the characters were interesting.

John Hart is a great writer. As a reader, he makes the characters come alive and his talent shines on every page. I have always enjoyed his books, and this latest may be one of his best.

John Hart writes stunning characters, intricate plots, and true-to-life settings. This Southern thriller/mystery, which takes place at the time of the Vietnam War, tells the story of a family and especially two brothers, and it does not let up in building and creating suspense that will keep readers turning the pages. Highly recommended.

John Hart really is one of those authors who writes so well and so varied that he is a pleasure to read.
Set during the time of the Vietnam war, the French family consist of mum, dad Jason and Gibby. Robert, Jason’s twin brother died In the war, and his mother has never recovered. Jason has done his tours of duty but ended up with a dishonourable discharge and a prison sentence, when he is released and heads home his parents don’t want to have anything to do with him, but Gibby wants to reconnect with his brother and spend time with him. When one of Jason’s girlfriends is found murdered in the most horrendous way, Jason is arrested. Gibby decides he is going to try and clear his brothers name and in the process puts himself in harms way.
This is a raw look at a family grieving and the affects of war and death on those left behind.
#netgalley #theunwilling

Set at the height of the Vietnam war, this novel revolves around what is left of a family torn apart by that war. The mother, having lost two sons, one killed in Vietnam and the other dishonorably discharged and just released from prison for drugs, is overly protective of the 3rd son. The father, a policeman, trying to hold what is left of his family together. The son just released from prison wanting to connect with his younger brother. And finally, the youngest boy, a senior in high school, determined to prove that his remaining brother was framed, believing in his innocence against overwhelming odds. Add in corruption in the prison system and a couple of depraved serial killers.

I have read and loved most of this author's other titles and this one is near the top of the list. Sometimes brutal and unforgiving, this powerful story proceeds to a twisty ending that I thought very fitting. This author's books are often about redemption, forgiveness, loss, and courage and this one is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book.

John Hart never fails to deliver a story you just can't put down - with so many twists and turns and complicated characters - he leaves the reader anticipating an explosive ending...which you'll get...but could there be sequel to this?!?!?!?!

This was such a great book!! This book was set in the South during the Vietnam era. I got so wrapped up in this book and did not want it to end! My patrons will love this book in June!

5 Stars for this latest by John Hart. Intense story from beginning to end. Hooked from page one. I finished it in one day - could not put it down. Definitely recommend!

Thank you #netgalley and #St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I love John Hart. All of his books are compelling. The interpersonal relationships among the family members are so compelling. After losing the oldest brother in Vietnam, the family is barely keeping it together. The middle son had become the object of interest while he was in prison of a notorious serial killer. The story is a roller coaster!

Robert French went to Vietnam and came home in a body bag. His twin brother, Jason, enlisted and did three tours and ended up with a dishonorable discharge and a morphine habit that landed him in prison for two years when he returned stateside. Jason is out now and wants a relationship with his little brother, Gibson. But his mother did not really survive the death of her favorite son and she is adamant that Jason must stay away from Gibby. Their father is a police detective and is trying hard to balance his unstable wife and his vulnerable son. Then Jason is arrested for the torture murder of a young woman he had been sleeping with and Gibby is also implicated. In Landesworth Prison, a billionaire is awaiting execution for the murder of 69 people, but he has long tentacles and they are wrapped around Jason, who ends up back in prison. This is a very slow-building story that explodes when Jason returns to prison. An intricate study of the psychology of war and its aftermath. Recommended.

First of all a big shout out to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of the book. Now let me tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I loved every word and moment of it!
Set in the mid 1970's it is the story of Gibby whose two older brothers were in the Vietnam war. One of them gave his life in the war and the other Jason, returned home carrying the physical and emotional scars of that brutal war. In an attempt to connect with Gibby, Jason invites him along with a couple of older women for a day at the lake to swim, take in the sunshine and drink whiskey. The day takes an ominous turn that later results in a kidnapping and a murder and Jason emerges as the prime suspect. I am reluctant to tell you more because I want to avoid spoilers but suffice it to say that there are many more layers to this book.
Gibby struggles to find out the truth and once again master story teller John Hart delivers the story in his inimitable style merging literature and mystery writing. The characters are so well written that you empathize with their feelings and you understand the emotions of resentment, desperation, fidelity, hope, trust, friendship and love that each character has.
The storyline is strong and doesn't wane at any point and the suspense and anticipation kept me turning the pages. All of this is achieved with a masterful use of the English language. This book has such depth that it will stay with you long after the book ends. It is not simply a great mystery book it is great literature. It reinforces once again, why John Hart is one of my favorite authors. If you are looking for a great book to read then be sure to add The Unwilling to your list.

John Hart is a writer who consistently delivers gut-wrenching stories that immerse the reader so completely that you feel like you're living in the book. Set during the Vietnam war, Jason has finished three tours of duty plus a stint in jail and wants to reconnect with his younger brother Gibby. A day that was supposed to be a fun frolic with some girls ends up setting off a spiral of events including murder and abduction. The characters in all their achingly real nuance and backstory clash together to make an unputdownable book. Superb.

I have been John Hart fan several years now and was so excited to receive an advanced reading copy of his new book. I was not disappointed! Set towards the end of the Vietnam War, in the South, we have a detective and his family. One son has passed, another is in prison again, and the third is working hard to piece everything together. In his quest for the truth, Gibby, the youngest son, runs into some unsavory situations which end up putting him in the middle of messes left and right. We also have a backstory with the brother in prison and his time in Vietnam, which is also tied to a mysterious man, 'X' who is on death row. Put it all together, and you have a wonderfully suspenseful literary tale that will surely be a summer blockbuster! Highly recommend!

Wow. Very well written and absorbing, this is his best work to date. And all the others are great too. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is my first book by John Hart and it is a winner!! What I loved about this book was that it was a combination of so many things. It was a thriller, a family drama and a coming of age novel. The story was about the horrors of war and what it can do to a young man. It was also a story of a family fractured by the loss of one son to the war and another who came back from Vietnam psychologically damaged and drug addicted. Their youngest son, Gibby is all they feel they have left and they will do anything to protect him.

The novel is set during the time of the Vietnam war, when young men were being drafted into the Army unless they had a deferment. The family of Detective French has been through a lot. Their oldest son, Robert, was killed in the war previously. The second son, Jason served three years in the war and then a prison sentence. He has been released and their youngest son, Gibby spots him at the local quarry where many high school seniors are enjoying a “senior skip day”, swimming, drinking and socializing. Jason wants to connect with his younger brother and offers a day of adventure and getting to know each other. When Gibby decides to go along with his brother the plot begins it’s twist into some very dark secrets and will include kidnapping, torture and murder.

A young woman is found dead, having been tortured first by someone who must be a very twisted psychopath. With no real leads to the killer the police turn to Jason, who is known to have had a violent history. Gibby will continue to try to prove Jason’s innocence but that path will lead to incredible danger for himself and his best friend Chance.

The story is told from Gibby’s point of view. While all of the drama is playing out with his brother he is discovering his first love, Becky. When they meet there is an immediate chemistry and Becky is there for Gibby when they begin to try to find Jason when he disappears. Their investigation will lead to meeting some very dangerous people, drug dealers, motorcycle gangs and others who will do anything to keep Gibby from discovering some incredible secrets.

