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After a brutal beating, David Granims, with his last breath, tells the medic attending him to find Jack Helton and protect his daughter. Treated as a dying man’s last testimony, his words will be admissible in court, even though it’s hearsay—because, apparently, a dying man has no reason to lie.
Known as the best detective around, Jack Helton of the Wilmington Police Department solves cases that no one else can. He’s even brought in two serial killers, which is unheard of. But now Jack’s been accused of murder, and the only one who can solve his case is Jack himself—so he escapes to try and clear his name.
Anita Franklin is fairly new to the police department, but the captain trusts her and no one else to bring Jack in. She sets out to solve the case, but her gut tells her that something is way off. As she does her job, she uncovers some surprising clues that change everything.
If it hadn’t been for Jack being so cocky and full of himself, I might’ve liked his character a whole lot more. I prefer to see how good a detective is through his actions—not from the character tooting his own horn every chance he gets. Plus, after the first few chapters, Jack basically disappears from the storyline.
Anita is a much better character. She truly investigates the crime, looking for the truth rather than being influenced by those within the police department who have a personal grudge against Jack. She’s methodical and savvy, making Eden’s Scarecrow, if not a great read, then at least a palatable one.
One thing that bothered me about the plot was the reasoning behind charging Jack with murder. I’m not sure that the dying victim saying, “Find Jack Helton” would actually be enough to arrest Jack for murder. If I were on the grand jury, I’d vote to throw it out instead of sending it on to trial. It’s just not strong enough evidence to indict someone for murder. By the time the author seems to figure this out, adding a bit more to the victim’s last words, the book is near its end, making the additional information pointless.
Still, even with all its plot and character flaws, Eden’s Scarecrow is a well-written and fast-paced thriller. Wanting to find out who, exactly, was responsible for David’s murder kept me hanging in there until the end—and it doesn’t end the way you think it will, which is another point scored for the author.
