Bullet Point by Peter Abrahams

Wyatt loves baseball. His high school coach thinks Wyatt is good enough to get a scholarship to college. Unfortunately Wyatt can’t play ball because the school district cut all extracurricular activities in order to save money. But his coach has a plan. Wyatt can transfer to Silver City, which is across the state, and play there. But those plans quickly unravel because Wyatt’s best friend, Dub, already transferred and got the only open spot on the team. Wyatt is pretty upset. But life just keeps throwing Wyatt curveballs. His coach also gave him a photo of Wyatt’s father when he was young and played ball.

Wyatt never met his father; never even saw a photograph. It has always been him, his mom, his half sister, and his stepfather, Rusty. Wyatt’s biological father, Sonny, was sentenced to life in jail before Wyatt was born. The charge was murder.

When Rusty sees the photo of a young Sonny, he takes it away from Wyatt and rips it up. They have never gotten along, but Rusty has never been so blatantly mean. Wyatt doesn’t think and tackles his stepfather. Soon they are really fighting and Wyatt has a broken nose. He flees and eventually decides to move with Dub to Silver City. He can wait out a year and then will be eligible to play ball again.

But as soon as he gets there he runs into a girl, Greer, who runs the local bowling alley and batting cage. Soon they are a couple although Wyatt isn’t quite sure how that happened. But Greer has a reputation. Some say she sleeps around, others say she helped her father commit arson. Wyatt tries to discuss things with Greer, but they end up fighting. Eventually, after making up, he discovers that her father is in jail too. In fact Greer’s father is in Sweetwater State Penitentiary, the very same jail that houses Sonny, Wyatt’s father.

Through Greer’s father, Sonny knows his son is around. Wyatt is unsure if he wants to meet his biological father. But after a few calls they meet face to face. Much to Wyatt’s surprise he really likes Sonny, and starts to believe that his father may be innocent of the murder he was sentenced for. Soon Wyatt and Greer are exploring the case. He isn’t sure why she is so interested, but he likes her. But he really doesn’t know her. What if she did commit arson? And for that matter does he really know his father? He wants to believe that his father isn’t guilty, and that the rumors about his girlfriend are untrue, but will that trust turn to regret in the end? Wyatt is poking his nose in more then one person’s business and sooner or later he is going to get burned. But by who? And what will Wyatt do to protect the ones he loves?

This is a great thriller. Bullet Point keeps you glued to the page and guessing on how it will all turn out. Highly recommended for those who love mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. Appropriate for ages 16 and up due to some mild sexual content and swearing.