Would You Kill the Man Your Beloved Grandmother Wants Dead?Lies She Never Told Me is the story of Michael Gresham’s heritage, beginning with his father’s father. The book features mob wars in 1920’s Chicago; World War II invasions and POW camps; romance between powerful men and beautiful women; the most infamous mass murder in 1960’s Chicago; and the complete growing-up story of Michael Gresham … story of Michael Gresham himself, from young boy to young lawyer. The book recounts the first meeting between Michael and his famous investigator Marcel in Operation Desert Shield when both young men are soldiers on the track of Saddam Hussein.
Finally, when Michael’s grandmother comes to him with a request that he track down and kill one man, can he refuse? He’s been trained as a lawyer, he believes in the rule of law, and he believes that no man is above the law. But his grandmother won’t let him go. She tells him a certain man must die for his crimes. Michael loves his grandmother with every cell in his body. Can he refuse her dying wish? Will he honor the vow he makes to this most important woman in his life?
And so the hunt begins.
Who will Michael find first: the killer or himself?
A Legal and Historical Thriller from USA Today Bestseller John Ellsworth
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Wonderful book. Simply couldn’t put it down!
A really, really good read!
Liked this read, a travel through history of a family from 1920’s to 21 century
I like the family background leading up to the “crime” and to further adventures of the main character
The thing I loved best about this book were the family dynamics. No one was all bad or all good but they still loved each other. Very entertaining!
Drew me in for awhile, then I got put off. “Oh, this must be written by a man” and I was right. I can usually tell.
Forgettable
This is one of the best books I’ve read all year! Enjoyable and entertaining storyline. I highly recommend this book.
I found the book interesting. It is written in a period of strife with war and polio bringing trauma into many lives. The characters were believable.
Characters were relatable. For a story that spans 50 years or more, there were some striking anachronisms, such as antennas sprouting from a police station in 1915 (although Detroit was first to use one way police radios in cars, 12 years later). The story was engaging enough that I kept reading to the end. It was very good for an early novel. I’d try another.
This is the first time I’ve read a book by John Ellsworth. Thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to read the rest of his series. I especially enjoyed his characters and the way he interwove real historical occurences into his story line. This is the first book in the series and covered several generations.
LIES SHE NEVER TOLD ME John Ellsworth
Crafting a multi-generation family saga requires strict attention to details and structure. Missing pieces in a narrative are as mystifying and annoying as an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. This book follows a Chicago family with a secret at its roots. In telling the tale the author left information gaps too wide for this reader.
Returning to the jigsaw analogy, it would also be annoying to find extra pieces from another puzzle. She married and had children? But then why did the author say …? The reader learns a character will be somehow vital to the story, but where does he go after his youthful amusing escapade? Extra pieces, going nowhere.
Confusion is not the same as suspense, or mystery. Respect the reader.
The book certainly has well-written segments, which earned a star or two. But I was not won over.
A very satisfying read – historical fiction as the backdrop to a story that spans generations.
I like Ellsworth, but this tried to cover too much ground. Not one of my favorites.
Could not put this book down.
This is the story of a lawyer, who is approached by his “grandmother”, asking him to kill someone. The characters and their lives are told in depth. A book to read over and over again.
This is a great place to jump into John Ellsworth’s books! It goes back to the beginning of the Michael Gresham story and provides a great jumping off place to read the series. Ellsworth’s legal thrillers are top notch, best sellers, and don’t disappoint!
As a reader who has enjoyed all of the Michael Gresham novels by John Ellsworth, I am so grateful that the author decided to share the entire Gresham family’s history with us fans. This genesis tale told from a multigenerational perspective give us some really great background into the main character of all of the books in the series. A rare peek into the legacy of Michael Gresham. I highly recommend this book.