I will not describe any more of the plot but will leave you to discover the story for yourself. This book had me from the first page to the last with an incredibly intense ending.

The characters are well defined and I could visualize them and the bonds between the brothers and friends. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a well plotted, intense mystery/drama.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Unwilling is set to publish on June 23, 2020

I will post to amazon upon publication

Gibby French has a lot on his mind, he just turned 18 and needs to register for the draft and potentially follow his brothers to Vietnam. His brother Robert never made it back and his brother Jason came back different caught up in drugs and went to prison. Jason is out and trying to reconnect with his little brother despite their parents’ concerns. Their father, detective French, finds himself in a tough place between being a father or a cop when it looks like Jason is back in trouble. Can Gibby stay out of it? This was a thrilling historical fiction full of heroes and horrific villains. Once I got stared it was hard to put this book down. The characters were well developed and the story was captivating.

I have read and loved all of John Hart's books
saw new book was coming, I was excited. I have told library to order and I am spreading word.

There was war and then there was WAR, which is what Jason fought
He is released from prison, only to have trouble follow him out

Situations/people not always as they look

Deeper in this book -
I read in 1 sitting 1 day.

Promises kept. Honor among thieves. A true psychopath, or two. A dysfunctional family. A dishonorable veteran. A cop gone rogue. Prisoners and two youth. This is the backbone of The Unwillingly, a taut tale that will keep you on the edge and make you hold tight to your family. Filled with chilling, disturbing, unfathomable events in the lives of what should be ordinary people, this book will grab hold of you and not let go. John Hart’s twisted story will satisfy any need you may have to venture into the world of stone cold torture and killing for the sake of killing. This is not an easy read, but if you are into this genre, it will leave you more than satisfied. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

John Hart is one of the best storytellers of today. His writing is brilliant! I'm a fan of all of his work, so it wasn't hard to impress me with this book. In The Unwilling, John tells a dark story about the bonds of brotherhood. If you like John Grisham or Greg Iles, you'll want to read this book. This is also a good book for anyone who hasn't read John Hart yet.

A family shredded by the Vietnam war. A father and mother left grieving the loss of their eldest son, unable to forgive their second son, and vowing to protect their youngest son. Three brothers - the good one, the bad one, and the dead one. Robert, whose brothers idolized him, died serving in Vietnam, Jason, following in the steps of his brother, served three tours and returned home a broken, angry, drug addicted shell of a man, and Gibby, a high school senior on the cusp of manhood, struggling to live up to his parents high expectations while stretching his boundaries and discovering first love. Jason has served his time - both in the war and prison - and now wants to recover the bond with his younger brother Gibby against the wishes of his parents who fear Jason will lead Gibby down the wrong road. The French family is irrevocably broken - split apart by an unpopular war, devastating loss, and paralyzing fear and guilt. And when Gibby goes against their wishes and sneaks away for a day with Jason and two women, events are put into play that will raze their lives once again. Murder, accusations, a day of reckoning. But who will pay?

This is my first book by John Hart. It will not be the last. What I discovered is a clean, sharp, precise author who doesn't waste words and yet delivers emotionally charged characters and vivid scenes that stimulate all five senses while fully engaging mind, heart, and soul. Plot lines are intricately woven and challenging, unfolding at a brisk pace and ominous tone. I was quickly drawn into this dark tale of love and hate and anguish and hopelessness. The Unwilling is a raw, gritty crime thriller - a story of a family ravaged by war, reckless words, blame, guilt, and fear. It's a story of redemption, proving oneself, and coming of age. It's about hearts forever scarred. The Unwilling is a taunt, tense masterpiece - one I won't soon forget. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Book Review: The Unwilling by John Hart
(Published by St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, February 2, 2021)

5.0 Stars! Plus a new favorite author alert!

Deep South, USA. Ex-Marine Jason French's homecoming is uneventful - and unwelcomed. Back from Vietnam, he'd been dishonorably discharged under mysterious circumstances. (Twenty-nine confirmed kills in his first year.) That's how much he gave to his country. And now, here he is, out of a two-year lock up for violence and drugs. Unwanted at home, he lives in a desolate, dingy room - rented by a motorcycle gang.

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William and Gabrielle French have the perfect life for an improbable couple. College dropout turned cop marries Vanderbilt grad.

"...Gabrielle was out of his league on the day they'd met..."

Three sons and thirty years later, she was still a gift - his whole life. Along with the boys - the twins Robert and Jason, and the baby, Gibson, now eighteen.

Then comes the family's Aeschylus moment, that tragic life changing event - when Robert gets killed in Vietnam. Jason follows his twin brother's footsteps to Nam and subsequently suffers his own misfortunes. The parents are determined to shelter their youngest.

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But Gibby isn't about to be denied the companionship of his only surviving elder brother. And the feeling is mutual. They arrange for a joy ride in Gibby's Mustang with two women, braless and tanned. On the road, they come across a bus with chicken-wired windows, a prison bus, from Lanesworth, Jason's old haunts. XRQ-741. Someone takes the tag number of Gibby's car.

After the road trip, Tara, one of the women, gets slaughtered. And the entire world of the French family meets the personification of evil itself, hell in its darkest recesses.

But, the Unwilling, undaunted, empowers himself, discovers the world he's been sheltered from and the guts he'd thought only his two elder brothers possessed, finds redemption for his parents, for his brother, for himself - and comes of age.

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John Hart's written several books, some translated to Japanese. Definitely an author to anticipate and for further reading.

An enthralling read. Recommended!

Review based on an ARC from St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.

This book is an experience! I "saw" everything through the eyes of Gibby, the youngest brother in a family so deeply affected by the Vietnam War that there is nothing left to call family. His brothers left for war with all of the illusions of the young. One died there. The other came back emotionally scarred so badly that he scares his own mother. As history has shown, this is not unusual for families touched by military conflicts. With John Hart's excellent writing skills, this is a deeply moving, exclamation shouting, journey through some very dark events in the French family's lives.

Brothers, bonded by birth, torn apart by circumstance. When you are 18, not quite a man, definitely not a child no matter what his mother says, how do you interact with a brother you no longer know? How much HAS he changed? Gibby decides to trust his brother Jason so leaves a party with his friends to go on a road trip with him. Jason gained a reputation for violence, and a prison record, as part of his Vietnam experience. On this day, in a town where he has always felt safe, Gibby will be drawn into a murder investigation that places his friends and him in danger. This day's events will forever change the way he looks at the world around him.

The French family has been torn apart by War. One son (Robert) went to Vietnam and lost his life. Another son (Jason) enlisted and had his life destroyed. He came home a decorated killer, an addict and at odds with his family. Gibby is the youngest son, dubbed the good one, the one his Mother wants to protect. But all Gibby wants is to get to know the only brother he has left. Together Jason and Gibby make plans but we all know that best-laid plans can go awry.

When a young woman is murdered, Jason is arrested and Gibby is one of the few who believe in his brother's innocence. Determined to conduct his own investigation and clear his brother, Gibby soon learns that he is in over his head and danger is out there watching, lurking, planning....

