menniemenace's review
2.0
I guess the Angel Dare books were a fluke.
This book isn't bad in it's genre, I guess. It's full of grit and action and "bad men", it's racist, classist, and hella offensive. Open a random page and tell you've found nothing offensive in it. I dare you! I double dare you!
The premise is simple enough. A guy cheaps out on a hitman and gets in so much trouble over it. every single character tries to double-cross the other characters and a different character is ruined for it. It's ridiculous in the so-bad-it's-good way.
I don't regret it but I'm diffidently not reading anything by the author again.
This book isn't bad in it's genre, I guess. It's full of grit and action and "bad men", it's racist, classist, and hella offensive. Open a random page and tell you've found nothing offensive in it. I dare you! I double dare you!
The premise is simple enough. A guy cheaps out on a hitman and gets in so much trouble over it. every single character tries to double-cross the other characters and a different character is ruined for it. It's ridiculous in the so-bad-it's-good way.
I don't regret it but I'm diffidently not reading anything by the author again.
boesgesicht's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
whitethief's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rachface's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wynnz's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Max, a disgruntled husband,
Popeye, a psychotic hitman,
Angela, a seductive and sexy go-getter, Max's mistress, and Popeye's girlfriend,
A deadly ménage à trois.
Take a peek into the lives of the paranoid, despairing, and deranged. Follow Max's life, a man who, on the surface, has everything: a wife, his own successful company, a gorgeous mistress—just like a duck swimming on a pond, on the surface calm and serene, but manic and chaotic underneath. Watch as his life and the lives of those in his orbit slowly dissolve and go down the drain.
A black comedy that examines the absurdity and desperation of people searching for the perfect life. An entertaining and fast-paced read with despicable and shallow characters and an interesting plot.
mayarelmahdy's review
2.0
I guess the Angel Dare books were a fluke.
This book isn't bad in it's genre, I guess. It's full of grit and action and "bad men", it's racist, classist, and hella offensive. Open a random page and tell you've found nothing offensive in it. I dare you! I double dare you!
The premise is simple enough. A guy cheaps out on a hitman and gets in so much trouble over it. every single character tries to double-cross the other characters and a different character is ruined for it. It's ridiculous in the so-bad-it's-good way.
I don't regret it but I'm diffidently not reading anything by the author again.
This book isn't bad in it's genre, I guess. It's full of grit and action and "bad men", it's racist, classist, and hella offensive. Open a random page and tell you've found nothing offensive in it. I dare you! I double dare you!
The premise is simple enough. A guy cheaps out on a hitman and gets in so much trouble over it. every single character tries to double-cross the other characters and a different character is ruined for it. It's ridiculous in the so-bad-it's-good way.
I don't regret it but I'm diffidently not reading anything by the author again.
mayar_reading_stuff's review against another edition
2.0
I guess the Angel Dare books were a fluke.
This book isn't bad in it's genre, I guess. It's full of grit and action and "bad men", it's racist, classist, and hella offensive. Open a random page and tell you've found nothing offensive in it. I dare you! I double dare you!
The premise is simple enough. A guy cheaps out on a hitman and gets in so much trouble over it. every single character tries to double-cross the other characters and a different character is ruined for it. It's ridiculous in the so-bad-it's-good way.
I don't regret it but I'm diffidently not reading anything by the author again.
This book isn't bad in it's genre, I guess. It's full of grit and action and "bad men", it's racist, classist, and hella offensive. Open a random page and tell you've found nothing offensive in it. I dare you! I double dare you!
The premise is simple enough. A guy cheaps out on a hitman and gets in so much trouble over it. every single character tries to double-cross the other characters and a different character is ruined for it. It's ridiculous in the so-bad-it's-good way.
I don't regret it but I'm diffidently not reading anything by the author again.
mc1968's review against another edition
3.0
wish there was a 1/2 star rating. I would put this book at 3 1/2 stars. If you want heroes in your stories this probably is not the book for you.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
3.0
It is true this one has so many twists and turns you feel washed, scrubbed, and tumble-dried when it’s over. At first it seemed like a clever ploy going down, but toward the middle, end-center it really took off as unique and brilliant with plot execution.
I didn’t latch on in the beginning…the writing style of the opening scene was well-arranged and kept me searching, but then it seemed to slow with Angela to things that, while I could keep reading, it just dragged too much. It didn’t help that none of the characters are likeable here. This is a trademark of Hard Case to have characters you don’t latch on to, but these are really all to be despised.
I didn’t realize it was a black comedy sort until some of the funnier stuff started happening later – the herpes was hilarious, then almost getting old, then funny again. When humor arose it was refreshing and took some of the pressure off the winding tale. Everyone deceives, double crosses, and fools everyone here.
While there are many players, it is certainly NOT a character-orientated novel. Purely plot-driver, and while the story was all over the place, it still almost manages to sustain believability. After the weaker pacing, build-up, the pacing took off and never let go of the rush afterword. Dark humor reared its head in a few places, making me doubt myself at times if it was intended or not. Once the book is through, though, it’s evident it was always there waiting to be discovered.
As for the ending? As is typical with these crime noir books, irony is rich but karma isn’t always dependable.
I didn’t latch on in the beginning…the writing style of the opening scene was well-arranged and kept me searching, but then it seemed to slow with Angela to things that, while I could keep reading, it just dragged too much. It didn’t help that none of the characters are likeable here. This is a trademark of Hard Case to have characters you don’t latch on to, but these are really all to be despised.
I didn’t realize it was a black comedy sort until some of the funnier stuff started happening later – the herpes was hilarious, then almost getting old, then funny again. When humor arose it was refreshing and took some of the pressure off the winding tale. Everyone deceives, double crosses, and fools everyone here.
While there are many players, it is certainly NOT a character-orientated novel. Purely plot-driver, and while the story was all over the place, it still almost manages to sustain believability. After the weaker pacing, build-up, the pacing took off and never let go of the rush afterword. Dark humor reared its head in a few places, making me doubt myself at times if it was intended or not. Once the book is through, though, it’s evident it was always there waiting to be discovered.
As for the ending? As is typical with these crime noir books, irony is rich but karma isn’t always dependable.
dfl3rd's review against another edition
5.0
The Chicago Tribune was right -- this was "sleazy, irreverent, offensive and wildly entertaining"!