A review by noveldeelights
Breaking Bones by Robert White
4.0
3.5* --> 4*
Frankie Verdi’s name may sound like some 1960’s crooner but he’s anything but. From a young age, he and his friends Eddie and Tony seem destined to find themselves on the wrong side of the law. All three of them have quite the temper and an unhealthy tendency towards violence. Frankie may have watched too many The Godfather movies, Eddie has a secret he’s desperately trying to hang on to and Tony, who in this day and age may be diagnosed with having learning difficulties, is taken advantage of and will do anything for his friends.
Set in the 1980’s, we watch their rise towards criminal kingpin status through the eyes of Detective Jim Hacker. Jim is an excellent narrator and becomes a bit obsessed with The Three Dogs, as dubbed by the media. Convinced they are behind a multitude of crimes, he wants nothing more than to see their empire fall but without proof, he’s having to sit back and wait until The Three Dogs slip up.
Meanwhile, Jamie Strange finds himself unwillingly caught up with The Three Dogs when his fiancé, Lauren, leaves him to be with Frankie. Lauren had a horrible childhood and desperately wants a better life but while she proves herself to be quite the savvy business woman, her relationship with Frankie isn’t what she thought it would be. But once you’re part of that circle, can you ever really leave?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It’s dark and gritty, quite brutal and harsh, yet well-paced and hugely entertaining. The music and the fashion immediately transported me right back to the 80’s and along with the realistic, believable characters and an interesting plot, this would make an excellent movie. All in all, an authentic, action-packed, well-written and enjoyable crime thriller!
Frankie Verdi’s name may sound like some 1960’s crooner but he’s anything but. From a young age, he and his friends Eddie and Tony seem destined to find themselves on the wrong side of the law. All three of them have quite the temper and an unhealthy tendency towards violence. Frankie may have watched too many The Godfather movies, Eddie has a secret he’s desperately trying to hang on to and Tony, who in this day and age may be diagnosed with having learning difficulties, is taken advantage of and will do anything for his friends.
Set in the 1980’s, we watch their rise towards criminal kingpin status through the eyes of Detective Jim Hacker. Jim is an excellent narrator and becomes a bit obsessed with The Three Dogs, as dubbed by the media. Convinced they are behind a multitude of crimes, he wants nothing more than to see their empire fall but without proof, he’s having to sit back and wait until The Three Dogs slip up.
Meanwhile, Jamie Strange finds himself unwillingly caught up with The Three Dogs when his fiancé, Lauren, leaves him to be with Frankie. Lauren had a horrible childhood and desperately wants a better life but while she proves herself to be quite the savvy business woman, her relationship with Frankie isn’t what she thought it would be. But once you’re part of that circle, can you ever really leave?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It’s dark and gritty, quite brutal and harsh, yet well-paced and hugely entertaining. The music and the fashion immediately transported me right back to the 80’s and along with the realistic, believable characters and an interesting plot, this would make an excellent movie. All in all, an authentic, action-packed, well-written and enjoyable crime thriller!