This wasn't one of those "OH THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ" type of books, but it was entertaining. Sometimes a book doesn't have to be a high-brow read. Sometimes it is a book that you just want to read for a bit of downtime between something more serious. The main issue I had with this book was that the writer made it fairly obvious from almost the beginning what was going on. I predicted what had happened almost 5% into the book and even told my partner so that someone would know I wasn't making up that I figured it out that early on.

The steps to get to understanding why the individual did what they did in the book though is interesting and part of what makes this a fun read. It isn't ever going to be a classic by any means, but who needs every single book they read to be a classic. Sometimes I just want to read pure mystery drivel. A book that you are on the edge of your seat wondering "WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?" and this book does that. You want to know what is going to happen and where the story is going to ultimately lead to.

I would not recommend this book to everyone, but anyone that wants to read a mystery that is easily solvable, but has interesting characters should definitely give this book a shot. I was going to see what else this author has written, but it appears that they have primarily wrote a lot of government thrillers, which is simply not my cup of tea, but this one is anything but that. ( )

This book manages to successfully be many things at once: a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, and a social commentary on the impact our choices and the choices of others can have on our pasts, presents, and futures.

A bully has been killed on school grounds, and the fingerprints of six children have been found on the murder weapon. "The Kiddie Catcher", a police officer still suffering psychologically from the event that earned him his nickname, investigates the crime, while finding his life suddenly entangled with that of the suspects' beloved teacher.

I was able to call the big twist long before it happened, but still really enjoyed this book. It's a unique and well thought-out take on the mystery and thriller genres. ( )

Great premise, 6 sixth graders suspected of killing a classmate. Unfortunately the character with mental problems was very confusing and really detracted from the story for me. ( )

Brilliant read!

The cruel school bully gets killed. Six children discover his body, one of them may have murdered him. Detective Dooley Ashe, the Kiddie Catcher, tries to uncover the truth. Mary, the children’s teacher, would do anything to protect them. With different goals in mind, Dooley and Mary form an uneasy alliance. As the story progresses to its tragic end, both Dooley and Mary are confronted with demons from their past.

As one of the reviewers pointed out, All for One is in part a story about choices, choices we have to make, sometimes under pressure, and how these choices have results that determine the rest of our lives. It deals with psychologically complex and flawed human beings. It is also a story about childhood abuse, injustice, and about good people who try their best and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail.

All for One is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in quite a while. The characters are convincing and portrayed with great sensibility. A fast-paced and well-crafted mystery, it leads the reader through a maze of events and flashbacks and unexpected twists to an amazing surprise ending. However, is not one of those contrived surprise endings of less successful thrillers. This ending, as unexpected as it is, is foreshadowed and makes total sense in retrospect.

Highly recommended. I look forward to more of the same author. ( )