Family, love, loss, grief, anger, anguish, pain, violence, addiction, friendship. loyalty - you name it, it's all here written in John Hart's beautiful writing. He proves time and time again that he is a master storyteller. The book started a little slow but once all the characters were introduced, I was hooked and unwilling to stop reading. Hart has woven a tale with many layers that focuses on the elements that I named above. This is crime fiction, which is also part coming of age, part family drama, part tale of redemption, part murder mystery, and part romance. This book was thought-provoking, emotionally stirring and riveting. This book had tension, suspense, and raw emotion. This book is gritty and raw with heartbreakingly tender scenes as well. There is a depth of emotion lying within the family and the individual members. He lays bare their pain and heartache. He also knows how to create characters readers want to root for, even if they have done bad things. He creates multidimensional characters and realistically describes their conflicted feelings, their thoughts and their love for each other.

I highly recommend this book (and his other books as well).

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thriller that goes much deeper - an exploration family history and the human consequences of war. Blew me away.

The Unwilling surprised me in that it is not only a really good thriller, but also a riveting piece of fiction analyzing the consequences of the Vietnam War. I usually reach for thrillers for the mere pleasure of a suspenseful read, but I loved that this book managed to surprise me with such food for thought in its underlying issues.

The novel begins by a very accurate quote from an Unknown Soldier: "We the Unwilling, led by the Unqualified to kill the Unfortunate, die for the Ungrateful." It sums up what happens in this book and poignantly sets the bone chilling mood which prevails.

In short, my most accurate description is that this novel is a thriller, a family drama and a coming of age novel about a young man's participation of war and the consequences of it. Truly brilliant and one of a kind.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

When one older brother is the ghost whose death haunts your family and the other brother is a deadly legend whose release from prison conjures all the ways in which war has destroyed your family, how do you find yourself? What is your identity? Are you forever compared to the dead and the changed or can your separate yourself from the grief and the tragedy long enough to discover who you are?
Gibson is the youngest of the three French brothers. The older two were both lost to Vietnam, one in death and one in rumors and drug addiction, but when Jason French returns to Charlotte after his release from prison, his actions set into motion a roller coaster of violence, death and discovery that will change everything Gibson thought he knew about his brother, his family, his best friend, and himself.
I could not put this book down. It was a really different read for me, fresh and engaging and addictive. I had to keep those pages turning until I reached the ending and the resolution. So tense and suspenseful that at times I felt like I needed a break, but I just couldn’t tear myself away. The plot moved quickly and there was an urgency to every twist and turn and new development. Each point of view, no matter how large or small, built the momentum, surging forth like a tsunami just waiting for a shore to crash upon.
I really enjoyed the characters from young Gibby, who changes so much throughout the story, to sweet Chance, who is so loyal and so afraid, to Detective French, who as a police officer caught between family and duty, must choose between his two remaining sons knowing every decision could spell doom for one of them.
Without giving anything away, I will just say that this book is graphic and gripping and emotional and a truly engaging read. I will certainly be reading more by John Hart and cannot recommend this one enough.

I am a long time John Hart fan and his new book will continue to add to his legacy as a fantastic writer in his genre. The Unwilling is a thriller but it is so much more. It's about love and family, brothers and friendship, war and grief.

The Unwilling takes place in North Carolina during the Vietnam war and centers around the French family. The father is a police detective who is trying to keep his family together, the mother lives her days in grief as she over-protects her third son. The three sons are Roberts who was killed in Vietnam, Jason who was dishonorably discharged after three tours in Vietnam has just gotten out of prison, and Gibby, a high school senior who desperately misses his brothers. When Jason returns from prison, he wants to re-connect with his younger brother. He doesn't want to see his parents because his mother made no secret of the fact that she wished he had died instead of her favorite son, Robert. When Jason and Gibby spend a day together, Jason brings along two females. One of them, does something stupid in a drunken moment and it changes everything. When she is found murdered a few days later, Jason is the major suspect and Gibby is also suspected when the second woman becomes missing. Gibby is determined to prove that his brother is innocent so he goes into the underground of drugs and violence to try to meet people who can give him information on his brother. What he finds out helps him better understand his brother but it also puts his life in great danger from the person who wants to put his brother back in jail.

This novel is a real page turner and doesn't get resolved until almost the end. The characters are well written and strong as they each try to help out other family members. It's a dark and gritty book that will take the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions and full of characters that won't soon be forgotten. I predict that this book will be a MUST READ book for 2021.

Raw and perfectly written, this is a story of family, courage, choices and life in a time when the country was in turmoil. A story of crime, corruption and cover ups. It’s the story of sacrifice, love, hope and a generation fearing a draft. Tough, yet tender, Hart is at his best with a story that will stick with you long after the last word is read.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for this raw, powerful, and exquisitely written thriller. This is my 7th book by award-winning novelist John Hart who has been one of my favourite authors. I have listened to the audio version but prefer reading on my Kindle. He creates multi-dimensional, often flawed characters, and places them in dire circumstances. He portrays his characters in a manner that gives penetrating glimpses into their minds, hearts, and souls. The reader is kept in suspense and thoroughly engaged in watching them grow in character and hoping they show some heroism and finally redemption. The villains are brutal, deranged, but fascinating. Warning! This leads to some graphic scenes of murder and mayhem. I was on the edge of my seat awaiting their fate. This is certain to be at the top of my favourite books for 2020.

"WE THE UNWILLING, LED BY THE UNQUALIFIED TO KILL THE UNFORTUNATE, DIE FOR THE UNGRATEFUL." -UNKNOWN SOLDIER

The multi-layered story takes place in the South during the turmoil of the Viet Nam War. It is a mystery, an intense thriller, a study of fractured family dynamics, a coming of age story, the horrors of war and its aftermath, and a disturbing look at prison life. John Hart is a masterful storyteller.

Detective French and his wife had three sons. The twins, Robert and Jason, were the oldest and Gibby was younger. Robert died in Viet Nam. He had been his mother's favourite, and Jason overheard his shattered mother saying she wished it had been Jason who was killed instead of Robert. Jason immediately enlisted and spent three years on active duty in Viet Nam where he was honoured for heroism and was a decorated soldier- until he wasn't. He was sent home with a dishonourable discharge. Hardened and bitter, he became involved with heroin and gun-running bikers. He was incarcerated for almost three years in the notorious Lanseworth Prison for hardened criminals.

Gibby has finished High School and will soon be attending University. After Robert's death, he was overprotected by his mother and missed some life experiences. He was not permitted to date girls or participate in sports. His policeman father became distant and morose. Jason, newly released from prison and living with criminals wants a connection with his younger brother, Gibby. Jason coaxes his young brother to spend a day with him unknown to his parents. It will be a day at the lake with whiskey and a pleasant sunny drive. Jason picks up two older women he knows and brings them along. Tyra becomes very drunk, wild and provocative. They encounter a prison transfer bus. Tyra becomes loud and sexually taunts the prisoners. Her actions cause a riot on the bus. Sara, her roommate is quieter and a follower and more subdued. Gibby takes a liking to Sara. Not long afterwards, Tyra is savagely murdered and mutilated. Jason is suspected of the murder and sent back to prison.

