Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
![[5 stars]](../images/spots/1_splat_50.gif)
The Whole Truth
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Nancy Pickard
Class/Genre: Mystery Woman Main Character Psychological Suspense
Series: Marie Lightfoot # 1
Pocket, Mar 2000, $22.95, 272 pp.
Most true crime writers are objective observers when conducting research. This procedure is what Marie Lightfoot applies when she is committed to covering a trial. However, Marie becomes part of the story when she tackles the Raymond Raintree case. Raymond is charged with killing six-year old Natalie Mae McCullen, an innocent deaf child who loved the water canals in Bahia beach, Florida. According to the evidence, Raymond Lured Natalie into an isolated water tunnel, killed her, and removed her pituitary gland.
In spite of no proof that a Raymond Raintree ever existed or that he had any motive to kill the child, the jury convicts him of first degree murder. Raymond escapes from the courtroom and simply vanishes. A massive manhunt fails with only Marie receiving a call from Raymond. Shortly after that, Marie receives a call from the Kempler family of Olathe, Kansas. They claim Raymond is their son Johnnie who disappeared when he was seven. Johnnie had an imaginary friend named Raymond Raintree. As Marie flies out to our nation’s heartland, she begins a strange journey tracing the actions of a killer and his victims.
This novel centers on the aftereffects of killer’s activities on anyone who misfortunately has come into contact with the murderer. This list includes the police, the district attorney, the prosecutor, the judge, the victims’ families, real crime writers, and his own biological family. Thus, THE WHOLE TRUTH about this character-driven tale is that it is a well-written plot that studies the impact pure evil has on everyone touched by its malevolence. Nancy Picard uses prose to create frightening images that will shake the foundation of most readers.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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