Old Schoolhouse Road by Sarah Vail an enthralling who dun it

Old Schoolhouse Road by Sarah Vail is an enthralling who dun it set in small-town America. Vail’s protagonist, Tim McAndrews is part of a new profiling unit sent to investigate a school shooting. He picks up on clues others overlook that point to an older suspect with military or law enforcement experience. His insights hit the mark, but what he and his team discover carries them into the world of abuse, illicit drug use, and a sinister motive for murder.

Vail’s writing, storytelling skills, and attention to detail are remarkable. She offers a perfect cast of stimulating characters with protagonist Tim McAndrews at the center. He’s a good-looking, smart, capable agent with a law background. The school shooting is his first case, and as part of the FBI’s profiling team, McAndrews spearheads the story. He navigates the evidence while fighting the emotional aspect of innocent lives taken in this horrific way. Local law enforcement proves to be allies, but a self-important Politian nosing his way into the case to help pass his gun control legislation and a brash reporter trying to position herself to get the story first add challenges to the mix. On top of that, amid the throes of crime-solving riddled with danger, McAndrew's female partner harbors some personal hangups against him. The closer he gets to the truth, the more the lives of his team are at risk.

 

I liked everything about this book, and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy murder mysteries riddled with suspense, compelling characters, and plenty of action. Vail’s writing hooked me within the first three pages and never let me go. She is skilled at dropping clever clues for the reader to follow that generate suspicions and theories; sometimes misleading, but always relevant. I happily give it five stars, and if the scale went higher, I’d give it more. This review is posted in collaboration with BookTasters.

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