His mother is certain her son is guilty, and the father has only a few doubts. Gibby is determined to prove Jason's innocence, helped by his best friend Chance and his new sweetheart from High School. Their actions are unknown to Gibby's family and to the police force. This leads them into the dangerous world of biker gangs, drug dealers, and gun runners. There is even a greater menace from murderous psychopaths with connections inside the prison. They are under the control and payment of a diabolical, crafty billionaire who is in prison awaiting execution. This man has power over other prisoners and staff and has deadly connections on the outside. Now Sara has gone missing, and Gibby is suspected of abducting and killing her. He and Chance must avoid not only the criminals but also the police.

The action and dread escalate to a pulse-pounding conclusion. Detective French and also Gibby discover what happened to Jason in Viet Nam. What they learn is highly disturbing and based on a real-life, historic military coverup. We learn what happened to Tyra and Sara and why, and the fate of Jason in prison. A closing scene takes place outside the prison where a crowd has gathered to cheer or protest the execution of the evil billionaire inmate on the day he is to die in the gas chamber.
There is much excitement and twists in store for the readers.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a grim, dark story with well-developed, flawed characters. Contains violence.

Back in 2006, I was working at Quail Ridge Books, an amazing indie bookstore in Raleigh, NC. I was asked to read an ARC in order to give an introduction for an author who was coming to speak at our store. That book was King of Lies by John Hart, and I was so impressed by that novel and couldn’t believe it was his first. Since then, I’ve read every book John Hart has written, and I can honestly say that he gets better with every book. The Unwilling is filled with unforgettable characters, and the tension doesn’t let up until the very last word, I listened to this one on audio, and I blew through it in just two days because I had to know what happened. The narrator is fantastic, though my only critique is the way he mispronounced Gabrielle’s name for the first few chapters, but he pronounces it correctly after that. Don’t skip the afterword by the author, because I found it so interesting to learn where the idea for this book originated. I highly recommend The Unwilling.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book I have read by this author and I have to think, he just keeps on getting better and better. This is another one of those stories that when I completed the last page, I thought I am ever so happy I had the opportunity to read this tale. The winds of war blew heavily through this family, taking away harshly much of what they held dear, and left them swept with anguish, loss and the desire to return to normalcy knowing that they never could.

It's always hard to read about war, but sometimes reading about its aftermath is even harder. The people left behind, the families devastated, and the lives that have been damaged and changed can never be forgotten or even understood by those not touched by the conflict. War's aftermath produces hardship, loss, and pain in all touched by its malevolent hand. It's a walk through hell for many and in this new book of John Hart's, The Unwilling, we learn of the tragedy experienced by the French family.

A son, Robert, has been killed in Vietnam. Another son, Jason, a three time tour of duty soldier, has been ravaged by the war. He returns a drug addict, a man haunted by many ghosts, a son given up on by his mother, a brother who is beloved by his young brother Gibby.

There is a father, devastated by the loss of his eldest son, compelled to alienate his next son because of his job in law enforcement, and endeavoring to keep his youngest son away from his brother.

Then there is Gibby, the youngest son, so desirous of a connection to his brother, willing to do whatever to establish a link, to find a brother that he doesn't want to be lost to him.

Then one stupid event changes everything and starts in motion a dangerous and deadly journey that will end tragically for some, reveal secrets from others, and take the reader on a exploration of family, of ties that bind, of courage and the will to survive.

This gritty pragmatic book will sink its tentacles into you as you descend deeper into the harsh reality that faced this family and so many others who returned from war, broken, in need, and facing a world that seemed to banish them. Mr Hart has probed deeply into family, its role, its place in the life of children who are left unknowing and bereft in the face of loss. Perhaps this book is a difficult one to read, to assimilate in times such as this, but it is a testament to the ties that bind, the roles we play and the relationships we build with parents and our siblings. Truly this is a book worth reading.

Thank you to John Hart for such a powerful message, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this fabulous book.

This was a very good book, I had a hard time putting it down. This is almost like a coming of age story but there is a dark side to it. The book is set in the 1960’s, Jason French is fresh out of prison and wants to visit with his brother. Jason had done a few tours in Vietnam and had been dishonorably discharge from the Marines, sent back home where he got involved in drugs, was caught and sent to prison. He’s out and looking to catch up with his brother and back to living. Part of that living involves hooking up with his brother and two female friends. During the drive, they end up behind a prison transport bus, ironically the same prison that Jason had been released from though none of the others are aware of that. One of the young ladies is drunk and talks Jason into pulling up beside the bus where she takes off her top and flashes the inmates inside. That fairly innocent action has a very big ripple, that drives the rest of the book. Jason’s brother, Gibson (Gibby), and his father a homicide detective, get caught up in the clutches of some very bad people. How they deal with the adversity is captivating. I highly recommend, thanks to Netgallley and the publisher for the ARC.

Set in the South at the height of the Vietnam War, The Unwilling combines crime, suspense and searing glimpses into the human mind and soul in New York Times bestselling author John Hart's singular style.

Gibby's older brothers have already been to war. One died there. The other came back misunderstood and hard, a decorated killer now freshly released from a three-year stint in prison.

Jason won't speak of the war or of his time behind bars, but he wants a relationship with the younger brother he hasn't known for years. Determined to make that connection, he coaxes Gibby into a day at the lake: long hours of sunshine and whisky and older women.

But the day turns ugly when the four encounter a prison transfer bus on a stretch of empty road. Beautiful but drunk, one of the women taunts the prisoners, leading to a riot on the bus. The woman finds it funny in the moment, but is savagely murdered soon after.

Given his violent history, suspicion turns first to Jason; but when the second woman is kidnapped, the police suspect Gibby, too. Determined to prove Jason innocent, Gibby must avoid the cops and dive deep into his brother's hidden life, a dark world of heroin, guns and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

What he discovers there is a truth more disturbing than he could have imagined: not just the identity of the killer and the reasons for Tyra's murder, but the forces that shaped his brother in Vietnam, the reason he was framed, and why the most dangerous man alive wants him back in prison.

This is crime fiction at its most raw, an exploration of family and the past, of prison and war and the indelible marks they leave. John Hart's novels always leave the reader feeling raw and exposed, and The Unwilling does just that. Highly recommended.

The “Unwilling” is an excellent book, and so well written. I could not put it down. It is a haunting, thrilling mystery wrapped around a family- a detective/husband / father, a mother/wife and their three sons. The story is set during the height of the Vietnam war and the affect of the war on this family. 2 sons fought in the war, the third and youngest son “ Gibby” is about to graduate from high school and desperate to honour his brothers as he strives to become a man. The horrifying murder mystery that unfolds is completely captivating.

This is a Vietnam era story that is centered around a family with three sons. The two oldest boys are twins. Both were deployed to Vietnam. One came home in a coffin and the other came home alive, but extremely damaged. The surviving second twin is named Jason. He has been involved with drugs and is in prison. The father is a detective on the local police force and the mother is very fragile and quite obsessed with keeping the two brothers apart.
The youngest son, Gibby, is now ready to graduate from high school. His parents have been very strict and have kept him sheltered and isolated. They feel they “lost” their two older sons and are trying to save the youngest. When Jason is released from prison, his parents are determined to keep them apart.
What happens next is what kept me riveted to this book. Jason wishes to reconnect with Gibby but he also knows his parents want nothing to do with him. Jason brings havoc, fear and an unfortunate introduction into the darker side of life to the entire family. There is violence and murder that might be disturbing for some. This is my first book by this author, John Hart. I plan to read more. I enjoyed his writing and this book gets 5 stars from me.

