Closing Time, Michael Ledwidge (Review by Elizabeth Burchfield)

Rating: 4.0/5 Stars

If books had summer box office hits, Closing Time would crush sales records. As I cracked into the prologue, I was anticipating a slow introduction and background of the characters. While I did get some background, I was shocked by a murder in the first few pages of the book. Instantly, I was sucked in as the prologue flowed effortlessly and quickly into more intense scenes. The very short chapters, typically 2 or 3 pages, added to the suspense, as I felt I was getting small action-packed bursts of the story, and I wanted more.

Closing Time follows three characters as they encounter high-speed chases, sometimes unconventional fight scenes, and heart-racing suspense. I tore through chapters trying to make sense of the seemingly senseless acts of violence and more murders. Ledwidge perfectly balances giving you plenty of action to keep the storyline moving while slowly sprinkling in clues and deeper messages. Although I kept guessing what was coming around the next turn, who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’ (even though all were guilty of law-breaking and violence), I was wrong every time.

I became suspicious of everyone while also worrying about my favorite characters. The details of Mike and Hayden’s families made me more invested in their well-being, and there were multiple times throughout the book when their safety was in jeopardy. The cover-up of murders added another layer of suspense and contributed to my mistrust of characters.

Much more than an excellently written thriller, Closing Time touches on the revenge of a father and blurs moral lines, leading to deeper introspection. Ledwidge drives home the message of money as the root of all evil. As powerful bankers will go to any lengths to recover the electronic chip that holds so much power. A bit of a Robin Hood story, I was stunned by the ending, but felt satisfied as the underdog won and a father was successful in his revenge.