Because John Hart's first five novels are all excellent, I trust him to write a winner every time. So I had high expectations for THE HUSH, his sixth.

If you've read Hart's THE LAST CHILD, you will be familiar with the characters and setting in THE HUSH, although it can be read as a standalone novel. Jack and Johnny are no longer teenagers; it is now 10 years later.

Sometimes, as usual, Hart's writing shines. But with THE HUSH, he has tried a new genre, fantasy. And it doesn't work for me.

Johnny now lives in Hush Arbor, which is magic. Sometimes the magic is good and sometimes it is evil. Police are convinced that he is murdering trespassers who mysteriously die on his property.

Jack is now a lawyer trying to defend Johnny. Jack is very smart, but he is having a hard time understanding all this magic.

John Hart, please leave the fantasy writing to other authors like Stephen King. You were on a roll with your first five novels. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

It’s been ten years since the events that changed Johnny Merrimon’s life and rocked his hometown to the core. Since then, Johnny has fought to maintain his privacy, but books have been written of his exploits; the fascination remains. Living alone on six thousand acres of once-sacred land, Johnny’s only connection to normal life is his old friend, Jack. They’re not boys anymore, but the bonds remain. What they shared. What they lost.

But Jack sees danger in the wild places Johnny calls home; he senses darkness and hunger, an intractable intent. Johnny will discuss none of it, but there are the things he knows, the things he can do. A lesser friend might accept such abilities as a gift, but Jack has felt what moves in the swamp: the cold of it, the unspeakable fear.

this is a follow up story to The Last Child --- if you haven't read that already you should read it first. It enables you to understand the relationship between Johnny and Jack much better.
The second book is a little different -- a little bit of supernatural to it. Not exactly what I expected, but still enjoyed the story!