Yes, I'm a big John Hart fan and have read all his books. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one and it didn't disappoint! This one was set during the time of the Vietnam War and focuses on a family - the father a police detective, a mother, and three sons. The oldest son, Robert, was killed in Vietnam. After he was killed, Jason, the second son enlisted. Then there's Gibby, the youngest son, who is still in high school. Jason, came back from Vietnam dishonorably discharged, was a heroin addict, had served prison time, and was estranged from his family. The family, after feeling they had lost not one, but two sons, would do anything to hold on to and protect Gibby.

When Jason comes back to town after serving his prison sentence, Gibby spots him at the local quarry during senior "skip" day. They arrange a day to spend together. That day Jason has two girls with him when he meets up with Gibby and they have an adventurous day.

Later, a woman is found murdered. She had been horrendously tortured. The police start digging and begin to look at Jason due to his prison history and the stories of the many he had killed in Vietnam. Gibby wants to prove Jason is innocent. Their Dad doesn't know what to think, but it doesn't look good for Jason.

This book is a thriller - and yes, some of it is really gory! But it is also a coming of age story. It is told from Gibby's viewpoint and he does a lot of growing up really fast. And, it's a family drams as well. There's a lot wrapped up in this book and I was riveted to the story for the entire read.

Kudos John Hart for another great novel! Can't wait to see what he writes next!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book!

Gibby (Gibson) French is the last son. One of his older brothers, Robert, was killed in Vietnam and his other brother, Jason, who enlisted after his brother's death came back after nearly 3 tours with a dishonorable discharge and a heroin addiction and lands in prison. Jason is released from prison but his mother just wants him to stay away from her "only" son of who she is now highly protective. His father, a Charlotte homicide detective, is pulled in all directions by his family and unsure where his loyalties lay. Gibby just wants to know his brother.

Gibby sneaks away from his mom for a day of driving, drinking, and girls with Jason in an attempt to know him. Not long after the girl that Jason was with shows up brutally murdered. Jason is the prime suspect but Gibby refuses to accept that. Soon though Gibby, in his attempts to clear his brothers' name, is also being looked at hard by the police as a suspect. And behind it all are much more evil forces at work.

John Hart is not the most prolific author, often times I'm waiting years for his next book, but when they do arrive it has been worth the wait. There are so many layers to this story, and his characters, and it seems like there's no end to their depth. This one is a deep, dark, thriller with a lot of raw emotion that will keep you reading late into the night.

Look for this one on February 2, 2021!!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #TheUnwilling.

There’s only one bad thing about reading this book- I stayed up until 3:45 am in order to finish it. The next day was a wash, me grumpy from lack of sleep and no more John Hart chapters. It’s that good.
I loved John Hart’s book “The Last Child” so was very grateful to get the opportunity to review his new novel, “The Unwilling”. I can’t soak up enough books about the 1970s, the ravages of the Vietnam War on America’s youth and families, and the soldiers who came home in bits and pieces, both literally and figuratively. It was a sad and gut-wrenching era and John Hart has his finger firmly on the pulse with this story.
The French family has lost their two older sons to the war. One came back in a body bag, the other came back in shame and strung out on heroin, only to end up in jail. Their baby boy Gibby is about to turn 18, the age to enlist, be drafted, or run off to Canada.
Gibby’s life is going well; his best friend Chance is a solid guy, the crush of his high school days has finally noticed him, and his parents seem to be letting him step out of the bubble they’ve kept him in since losing their other sons. Without warning his middle brother Jason shows up. Gibby knows it will break his mom’s heart to be with Jason, but he throws caution to the wind and thoroughly enjoys the attention of his big brother after so many years of being lonely and bored. But Jason is a bad boy, and trouble follows him. In a whirlwind of unpredictable events, Jason is a suspect of murder and dealing in illegal arms. He’s immediately sent back to his old prison while Gibby, reeling from the events, refuses to follow his parents’ example and turn his back on his brother.
Working with blind faith, Gibby throws himself into the underbelly of humanity to discover who is truly suspect. Refusing to trust his parents, ashamed of their lack of love and trust, Gibby finds himself in over his head and severely beaten within an inch of his life.
Don’t let me mislead you; this book isn’t all about killing, fighting, and survival. As these events unfold, the characters develop into people you are truly hoping for; even when it looks like all hope is lost. These are good and honest beings trying to survive in a cesspool, not of their own making. Face value means nothing. Here is where John Hart’s amazing talent lies. His characters are painfully human but in a set of circumstances that allows you to have compassion for them, even though all common sense tells you not to. The emotions, the shock of events, the web of deceit builds to a point where it takes too long to even turn the page. Again, I’ll say it: this book is that good.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The release date is February 2, 2021.

Oh my gosh, I so enjoyed this gritty historical thriller. Once I started reading, had to tear myself away when life called. I wanted to bury myself in Hart's lyrical writing and unusual story. This is not your typical Vietnam era novel. It's beautiful and gritty historical fiction combined with mystery and suspense and completely unique characters, who are living through some very difficult times.

This story is character and dialogue driven, which is a wonderful thing. With so much detail given about each character you will know them intimately and the dialogue (internal and otherwise) is so quick moving that the 345 pages flow swiftly along. So swift that I was able to read it in a couple of sittings. The emotions and tension of each character are intense and resonate loudly. I hope the ending means there will be a book two as I would love to see what happens to the French clan in the future. I admit that this book won't be for everyone but for me it was a five star read...my favourite kind. This will be in my top five for 2020...Highly recommended.

Great book!! So much going on, drugs, money, guns, sex, love, hate and messed up family dynamics woven throughout. For me this was a non stop read. An author I’ll read again. #NetGalley. #TheUnwilling

I had this book on my request list for quite a while and was so pleased when the approval came thru, thank you St. Martin’s. Great book – lots of action, family issues, coming of age for a high schooler, quite a bit of graphic violence but it is well done and not overwhelming, and the best is that it has one truly creepy prison guy named X.
Some books just click with you and this one did for me. This is not my first John Hart book and it won’t be my last. He spins a good yarn with really good writing. I highly recommend if you enjoy an action-packed thriller.
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my honest unbiased review. This one comes in with high 5 stars.

Thank you, thank you John Hart and NetGalley for this ebook copy for my enjoyment. John Hart is the best, one of my favorite authors. Great story, great winter, Sunday read.

WOW WOW WOW! Not my typical read but WOW! VERY VERY VERY gruesome and gory but WOW!

John Hart is a dynamic writer and The Unwilling is a brilliantly written book. I was totally lost and absorbed in this story from the first page until the last word.

Vietnam, prison......can a person withstand 3 years in Vietnam, 2.5 years in prison and heroin addiction and still come out sane? Can a mother and father who have three sons old enough to be sent to war, survive all their children being lost to war in one way or another? I am emotionally drained from riding this roller coaster. The love between brothers deeply touched my soul.

The Unwilling is the second book I have read by John Hart and I absolutely loved both. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. For those who follow me please note that this book is very, very gory and gruesome with details that could give you nightmares but oh so worth the read!

