REVIEWS
The On the Hill series has many five star reviews on Amazon — all by verified buyers. Here are some of them.
Insomnia. It gives you insomnia, because you don’t want to put this book down. One of the Authors best work.
Verified Amazon buyer, Dawn.
What a wonderful adventure story about 4 good friends who lived on the "Hill" in the Mainline section of Philadelphia. Where the boys were thrown into a hide-and-seek game of survival. The cops and the mafia were after them after they witness murders from cherry trees. Will they survive? "Dead Kids Don't Speak" was exciting, suspenseful and, hard to put down. A must read for all who like thrillers.
Verified Amazon buyer, Cheryl.
OMG! What a terrific book. On The Hill Dead Kids Don't Speak is a terrific murder mystery and a book you can't put down.
Verified Amazon buyer, Joan.
"Dead Kids" takes place in a real small town near Philadelphia. Its population of free-range boys takes full advantage of its many natural and municipal wonders--steep hills, fields, woods, creeks, a river, a baseball field, and a dump. They explore, swim, make trails, hide out, and build contraptions from found treasures, all the while developing skills, creativity, and kinship.
Verified Amazon buyer, Gloria.
I didn't really enjoy the banter in the first Hill book, perhaps because I didn't like Ron's banter in HS either. In this second book Ron nailed the right balance of teenage language and the story line was intriguing. Butch has created a first class book with this second on the Hill series.
erified Amazon buyer, Richard.
Loved the book!,
Verified Amazon buyer, Bumper
I read the book excellent story line!
Verified Amazon buyer, Pete
Mr. Costello has written a fantastic book about my hometown. The story is engaging, right from page 1. Loved the story, plot and twists. Another great installment in the On The Hill series. Can’t wait for the next one!!!!!
Verified Amazon Buyer, David
Hero, Villain? The real man is lost to history. But that doesn't prevent Costello from presenting a nuanced vision of Columbus. Yes, he is something of an antagonist in this book. But not a two dimensional one. At once arrogant and confident, he is also operating in an historical period where these qualities are required, and where no amount of research can offset ignorance.
Verified Amazon buyer, Fritz
An amazing story line that brings in fiction to a non-fiction place and people!
Verified Amazon buyer, Mary
Wow this a fast pace thriller.4 kids witness a murder and have to run for their life. From the mob and police. From there it stays uphill on who will find and kill them. This doesn't disappoint with a great shootout ending. First read for me of this author. Need more stars to give. Great job.
Verified Amazon buyer, Brenda.
This story takes place in the woods behind where I grew up, with a cast of characters I knew in my childhood. That may be the only statement that is historically true about this book, but it hardly matters because this story is a true page turner; a great roller coaster ride of ups, downs, and crazy twists and turns. Among the many memorable characters is one you will not be able to get out of your head, a Casa Nostra hitman known as the "Badger," who is unlike anyone you've seen before and who I hope returns in future volumes from this "On The Hill" series.
Verified Amazon Buyer, Peter Reinhart
Then there are the adventures when they arrived at a new. home A fascinating book.
Verified Amazon buyer, Jo.
As soon as I finished the first book, I had to read his second book,"On the Hill, Insomina". This book was even better. From the start I couldn't put it down. I laughed a lot and the people in his book are so real. I can't wait for his next book due in out in November.
Verified Amazon buyer, Jahna
It is a small neighborhood where everyone looks out for one and other - partly because of the times, the 1960's. My favorites scenes involve the youthful banter of the high school kids from the Hill. Without giving the plots away, I'll mention some of the elements: school bus rides, HS baseball, local police, local tough guys, Russians, deadly virus, black family, Irish mob, insomnia, paper route, and the FBI. The author weaves the various story lines throughout the book. Everything is interconnected and concludes in an exciting finish.
Verified Amazon buyer, Paul B.
This book is excellent !!!!
Verified Amazon buyer, David
I read this book because some of the characters from the first Book, On the Hill Dead Kids Don’t Speak. While it is not a continuation, it is an enjoyable read through the eyes of some of the characters in the previous book. The story is compelling mystery which keeps you want to continue to read so you can find out what happens. Ron Costello is a wonderful writer who leaves you waiting for the next book. Don’t miss this page turner. Insomnia is a winner!.
Verified Amazon buyer. Joan
Isn't it great when you find a book that completely drags you into the dialog? Well this is the book for you.
Verified Amazon buyer, Dawn
This book and the others in the series are so much fun to read. The adventures of the Hill kids are incredible ... I want to hang with those guys !! Any book in this series is enjoyable.
Verified Amazon buyer, David.
The review below is a verified Amazon review on Darkness They Could Not See — (see book at Amazon), by Fritz Ward, professor at Idaho State University. The author does not know Mr. Ward nor has he ever had contact him. Purely an unsolicited Amazon review.
Ron Costello has a gift for writing under appreciated thrillers. Stephen King? No. But his books are credible accounts of adventures where readers can relate to the heroes involved, and often to the antagonists as well. Christopher Columbus is a case in point. He was mostly forgotten in history until my great grandfather, among many other Italian immigrants, campaigned for recognition of a Columbus Day holiday. His goal was to give other Italian immigrants a sense of pride in who they were as the America they immigrated to often mistreated them.
Fast forward eight decades, and a new generation of advocates for the marginalized among society sees Columbus very differently; as a representative (indeed, the very archetype) of a European oppressor of Native American Culture. It is perhaps a comment on how successful the United States is at eliminating racism that a rallying figure for an oppressed minority can be transformed into the oppressor in just three generations.
Most of today's advocates for social justice probably wouldn't see the issue that way, but then again, few Americans today have a real sense of history. And so Columbus has become something of a caricature. Hero, Villain? The real man is lost to history. But that doesn't prevent Costello from presenting a nuanced vision of Columbus. Yes he is something of an antagonist in this book.
But not a two dimensional one. At once arrogant and confident, he is also operating in an historical period where these qualities are required, and where no amount of research can offset ignorance. But this book is not about Columbus. Nor should it be. Costello is writing instead about the marginalized people in history that it is easy for us to forget. His two central characters in the book are Pedro, the cabin boy (a figure known to history who was briefly asked to pilot one of the ships with severe consequences), and Higuamota, an important figure (Bloodwoman) among the Taino people.
And that leaves me with the greatest lesson of this book. A gifted writer, using solid historical sources, has tried to recreate a world that is lost forever to give voice to those no longer heard. And in the end, I am left with a sense of loss. Because I suspect the voices really are gone forever and with it much of our heritage. We are left with imposing our own vision on the past in an effort to make sense of it. Still, some of those visions make for compelling stories. This is one of them.