Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry

I really didn't enjoy reading this book. The main character, Truman, made me angry. I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up before he lost his family. Truman is addicted to gambling and loses most everything he has because of his addiction. It seems he can't break free from it even when his life is threatened by a loan shark trying to collect. Truman goes home to his wife and children when he's offered a book deal: write the story of a man on death row, a man who is to be executed in a month, a man who insists he's innocent, who is also willing to die (in his innocence) and give his heart to a young man in need of a heart transplant. The young man happens to be Truman's son. I suppose that's one sign of a good writer, making a character believable. Chris Fabry succeeded in that area, but the book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I did like the investigation portion of the book and how everything was woven together in order to prove who the killer was, I just didn't particularly care for Truman. Even his lack of caring for his own son annoyed me. I've enjoyed Chris Fabry's other books (Dogwood, June Bug and Almost Heaven) and thought that he was getting better with each story he wrote, but this one didn't do it for me.

About the book:
Truman Wiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the most troubling headlines are his own. He's out of work, out of touch with his family, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son's failing heart.
With mounting hospital bills and Truman's penchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless...until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline--the chance to write a story of a death row inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman's son.
As the execution clock ticks down, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? Truman's investigation draws him down a path that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of the two men forever.

This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group. You can purchase a copy of this book here.