The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Lake Union

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

To call this book extraordinary won’t do it justice! Dugoni has written a coming of age story with some of the best character development I have ever read.

Sam Hill started life different than everyone else. He was born with red pupils and ended up with the nicknames, “Devil boy” or “Sam Hell”.  His mother didn’t want him to believe the derogatory things said about him. She told him that God had a plan for his life and to have faith in God’s will.  Nothing she said did any good to comfort Sam, but he kept his head high with the help of his mother’s faith, father’s guidance, and his two best friends.  Growing up in the time he did, it was hard to have red eyes, but it was even harder to have dark skin, which is what made Sam gravitate towards the new kid in school, Ernie Cantwell.  Ernie was the only African American kid in Sam’s class and needed a friend as bad as Sam did.  Mickie Kennedy rounded out their group and she was a force to be reckoned with.  As Sam grows into adulthood, he questions if everything is by a plan or not.  Sam looks back on the life he has lived and takes a journey through the past and around the world to figure his world out for himself.  By the time he finishes his journey, his eyes are truly open to what matters most.

Robert Dugoni is by far one of the best authors I know. His writing is one that will transport you into the story and have you walking hand in hand with the characters.  His Tracy Crosswhite series is one of my favorite series to date and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is going to be right up there with some of my all time favorites, but for very different reasons.  Usually my favorite reads are the suspense thrillers, page-turners that keep you guessing about what is going to happen until the very end.  With this book, it was more of an immersion into the characters unlike any other I have ever read. The character development throughout this story is better than any I have ever read.  Each character brings the story to life in their own special way.  Sam has so many challenges but it is nothing he can’t handle.  And having to face those challenges helps mold him into the kind of man he needs to be to help others, a lesson we can all learn from.  Dugoni is well known for his suspense thrillers and legal thrillers so I wasn’t sure how this new venture would turn out for him but am pleased to say this will easily make my list of best of the year reads.  I recommend this book to all readers, especially those looking for a story with heart and a lesson for all to learn.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.