On the rare occasion, I will finish a book and wish so very much I could start over and read it again for the very first time. This is one of those books. I loved it so much and will recommend it to everyone I know. John Hart has done it again with a brilliantly written story with wonderfully complex and well developed characters. I hung onto every word and wished it didn't have to end. Thank you John Hart, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I LOVED this book. I was expecting a book about Vietnam and reactions to the war. I wasn't expecting the terrific, compelling mystery it turned out to be. I really liked the two brothers. X, the evil guy, was terrifically developed.
I have others to read by John Hart...I may to go to them.

It's Gibson French, or Gibbie as he's known to friends, senior year. He isn't sure what he wants to do with his life after that. Should he go to college as his parents want? The war in Vietnam is raging and he feels a pull to enlist and go there as his two older brothers did. But Robert, his oldest brother, was killed there and Jason, the middle brother, came back but as a broken shell of what he had been. Does the war deserve another French brother?
Then rumors start to float around that Jason has come back home after his dishonorable discharge and his time in prison. It's said he runs with the motorcycle gangs now, that he deals drugs and guns and that he doesn't care for anyone. So Gibbie doesn't know what to do when Jason seeks him out and seems to want to get to know him now that he has grown up. He goes on an outing with Jason and two girls and finds a man very different from the rumors.

But more trouble arrives. The girl dating Jason is found horribly murdered. Jason is arrested and sent back to the penitentiary where he is at the mercy of a psychopath who runs the place. When the other girl is kidnapped, the police assume that Gibbie is at the heart of that crime and now they are looking for him as well. But Gibbie has also been kidnapped, a pawn in the power play between the man who runs the prison, Jason and the police. Can he be saved?

John Hart has written a compelling view of a family torn apart by the times. The French brothers grew up with a policeman as a father and his black and white view of the world makes it difficult for him to accept his sons as they grow up and have their own ideas. He is quick to judge and although he loves his sons, he acts first and finds out the facts afterwards. The novel touches on the national nightmare that the Vietnam war was for so many families. It highlights the difficulties in growing up and separating from the child one was and it emphasizes family love above all. The tension is high and is ratcheted higher with every plot twist. This book is recommended for thriller readers.

This one was worth the wait! John Hart’s new historical mystery, The Unwilling, is simply magnificent. My thanks go to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the galleys; this book will be available to the public February 2, 2021. Those that love excellent fiction should get it and read it.

The French family is troubled. The father is a cop in their small hometown in North Carolina; the mother, Gabrielle, has some sort of emotional disability. Bipolar? Anxiety disorder? Who can say. All we know is that her nerves are shot, and she loses it quickly and easily. The couple have three sons; the first two are twins, but Robert, the golden one, is dead, killed in Vietnam. Jason went to ‘nam too, and rumors say that he killed 29 people there in his first year. He is rumored to be bad news and has already done a stretch in prison. That leaves the youngest, Gibson, known as Gibby. Both parents are possessive of him. As adolescence sets in, it begins to chafe, the way he is overprotected, and now that he’s a high school senior, he’d like a little more room.

And then Jason is released, and he comes home. He isn’t welcome at the family manse, so he stays elsewhere, but he wants to spend some time with Gibby before he blows town.

The title is a chewy one. Initially, I associate it with the daredevil stunt that some high school seniors—mostly boys—consider a rite of passage. It involves jumping into the quarry from a very high bluff; make the jump wrong, and you’ll be dead when you land. Gibby doesn’t jump. Jason does.

The basic framework of the story has to do with crimes Jason has done time for, and others that are committed while he’s in town. A girl he’s spent time with is viciously tortured and murdered, and many in the community make assumptions. But in reality—and we know this early on—he is being framed by a man known as “X” in prison. Truth be told, X is actually the weakest element of the story, and he’s mostly superfluous, but since this is supposed to be a thriller, the thread involving him adds suspense, particularly at the end. The climax is something else again.

But the most interesting aspect of the narrative has to do with the family, and by extension, one could say, all families. Over the course of time, a family’s story is told, and eventually labels develop. The small town setting in a pre-internet era makes this especially true, since most people’s interactions are limited to those that live in the same vicinity. And so, Robert French is the tragic hero, cut down in his prime while fighting for his country; Gibby is the baby of the family, a good kid, a good student; and then there’s Jason. Not long after the murder, Detective French speaks with the medical examiner about Tyra’s murder, and he asks the ME what would make someone do this; not just murder, but torture and mutilate. And the ME tells him that although it’s not the accepted clinical expression, “People like that are born wrong.” And though French is reluctant to say such a thing about his own son, he wonders if he should accept this as true. His wife, mother of all three sons, tells him, “Gibby is all that matters.”

But as the story progresses, we see that there’s more to this story; a lot more. Jason has simply given up trying to defend himself. Refusing to do so is why he spent time in prison. When the world gives up on you, why try? To be sure, he’s no innocent, sad-eyed puppy. He’s seen things, and he’s done things. But people are complicated, and when we try to drop them into neatly labeled boxes, we shut ourselves off from learning details that don’t fit the picture we’ve painted.

For me, this story was less about solving a crime, and more about the characters. I was thrilled that the main story wasn’t about Robert. I’ve read too many novels lately that focus on the dead sibling, and it’s becoming trite. But Hart is a seasoned author, and he doesn’t drop into that well-worn channel. Instead, we see why various well-crafted, complex characters think and act as they do. Reading it, I find myself thinking about my sisters, and the small ways in which we developed labels as children and young adults; happily, none of us was labeled the bad seed, but if we’d been boys…? And I think also of my own children. For a brief, terrible time, I saw my eldest as that person, the one dragging his sister into trouble. Later, much later, I learned it was actually the opposite, but he figured it was better if one of them was still in good standing, and so he took blame that wasn’t entirely his. It’s not a great feeling, but at the same time, my own experience made this story more interesting, and I’m willing to bet there are a great many other readers that will read this book and think about their own families as well.

There are appealing side characters here, and the most compelling is Gibby’s best friend, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who wants to make good.

So who is the unwilling one? Is it Gibby, for not jumping off the bluff? Is it Gabrielle, for not entertaining the possibility that her son, Jason, deserves more than she is willing to give him? Is it Detective French, for not being willing to completely give up on him? You can take this title in a lot of different directions.

Hart’s literary prowess shines here. It’s not always an easy read; during the more violent patches, I took it in small bites. I received both the print and audio galleys, and I moved back and forth between them, leaning more toward the audio, whose reader, Kevin Stillwell, does an outstanding job; but at times I forgot something, or wanted to check a detail or highlight a quote, and then I dove into my digital review copy. You can go either way without fear of disappointment.

Highly recommended.

The Unwilling by John Hart is a must read. it’s everything you would want in a novel and more. This dynamic story takes place during the Vietnam War era, focusing on a family that’s been torn apart because of it. There are enough twists and turns, and emotional ups and downs to keep you reading until you reach to the explosive ending. And one that you won’t soon forget. I highly recommend this book, and will make sure that we have plenty of copies for all of the patrons of my library who are going to be in line to read this fascinating novel. Don’t miss this one. Thank you to. NetGalley, John Hart and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful novel for an honest review.

One of my critique partners recommended the work of John Hart to me, so when I saw that it was available on Netgalley, I requested it. I’m certainly glad that I did, and I understand why she likes his work so much!

Within a few pages, Hart had me invested in his characters and their lives.

