When The Lights Go Out by John Vercher

 

When The Lights Go Out by John Vercher

Rating: Stared Review

Summary: Xavier Wallace has severe damage to his head from years of MMA fights. While training with a younger man he severely beats him. He can barley manage his life when a opportunity to fight again and redeem a suspension comes up. As Xavier looks to navigate his training, his father a white man with a hate filled past is dying in a care home.

Summary: A complicated emotional book to describe doesn’t do justice on how great this novel is. Vercher doesn’t pull punches in his second novel. You will be gut and head punched by this novel. Story telling at his finest. Comparisons do not justify his writing, but think Eli Cranor and S. A. Cosby. Must read author. 

https://www.amazon.com/After-Lights-Out-John-Vercher-ebook/dp/B09FPC1MNH/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2OFYLMJBV4575&keywords=john+vercher&qid=1659268190&s=digital-text&sprefix=John++ver%2Cdigital-text%2C85&sr=1-2

Three Fifths, by John Vercher

 

Three Fifths by John Vercher

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Two young men that were childhood friends go on different life paths. When Aaron is released from prison Bobby picks him up to take him home. On the way a fight breaks out and there paths once again meet in a devastating way.

Comments: Like a bad reader and a bad reviewer that I am, I skipped the debut of Vercher. The staying power of Vercher is loud and I finally got to it. Holy cow did I  waste a year. Great hardcore noir crime novel. Vercher can outright tell a character driven novel. Highly recommended. Now reading his sophomore novel set in one of my favorite cities, Philadelphia. It a barn burner already. 

https://smile.amazon.com/Three-Fifths-John-Vercher-ebook/dp/B07QK1DL4M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NKOQSL3BJLR4&keywords=three+fifths&qid=1658922094&s=digital-text&sprefix=Three+fifths%2Cdigital-text%2C81&sr=1-1

A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself by William Boyle

 

A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself by William Boyle

Rating: Stared Review 

Summary: When a widowed women who was married to a high level mobster, shot on their front steps, is asked by a lonely older neighbor for a little companionship she fleas to her estranged daughters house to seek refuge. Little does she know what waits there for her.

Comments: I have now finished all of Boyles novels. Boyle is writing at the highest level. Read his work, you will not be disappointed.

https://smile.amazon.com/Friend-Gift-You-Give-Yourself-ebook/dp/B07GRHZ1RX/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3HV527X9YB8EV&keywords=William+boyle&qid=1658690338&s=digital-text&sprefix=william+boyle%2Cdigital-text%2C111&sr=1-4.  

The Midcoast by Adam White

 

The Midcoast byAdam White

Rating: Starred review

Summary: Andrew returns to the town in Maine where he grew up and worked to teach at the high school and coach the girls LaCross team. Andrew here’s a story about the local lobster family he has a past with he digs deeper into there past and there crime roots.

Comments: Propulsive character driven narrative told from four family members story. Unique page turner. Well done Mr. White!

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FNZSNGR/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Rook by Stephen G.Elannou

 

Rook by Stephen G. Eoannou

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: A fictionalized account of a 1960’s serial bank robber who was afraid to go into the bank and do the actual robbing, who he left up to his gang buddies. The co robbers became upset he would take no chances inside so they quickly turned on him when a job goes bad and they kill and injure a bank guard in New York City.

Comments:  Being the planner, the thinker, and the get away driver doesn’t make dreams come true.

https://smile.amazon.com/Rook-Stephen-G-Eoannou/dp/1956692045/ref=sr_1_11?crid=M4VC8U1YVYCU&keywords=rook&qid=1657450787&sprefix=Rook%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-11

A Man Named Doll by Jonathan Ames

 A Man Named Doll by Jonathan Ames

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: A PI named Happy Doll is asked by a elderly friend to donate a kidney. Doll hesitates and the old guy looks for an alternative. When the old guy turns up with a bullet hole at Dolls house, Doll can’t help to wonder how. 

Comments: Having a cute little dog with you will not solve your problems. Doll is worth the read and a follow up soon to be released.

https://smile.amazon.com/Man-Named-Doll-Jonathan-Ames-ebook/dp/B08F51CXVZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ODGVF55MF72X&keywords=a+man+named+doll&qid=1656943824&sprefix=A+man+na%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-1

The Maze by Nelson DeMille

 

The Maze by Nelson DeMille

Starred review.

Summary: John Corey is back on Long Island resting away at his rich uncles house when former lover Beth Penrose shows up with a offer for a PI job nearby. Corey is reluctant but because he gets an offer to reacquaint with Beth he follows through with and interview. Obviously Corey spots the trap pretty quickly. 

Comments: DeMille starts the book out a tad slow, but he quickly turns on the jets and John Corey is back, funny, and rage filled as ever. Great stuff from a master writer. 

https://smile.amazon.com/Maze-John-Corey-Book-ebook/dp/B08LFTRTNX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=C66REAVKAHN4&keywords=the+maze+nelson+demille&qid=1656522333&sprefix=The+maze%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

Gangland by Chuck Hogan

 

Gangland by Chuck Hogan

Rating: Stared review

Summary: Chicago’s  longest serving capo sets Nicky Pins up to take care of some personal business when a jewelry heist committed by another group of expert thieves is not taken keenly by rival gangland capo. Nicky puts all his pins in one basket along with his child hood friends to keep Tony Accardo happy. 

Comments: Having Hogan writing again would be enough of a celebration, but then he goes and writes the best book of 2022. A can’t miss thriller/heists novel. Keep writing Mr. Hogan, keep writing.  

https://smile.amazon.com/Gangland-Chuck-Hogan-ebook/dp/B09NJKZJD1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26WJ2ALVIWUEZ&keywords=Chuck+hogan&qid=1655743848&s=books&sprefix=chuck+hogan%2Cstripbooks%2C124&sr=1-1

The Other Side of Night by Adam Handy

The Other Side of Night by Adam Handy 

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: A recently fired police detective finds a note in a book that leads her to investigate privately the message. It leads her on a personal journey of a former relationship and a family that recently died and the bodies dispersed.

Comments: I didn’t quite get the hype behind this novel. A science fiction slash crime novel with some sadness. 

https://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Night-Novel-ebook/dp/B09RX4QCSR/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2B5F53DSOY0MS&keywords=The+other+side+of+night&qid=1650885367&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+other+side+of+night%2Cdigital-text%2C108&sr=1-2

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

 

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: A group of nine people randomly receive a letter in the mail with there name and a list of the others on it. When suddenly out of nowhere they begin to be murdered, someone in the FBI must find out who is behind the list and murdering them.

Comments: A weak plotted no character development take off of the Agatha Christie novel. Fast paced but  light of development. 

https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lives-Novel-Peter-Swanson-ebook/dp/B097769VDM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MTUG1E3GP4ET&keywords=nine+lives+peter+swanson&qid=1650279644&sprefix=Nine+lives%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1