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Description edit
John Hart’s New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies, announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
After the disappearance of his twin sister, Johnny’s family has fallen apart. While everyone else has given up, he cannot and continues to search for clues and strongly believes in the chance she is still alive. He must discover the truth although it takes his to his farthest limit.
Characters edit
- Johnny Merrimon: A small, dark, couragous kid who will do anything to find his sister and bring his family together, even if it means dying himself.
- Clyde Lafayette Hunt: Detective.
- Jack Cross: Johnny's best friend.
- Alyssa Merrimon: Johnny's twin sister who had dissapeared a year ago.
- Ken Holloway: Richest man in town
- Uncle Steve: Mall security guard, Johnny's uncle
- Spencer Merrimon: Johnny's dad
- Levi Freemantle: Escaped convict.
- Burton Jarvis: Sex offender.
- Laura Taylor: Police officer.
- John Yoakum: Clyde Hunt's partner
- Trenton Moore: Medical Examiner.
- Tiffany Shore: Young girl who was abducted
- Allen Hunt: Clyde's son.
- Mr. Meechum: Head of mall security.
- Barfield: Special agent in NC State Bureau of Investigation.
- Johnny Merrimon: 13-year-old twin whose sister has disappeared a year previously. Johnny sets out to solve the mystery on his own.
- Isaac Freemantle: Levi's great-great-grandfather.
- Ronda Jeffries: Lives with Levi.
- John Pendleton Merrimon: Johhny's great-great-grandfather.
- Oliver: Special agent in NC State Bureau of Investigation.
- Clyde Hunt: Detective who has faith in Johnny when others think he is only a "hoodlum."
- Wayne: A high school boy.
- Gerald Cross: Star athlete, Jack's older brother
- Katherine Merrimon: Johnny's mom
- David Wilson: professor, explorer
- Detective Cross: Jack's father
- Calvin Tremont: Levi's parole officer.
- Charlie: Add a description of this character.
- Sofia
- Mike Caulfield
- Mrs. Merrimon
- Bruce
- Matthews
Quotes edit
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“Childhood was illusion.”
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“She was the most beautiful person Johnny had ever known, and he hated that about her.”
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“"What had been concrete one day proved sand the next; strength was an illusion; faith meant shit."”
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“"Fear was a knife that went in low and touched some deep place in him."”
- Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
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Darkness is a cancer of the human heart.
Highlighted by 14 Kindle customers -
His father taught him how the world worked, taught him what to believe and where to place his faith: family, God, the community. Everything that Johnny had learned about what it meant to be a man, he’d learned from his father.
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Burton Jarvis was on the list because he was a recidivist. That was the biggest word Johnny knew: it meant, sick motherfucker likely to do it again.
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Now Johnny had to question all of it, everything he’d been taught with such conviction. God did not care about people in pain. Not the little ones. There was no such thing as justice, retribution, or community; neighbors did not help neighbors and the meek would not inherit the earth. All of that was bullshit. The church, the cops, his mother—none of them could make it right, none of them had the power.
Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers -
She tore off her clothes and stepped into the shower; but it was not enough. The dirt was on the inside.
Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers -
Johnny had nothing to trust but himself, so that’s the way he rolled—his path, his choices, and no looking back.
Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers -
Hunt jerked, looked up. In the door stood John Yoakum, his partner and friend. “Hey, John. Good morning.”
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Levi Freemantle carried a precious thing on his shoulder.
Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers -
his father. Spencer Merrimon was a big man with square teeth and an easy smile, a builder, with rough hands, quiet confidence, and a moral certainty that had always made Johnny feel lucky to be his son.
Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers -
“Cedar,” he said. “Pine. Spruce. Laurel.” “Yeah. So?” “They’re supposed to be sacred.” He touched them again, each in turn. “Wisdom. Strength. Courage. Perseverance. You’re supposed to burn them.”
Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
Asphalt cut the country like a scar, a long, hot burn of razor-black.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Loneliness: When Johnny's twin sister is abducted, he feels an incredible sense of loneliness.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 3 of 14 in 2010 Award Winners. (community list)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Country: New York, NY., USA
Publication Date: May-2009
ISBN: 9780312359324
Page Count: 419
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Country: New York, NY., USA
Publication Date: May-2009
ISBN: 9780312359324
Page Count: 419
Awards edit
- Edgar Award (2010: Best Novel, Winner)
- Barry Award (2010: Best Novel)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3608.A78575L37
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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