ncrabb's review
What do you do if you’re the parent, and you have to face suspicions transitioning to fact about your son’s drug problem? Matt and Marie clearly love their son, Paulie, and his changing behavior and lifestyle is creating family fissures and tensions of every kind imaginable. Matt turns to a friend—his long-time friend, Milan Jacovich. Milan is a weekend dad to two boys, and he has an almost-palpable fear that his oldest son could go down the same road as his friend’s teenager. Against his better judgment, Milan agrees to talk to the young man at the parents’ request. Naturally, he gets nowhere. But it is that brick wall—that seemingly impenetrable barrier thrown up by young Paulie that motivates Milan to dig into the case.
When he digs in, he uncovers some truly ugly stuff—drug gang activity that takes him into the most posh section of Shaker Heights, a Cleveland suburb known for its conformity and money apparently in some sections. Indeed, Roberts uses the phrase “deep shaker” here to designate someone who lives in the suburb and who has significant amounts of money.
This is almost as much a study in mid-life trauma and character as it is a mystery. Poor Jacovich is about to watch another relationship fizzle and die, and he’s trying to figure out how to retain some positive influence over the lives of his all-too-rapidly growing sons.
There’s plenty of suspense here, too, as Jacovich’s life is very nearly ended. There’s some graphic violence in here, and the untimely end of a German Shepherd dog may be difficult for some to read. But this is Les Roberts at his excellent game. Even though he didn’t live in Cleveland at the time he wrote this book in the series, he manages to give the place added dimensions—a kind of early-90s snapshot of the city. I've always enjoyed this series, and while I'm not reading it in order, I find dipping into it now and again is a real treat.
When he digs in, he uncovers some truly ugly stuff—drug gang activity that takes him into the most posh section of Shaker Heights, a Cleveland suburb known for its conformity and money apparently in some sections. Indeed, Roberts uses the phrase “deep shaker” here to designate someone who lives in the suburb and who has significant amounts of money.
This is almost as much a study in mid-life trauma and character as it is a mystery. Poor Jacovich is about to watch another relationship fizzle and die, and he’s trying to figure out how to retain some positive influence over the lives of his all-too-rapidly growing sons.
There’s plenty of suspense here, too, as Jacovich’s life is very nearly ended. There’s some graphic violence in here, and the untimely end of a German Shepherd dog may be difficult for some to read. But this is Les Roberts at his excellent game. Even though he didn’t live in Cleveland at the time he wrote this book in the series, he manages to give the place added dimensions—a kind of early-90s snapshot of the city. I've always enjoyed this series, and while I'm not reading it in order, I find dipping into it now and again is a real treat.
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