Book Review: Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman
Release Date: November 16, 2010
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 176
Received: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 
Goodreads Page

Summary

Officer Rawls is ready to go home when a teenage boy walks into the station requesting to confess to murder. Shayne Blank, the teenager, is in no hurry to disclose the name of his victim or the method of death. Instead, he takes Rawls back to a few weeks before the incident, recounting a twisted tale of bullying, extortion, and the sordid world of drug dealing. Running counterpoint to Officer Rawls’s account of Shayne’s confession is Mikey’s similar, but significantly different, narration of the events. Both narrations unfold in parallel, steadily building to reveal the murder and the shocking truth behind Shayne Blank.

Review

Much as I love a solid 250-350 page book (or series!), I always appreciate a well-told short novel. Clocking in at only 176 pages, Blank Confession doesn’t waste a single word and never feels rushed or under-developed. Instead, the reader is taken on multiple journeys following the various characters as their experiences intersect and build to a satisfying conclusion. These multiple perspectives flesh out the story and add character depth that could not have been accomplished as well with a different narration style. It is little features like this narration choice that set really good writers apart.

Each of the characters offer something different, with easy, likable voices and personalities I can relate to well. Shayne reminded me of a younger version of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name. He is the definition of quiet cool. He calmly evaluates situations, protects the weak, and bravely confronts the villains. We see Shayne through both Mikey’s hero-worshiping eyes and Rawls’s adult perspective. Both versions of Shayne present positively and make me wish my path would cross with someone like him.

While Shayne is the focal point of the story, Mikey is the true main character. We see half the book through his eyes. He is the character we are supposed to relate to, and with his candid narration this is an easy and enjoyable experience. This book is about Shayne’s actions, but more importantly it is about how Shayne’s actions, presence, and influence affect Mikey. Mikey grows considerably throughout the book and engages in a good deal of introspection and change. Despite the brevity of the book, these changes don’t seem rushed or unbelievable at all.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the plot is what kept me turning pages late into the night. The chapters are very short and the plot moves at a satisfyingly brisk pace. Hautman continually teases the reader, layering events in a way that steadily builds to the shocking conclusion. Here I related strongly with Rawls, sitting at the edge of my seat and wanting to reach into the book and shake the conclusion out of Shayne.

We know from the outset that someone dies, but we don’t know who it will be and the plot twists offer up numerous possibilities. Some characters I hoped would die, but others I was biting my nails hoping they would be ok. The more I read, the more worried I became because I was also growing increasingly attached to Shayne and I hoped he hadn’t killed someone I cared about.

I appreciated the way Hautman chose to end the book. I am satisfied with the murder/victim and the final reveal about Shayne brought this book to another level and gave me one final bone to chew over for weeks after having finished the book. This book impressed me and I will be sure to check out more of Pete Hautman’s books in the future. If you're interested in reading another review, then check out this equally glowing review from The Book Vixen!

 Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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