John Hart Libri

Iron House is the remarkable story of two orphaned brothers separated by violence at a tender age. When a boy is savagely killed in their brutal orphanage, one brother runs and takes the blame with him, eventually finding his way to New York and into the heart of organized crime. Two decades later - a seasoned killer - he returns to North Carolina with a sentence on his head, the mob in hot pursuit and his long-lost brother in trouble of a different kind. With vast sums in play, political fortunes at risk and bodies piling up, the brothers reunite to solve the mystery of their shared past in a tour de force narrative of loss, courage and the aftermath of violence. A dark, atmospheric thriller with a plot that will keep you guessing until the last moment.

Muir Woods, with its giant red-barked trees, soothing filtered light, and birdsong, is a haven of calm in a complicated modern world. It is also one of the nation's few intact old-growth coastal redwood forests - the only sizeable redwood stand near San Francisco Bay that, as author John Hart notes, "has literally never felt the hand of the logger."Though it has neither the oldest nor the largest redwoods, its completeness - mature trees, young trees, fallen trees; a verdant understory dense with plants that were around when dinosaurs walked the earth; and a riparian corridor that is both nursery and lifeline for untold generations of fish, insects, and other animals - gives it an enduring appeal. All of this beauty and vitality was almost lost in the opening years of the twentieth century, however, when a campaign was launched to dam its creek to create a reservoir that would've flooded the upper reaches of the forest.In this book, you will enter the world of Muir Woods National Monument, a rich and complex environment saved by people who saw its value and worked to preserve it, and protected today by the National Park Service. A place of "green and lively light, shady yet somehow never dim, that the dusty eye takes in as a thirsty throat takes in water," Muir Woods offers timeless testimony to both the power of nature and the human need for the peace it offers.

A 13 year-old boy continues to investigate the abduction of his twin sister in Raven County long after the police have seemingly given up.

Exploring the profound implications of extraterrestrial life, this book delves into the evidence and theories surrounding our cosmic neighbors. It examines the scientific discoveries and philosophical questions that arise from the knowledge that humanity shares the universe with other intelligent beings. Through a blend of research and speculation, it challenges readers to reconsider their place in the cosmos and the potential for future interactions with other civilizations.

“Hart has taken it to another level...read this novel.” —David Baldacci From the award-winning author of five New York Times bestselling novels comes a “gripping, believable story that doesn’t rest until the last sentence” (Associated Press). A boy with a gun waits for the man who killed his mother. A troubled detective confronts her past in the aftermath of a brutal shooting. After thirteen years in prison, a good cop walks free while, deep in the forest, on the altar of an abandoned church, a body cools in pale linen... This is a town on the brink. This is Redemption Road. “Heart-wrenching...haunting...an extraordinary novel in which the human heart proves the most confounding mystery of all.”—Providence Journal

Set during the Vietnam War in the South, this gripping tale weaves together crime and suspense, offering profound insights into the human psyche. Gibby's older brothers have faced the war's harsh realities—one lost his life, while the other returned as a hardened veteran, recently released from prison. Jason, the surviving brother, struggles to connect with Gibby, whom he hasn't seen in years. In an attempt to bond, he invites Gibby for a day at the lake, filled with sunshine, whisky, and older women. However, their outing takes a dark turn when they encounter a prison transfer bus. A drunken taunt from one of the women incites chaos, leading to her brutal murder soon after. With Jason's violent past, he quickly becomes the prime suspect, and when another woman goes missing, suspicion shifts to Gibby as well. To clear his brother's name, Gibby must evade the police and delve into Jason's shadowy world of drugs, firearms, and outlaw motorcycle gangs. What he uncovers reveals a grim reality: the truth behind the murders, the impact of Vietnam on his brother, and the dangerous forces that threaten their lives. This raw crime fiction explores the lasting scars of family, war, and incarceration.

The only writer in history to win consecutive Edgar Awards for Best Novel, New York Times bestselling author John Hart returns to the world of his most beloved novel, The Last ChildBuilding on the world first seen in The Last Child (“A magnificent creation” —The Washington Post), John Hart delivers a stunning vision of a secret world, rarely seen. It’s been ten years since the events that changed Johnny Merrimon’s life and rocked his hometown to the core. Since then, Johnny has fought to maintain his privacy, but books have been written of his exploits; the fascination remains. Living alone on six thousand acres of once-sacred land, Johnny’s only connection to normal life is his old friend, Jack. They’re not boys anymore, but the bonds remain. What they shared. What they lost. But Jack sees danger in the wild places Johnny calls home; he senses darkness and hunger, an intractable intent. Johnny will discuss none of it, but there are the things he knows, the things he can do. A lesser friend might accept such abilities as a gift, but Jack has felt what moves in the swamp: the cold of it, the unspeakable fear.More than an exploration of friendship, persistence, and forgotten power, The Hush leaves all categories behind, and cements Hart's status as a writer of unique power.

After a tour of Vietnam and a three-year stint in prison, Jason is back in town and wants to rebuild his relationship with Gibby, the younger brother he hasn't seen 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 when the four of them encounter a prison transfer bus on a stretch of empty road, one of the women taunts the prisoners, causing a riot on the bus.Soon after, Tyra is savagely murdered. Given his violent history, suspicion turns first to Jason. Determined to prove his older brother's innocence, Gibby must avoid the police and dive deep into his brother's hidden life, a journey that takes him into the darkest corners of the community

Although the sand crabs try in many ways to get rid of Old Meshikee the turtle, they are not as clever as he and so fail to end his drumming.

Everything that shaped him happened near that river, now tainted by lies, greed, shame, and murder. In his scorching return to Rowan County, John Hart delves into the dark side of human nature and the complexities of forgiveness. Adam Chase, a man marked by a violent past and childhood trauma, faces the consequences of a murder charge he narrowly escaped. Exiled from his home for a crime he didn't commit, he vanishes into the anonymity of New York City for five years. Upon his return, his motives remain a mystery to his family, the police, and his old enemies. Almost immediately, Adam is confronted by violence and the ghosts of his past. As bodies begin to surface, the small town turns against him, forcing Adam into a desperate struggle not only to prove his innocence but also to reclaim his life. Hart expertly strips his characters bare, revealing explosive secrets and raw emotions. As tensions rise, individuals are pushed to their limits, showcasing the lengths people will go for money, family, and revenge. This powerful, heart-pounding thriller will linger in your mind long after the final page is turned.