ispeakbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this crime mystery/thriller set in Detroit. August Octavio Snow grew up in a home full of love in the Mexicantown neighborhood, his father black, his mother Mexican. He followed his father's footsteps and became a cop, but then he outed the corrupt and was wrongfully fired, and ended up winning a $12 million lawsuit against the city. The next year he spent traveling the glove and experiencing life. Well.He's come back now. A cruel, rich old woman summons him upon his return and asks him to look into her company. He refuses. Two days later she is dead, and he is left feeling guilty as hell, so begins to investigate...
I felt like I personally knew several of the characters by the time I was done reading this book. I had a special soft spot for "Skittles" and Frank. Many important scenes in the book occurred at restaurants or mentioned a meal, many times mouthwateringly spicy and delicious Mexican dishes. There was a LOT of action w/fists and guns and tactical thinking. I did pinpoint who had killed the rich old lady, but not her main reason for doing so; that was a "nice" surprise... in the sense that I enjoy twists I don't expect, not the actual reason being nice. The writing was solid... nothing flowery, not too many metaphors, much Spanish sprinkling the characters' discussions and thoughts. August seemed pretty well rounded for a main character and one can tell he was raised to be a truly good man, even if he doesn't talk or act great all the time.
Give this one a read if you enjoy a mystery/thriller with a more unique main character, in that he isn't some hot white dude, but more of a (from the book) "Dwayne Rocky" looking guy! I look forward to reading book #2 and other future installments in this series.
I felt like I personally knew several of the characters by the time I was done reading this book. I had a special soft spot for "Skittles" and Frank. Many important scenes in the book occurred at restaurants or mentioned a meal, many times mouthwateringly spicy and delicious Mexican dishes. There was a LOT of action w/fists and guns and tactical thinking. I did pinpoint who had killed the rich old lady, but not her main reason for doing so; that was a "nice" surprise... in the sense that I enjoy twists I don't expect, not the actual reason being nice. The writing was solid... nothing flowery, not too many metaphors, much Spanish sprinkling the characters' discussions and thoughts. August seemed pretty well rounded for a main character and one can tell he was raised to be a truly good man, even if he doesn't talk or act great all the time.
Give this one a read if you enjoy a mystery/thriller with a more unique main character, in that he isn't some hot white dude, but more of a (from the book) "Dwayne Rocky" looking guy! I look forward to reading book #2 and other future installments in this series.
sde's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I picked this book because I heard that it is set in a very definite space - Detroit. It is indeed, and I really liked the first half of the book and getting to know different parts of the Detroit area. I found the story line of August being on tenuous footing with the police department because he exposed their corruption to be intriguing. But the story got more and more outlandish and violent as the story went on. How could all the things described in the book happen without the general public really noticing?
I double checked a few times to make sure this was really the first book in the series because it seemed to keep referring back to things that sounded like they were explained in a previous book - e.g. August Snow's relationships with a couple of women. I took a break in reading this book when I went on a trip, which may explain why I don't completely understand how it resolved, especially the role Skittles played.
I double checked a few times to make sure this was really the first book in the series because it seemed to keep referring back to things that sounded like they were explained in a previous book - e.g. August Snow's relationships with a couple of women. I took a break in reading this book when I went on a trip, which may explain why I don't completely understand how it resolved, especially the role Skittles played.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Cursing
itsmarkyall's review against another edition
4.0
This book just made me a longtime fan of Stephen Mack Jones.
antidietleah's review against another edition
3.0
Great man character but too much going on in the plot. Not bad for a debut novel.
hannahbananagram's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I loved all the twists and turns in the last third of the book and man I am a SUCKER for a white collar international crime ring story (I guess that’s the best description I have for what kind of mystery this was lol)
daniellesalwaysreading's review against another edition
3.0
It was very slow to start, there was a bunch of tell not show, and the mystery was not compelling, but it picked up and became a fun action story. If you like guns and punching, I would give this one a chance.
thespinedown's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
I'm very impressed that this is a debut novel because it sure doesn't read like one. The writing is easy to read and follow, I got into this book right away. I loved the character development in the book and I really liked the characters. I'm not familiar with Detroit where this book is based but I really liked the set up of the background of the city and the characters. The author really makes it feel like I'm in the city.
This is an action book, the only thing I didn't really like was that the action and especially the villains were very cliched. If the author made the villains less cookie cutter, then it would be perfect.
The basic story is that native son August Snow, former cop, returns to Detroit. He helps an old benefactor with irregularities with her old bank. The FBI is involved, and with the help of both old and new friends, Snow gets to the bottom of it. This appears to be the beginning of a new series and I will gladly follow the sequel.
I got this book as a free ARC.
This is an action book, the only thing I didn't really like was that the action and especially the villains were very cliched. If the author made the villains less cookie cutter, then it would be perfect.
The basic story is that native son August Snow, former cop, returns to Detroit. He helps an old benefactor with irregularities with her old bank. The FBI is involved, and with the help of both old and new friends, Snow gets to the bottom of it. This appears to be the beginning of a new series and I will gladly follow the sequel.
I got this book as a free ARC.