Vietnam and the draft looms over the story. Gibby and his friend Chance are both eighteen, and now must sign up for selective service. The draft is a specter of dread that becomes increasingly real to them. Both know people their age who’ve been drafted; both know people who have not come home from Vietnam. And both know people who have returned from war physically alive, but forever changed by what they saw.

That includes Jason, Gibby’s brother, now fresh from prison. Rumors abound about his war activities, though no one knows the truth. Detective French, the boys’ father, fears the worst, especially after Tyra’s murder and wants to protect his youngest son. But Gibby is tired of being the obedient, unrebellious one, and the only French brother who hasn’t been tested by fire. And he believes Jason is innocent.

Hart is terrific at evoking emotion on the page and in the reader. At one point, my stomach was curling inside, writhing with impatience to know what happens and dread of what is to come. He writes in crisp, elegant sentences. He conveys in a few words what some might need a dozen pages to explain less effectively. The dialogue crackles with tension, loaded with all the things left unsaid.

In Gibby’s sections, there’s a sense of grief over the brother he lost, but also a sense of his own lostness: who he is, what he should do, how he ought to relate to his detective father, his overprotective mom (and her unreasonable demands), and now his unrepentant prodigal brother. This last might hold a key for how Gibby will emerge from this time. It’s a complex, deeply nuanced set of relationships.

I felt that the book was stronger in the Gibby/Detective French/Jason sections than when Prisoner X and his henchmen became involved. Some of those sections contained graphic, gruesome violence. (I was a bit freaked out by the brutality of Tyra’s death, to be honest. Then again, so were the investigating detectives.) The actual violence is off the page, but the aftermath is raw. (Incidentally, most of the victims are male rather than female.) A few of the story’s plot points felt improbable and almost unbelievable; but to Hart’s credit, he makes them believable in the story’s world. Given the strength of his writing, I was willing to believe in Prisoner X’s actions and power.

Overall, this was a riveting book. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime fiction, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from John Hart.

One thing I particularly liked . . .

I appreciated how Hart was willing to address the complexities of the draft and war through his characters, and he doesn’t cast judgement on any character for their choices, good or bad.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This review will appear on my blog on 1 February 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book deals with so many serious topics and does a wonderful job with them! There is the French family who lost one son to the Vietnam war and another son to the after effects of that war with drugs and prison time. It starts out with Jason being released from prison and going back to his hometown and reconnecting with the one brother that remained at home (Gibby) smothered by his mother trying to protect the one "good" son that she has left.

Unfortunately, secret plans abound and an awful murder is committed to further those plans. That bit was fairly graphic (the description of the murder) and there are several other parts as well. It made for much confusion among the cops trying to solve the case, including Jason and Gibby's father and sent them down the wrong path.

This is definitely a thrilling book and I liked it and how it ended where you find out the truth of several things, like Jason's role in the war and how it shaped him. Well written!

There's a reason that any book by John Hart is guaranteed to be one of the best reads available and he proves it again with his latest offering The Unwilling.

**Warning - this book contains scenes of brutal violence and torture. If you are sensitive to that, do not read this book **

Set in North Carolina during the Vietnam war, this book tackles so much (family relations, coming of age, friendship, mystery, crime, drug addiction, psychopaths, and the war) that you wonder how they could all work together, but they do and in an unforgettable way.

The French family is at the core of the story. They have suffered greatly as a result of the war which has created deep rifts that time may never heal. William, a homicide cop, and his wife Gabrielle are parents to three sons, twins Robert and Jason, and Gibson (Gibby), a high school senior. The family lost both of the older boys to the war; Robert was killed in battle, and Jason returned from Vietnam distant and forever changed. Gabrielle is determined not to lose her youngest son too and is obsessed with protecting him. As the story begins, Jason has just been released from three years in prison following his time in Vietnam and has returned to his hometown.

Gibby is enjoying a senior skip day at the local quarry with his best friend Chance and many of his classmates. Jason seeks him out there and offers a "bro' day" during which they can catch up and get to know each other better. Though Gibby knows that his parents don't want him to have anything to do with Jason because of his struggles with drug addiction and his violent nature, Gibby is determined to get to know the only brother he has left. He soon finds that his parents had good reason to caution him; Jason is into some heavy stuff, and danger walks with him everywhere he goes, endangering those around him as well.

A horrific murder stuns even the most seasoned detectives and Jason is quickly named the prime suspect. William finds himself risking his job to save his sons; Gibby, determined to prove Jason innocent, encounters situations he never could have imagined. Amidst the chaos of crime and violence, Hart also manages to give readers a beautiful coming of age story. This book truly has it all.

Hart's natural writing style, intricate plot lines, multi-dimensional characters, and realistic dialog make the story come alive in a very vivid way. He also skillfully captures the essence of relationships and the wide variety of complex emotions they entail.

Suspenseful from the start, you won't be able to turn away from this captivating read!

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published on 2/2/2021. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

By turns family drama, coming of age story, and unnerving psychological thriller, The Unwilling by John Hart was altogether a very enjoyable, twisty ride.



This novel is many things, but above all, this is a novel of connections. At the heart of those connections sits Gibby French - son of the distant Gabrielle and the well-meaning Bill, brother to twins Robert and Jason, best friend to Chance, he’s the fulcrum that the story hinges on. His uncertainty as he stands ready to move into adulthood is endearing – his determination to, above all, do the right thing is what really had me rooting for him. Having lost Robert to Vietnam, the fact that Jason came home changed almost beyond recognition isn’t enough to sever their connection; and when Jason’s past comes calling to drop a bomb into their already-disrupted lives, no threat will be enough to keep Gibby from doing whatever it takes to find the truth.



Initially, The Unwilling felt like a family drama, centered around Gibby’s coming of age, and his navigation of some truly rocky relationships. But when Jason found himself a suspect in a truly horrific murder, the focus widened to include one of the most chilling villains I’ve encountered yet. Mr X is the kind of presence you don’t soon forget – Patrick Bateman and Hannibal Lecter would envy his detachment, not to mention his funding. His introduction marked a turning point in the story, as he sets into motion a chain of events that lead right back to Jason and Gibby.



It could have felt tricky to reconcile the two parts of this book. That John Hart has knitted those seemingly very different stories together into a cohesive whole is astounding, but he has, and masterfully. Brotherhood underpins everything here – the literal brotherhood of Gibby and Jason; the more figurative but equally strong fraternity of the police their father works with; the bonds forged by soldiers in wartime; even the links between Mr X and his most trusted men. What happens to those chains of connection when they’re tested is at the heart of every part of the book, and it took that initial setup to lay the groundwork for the reader to see what was at play.



The Unwilling is the kind of novel I have come to expect from John Hart – an absolutely excellent thriller from an author at the top of his game.

I have read a few of John Hart's novels, but after The Unwilling, I'm committed to reading them all! Hart is a fabulous writer, who really brings his characters to life. The Unwilling is told from the POV of Gibby, and the time is the 70's.. Gibby is a High Schooler. His father is a detective, and his mother is a helicopter mom because Gibby is the youngest second she dearly wants to protect. Gibby has two older brothers. The eldest, to whom he was closest, was Robert, who lost his life in Vietnam. The other brother is Jason. Jason went to Vietnam after Robert's death. There he was a much-decorated sniper, but now, returned home, he is a recently released convict/addict with no relationship with his family. Despite that, you will definitely find yourself rooting for him.

