The Hunter by John Lescroart

The Hunter by John Lescroart features Wyatt Hunt, the single but successful San Francisco private investigator. Wyatt's early childhood years were difficult as he was placed in California’s foster care system at a very young age. He has only a vague memory of his birth parents. At age six he was adopted by a loving couple named Bob and Charlene Hunt but still bears emotional scars and has underlying abandonment issues. Now in his early 40’s, Wyatt receives an anonymous text message- “Do you know how your mother died?”    Suddenly he is compelled to search for his birth parents.  His emotional well being depends on it.

Wyatt discovers his birth mother was murdered 40 years earlier and his father was accused and tried twice for the crime but was never convicted.  The jury each time was unable to return a guilty verdict.  By interviewing people his parents had known Wyatt learns of his mother’s involvement with Reverend Jim Jones, the cult leader who committed suicide with his followers in the late 1970’s.  Wyatt is soon convinced his birth father was innocent as his investigation prompts a killer to commit further acts of violence.  One of Wyatt’s employees as well as a friend of his birth parents is murdered.  Desperate to find the killer, yet sworn off the current murder cases by the San Francisco police, Wyatt travels outside the city in search of more information about his birth parents.  He reunites with his grandmother in Indiana and finds his birth father voluntarily exiled in Mexico.  Meanwhile, Wyatt develops a new romantic relationship with Tamara, a long time friend and employee.  His abandonment issues have interfered with his previous relationships but Tamara sees him through his emotional crisis.

I’ve read most of Lescroart’s books and have to say this one is just ok…not his best. I thought the plot was a little slow to develop.  Plus no one wants to read about a grown man crying.  Maybe it’s because Wyatt Hunt is not my favorite Lescroart character. I favor the noble but well connected attorney, Dismas Hardy and the grumpy but well intended police lieutenant, Abe Glitsky. I miss those guys.