One day Gibby is hanging out with his friends at a lake, contemplating a death-defying dive that his older brother Robert once took, becoming something of a local hero. While there, Gibby spots Jason, with whom he desperately wants to reconnect. Gibby and Jason make plans to get together, and Jason introduces him to two young woman, One of those women later turns up dead, and the novel takes a major twist from family drama to murder, kidnapping, torture, and suspense. There are twists and turns galore and two seriously bad guys, one of whom is pulling strings from inside prison.

Gibby is a wonderful, empathetic character, as is his father, who is in the untenable position with his job as a cop and his desire to protect his family. There is also a very sweet side story of Gibby and his first love, Becky. I loved everything about this book, from the writing to the characters to the whole tightly woven plotline.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend The Unwilling.

In a Southern town at the height of the Vietnam War, a family is learning how to cope with personal tragedies. The oldest brother, the pride of his mother, was killed in that conflict. In reaction, Mom overprotects her youngest son, Gibby. Her husband, a police detective, caters to her whims, although in his heart he knows this may not be the right path. Gibby, just on the cusp of manhood, is beginning to feel hemmed in by years of coddling. Beneath his acquiescence, the desire to prove himself and become independent is steadily brewing.

Into this superficially functioning family, Jason, the second brother, returns. Jason also enlisted into the service. After numerous tours, a dishonorable discharge, PTSD (as recognized now) and stints with drugs and prison, he returns. His father has lost paternal interest in Jason, the mother both fears and distrusts him. As for Gibby, he has questions: How bad was Jason? As really as bad as his parents said. How did he escape this watchful home? What can he reveal about the oldest brother that Gibby barely remembers?

When Jason makes contact with Gibby, he agrees to meet. From that point Gibby is introduced into a world he never imagined - that may well confirm his parents’ worse fears. But Gibby soon realizes there is more to Jason than the image he learned from his folks. Worse, Jason is in danger that not only threatens him, but GIbby and those around him.

Gibby realizes that he is the only one who can sort this out. But he lacks the skills, the knowledge and the means to do this. Drawing upon internal resources he never knew he had, keen observations, plus the help of friends, Gibby makes this a powerful, thrilling coming of age story. Part mystery, part thriller – Hart leaves nothing on the table. Highly recommended. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

What a book!! This author knocked this one out of the park. Out of this world. He made a big impression on me for sure. This was my first John Hart book and I will be reading more...

This book is set in the mid to late sixties. During the Vietnam war. Reading this gave me a whole new respect for what soldiers go through who actually have to go into combat. Some are not the same when they come home. Some are beyond our way of thinking. Some have seen things that no young man or woman should see. During the Vietnam way this was more true than ever I do believe. This book only touches on that war slightly. In a very profound way though. It's about a boy who lost one brother there and is losing another after he came back to the states. A family torn apart by a war.

This book is so well written. It will make you take a few deep breathes and head shakes. It's just a story that will certainly make you stop and take a look at things. Life for instance. How much do we take that for granted. This story is about a boy. An eighteen year old boy but still a young boy. His name is Gibby French. He's almost eighteen and will have to sign up for the draft once his birthday arrives. He's still in high school. His best friend is Chance and his girl is Becky. He has his whole life ahead of him. But before that there is a lifetime of things going on.

Gibby's brother Jason has been to Vietnam, spent time in prison and is now out. He want's to know his little brother but his mother forbids it. Let me say that I honestly did not like the mother, Gabrielle. I think it's ok to want to protect a son from another son when it's the right situation but... To say it should have been him, when you lose one son is just unacceptable. No mother should have that much favoritism toward one over the other. Jason is troubled. He is trouble in many ways. He's set up, framed, for a brutal murder the likes of which no officer in this Charlotte, NC town has ever seen. But did he do it? Nothing is kept from you in this book. You will know who is guilty and who is not. It's not a book where you try to figure out the who did what to whom. It's a story of what happens between people. Both in and out of prison. Both in and out of Vietnam. Between family members. Between a mother and son. A father and his wife. Between two brothers.

This book hits deeply. Right in the heart. It's a heartbreaker and an edge of your seat story. It will keep you turning pages and wanting more. It's like reading the most horrific thing but you just can't stop. There is a lot of detail in this book and you will cringe many times. You will want to slap a few people along the way. You will wonder what makes a person do such horrible things to another. Why would anyone be so cruel. What could have possibly happened in a person life to make them seem to not have a soul. All your questions and thoughts are answered.

This story pretty much left me feeling better yet with a heavy heart also. I didn't feel sorry for Reece or X. They were very messed up people. Deserve anything that may come their way. I did root for Jason though. I really loved him. He is quite a big brother and deserves more than people will possibly ever know. People in the town that is. Maybe someday!!

My favorite paragraph from this book is: He felt a hundred different fears: the fear of war and mutilation, of falling now, just now, or of diving wrong, and breaking. He feared his friend might not forgive him, that the wound would fester and that the cracks ran all the way through. Most of all, he feared whatever life waited at the bottom of the trail, the future if he walked instead of dove, the man he might become. That was the devil inside, a demon with a face as familiar-soft as Chance's own. Maybe it was fate that brought him to this place, or fate that people called it the Devil's Ledge.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JohnHart, #StMartin'sPress for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.

5/5 stars and I highly recommend this one. It's intense and a bit scary in places. So worth reading.

John Hart is the absolute master of Southern Gothic or Appalachian Noir—whatever name it’s given—and is the single best practitioner of the genre working in America today.
In his newest, and just released novel, The Unwilling, (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99, 384 pages, ISBN 978-1-250-16772-9), he takes an introspective and deeply personal look at the effect of the Viet Nam War on a patriotic Southern Family through the eyes of an eighteen year old named Gibby French. He’s the youngest of three brothers, born to Bill and Gabriel French. Bill’s a detective on the Charlotte, N.C. Police Force and Gabriel is a stay-at-home mom who’s suffering from depression due to the loss of her oldest—and most favored—son Robert, who was drafted and died in Viet Nam. His twin Jason, and the most problematic of the three boys, volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps and served four tours in S.E. Asia . . . where he was responsible for many killings, some of which were done under questionable circumstances. He came home addicted to heroin and went to prison for drug-related crimes.
Now, as the novel begins, Jason’s out of prison and back in his hometown of Charlotte, where—to his father’s consternation and his overprotective mother’s horror—Jason is working to reestablish his relationship with Gibby.
But just as the two are beginning to reconnect, a woman Jason was involved with is savagely murdered, and given his history and all the available clues, Jason appears to be the killer. Is he? Gibby doesn’t think so, and sets out to prove it, even as his budding romance that’s just beginning to flower is put at risk . . . or even loss of life . . . as the real killer (which the reader’s been made aware of) continues with his warped plan.
This is after all a Southern Gothic novel, and John Hart is the master of it. Read Unwilling for yourself and make your own decision. See how he’s able to bend the genre with an evil so great that the yarn—almost—but not quite—devolves into the paranormal. And all the while, the real horror, the Viet Nam War, lies in the background like the nasty surprise skeleton in the closet that it was then and is now. John Hart gets better with each book!

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