July Reads

[Donna Moore]

A small but perfect list of reads for July.

WHO IS CONRAD HIRST? - KEVIN WIGNALL Protagonist: Conrad Hirst, Hitman
Series?: Standalone
Setting: Various European countries
The short answer is that Conrad Hirst is a hitman who wants out of the business, the long answer is so much more involved, so much more poignant, so much more human. In the first couple of pages of the book the reader learns that Conrad has decided to kill his way out of the business, by doing what he does best, and disposing of the few people who know about him. Running in parallel is another thread telling how and why he became a hitman in the first place. To say any more would be to spoil what is a gradual peeling away of the layers that slowly reveal who Conrad Hirst really is, and the truth of his world. A wonderful book - a look at the meaning and value of life to someone who is existing, rather than living. Kevin Wignall's writing gets better and better. Spare, but full of depth and feeling. If this doesn't propel him into the big time I'll be exceedingly surprised. One of those satisfyingly perfect books that all way through you are on edge wondering how it's all going to pan out, and then when you've finished it's so much more than you anticipated.

THE CONCRETE MAZE - STEVEN TORRES Protagonist: Marc and his uncle Luis
Series?: Standalone
Setting: New York
When thirteen year old Jasmine goes missing from her home in the Bronx, her father and his nephew set out to find her. The story is told from the perspective of the nephew, Marc, who accompanies his single-minded uncle around a vibrantly drawn Bronx. He accompanies him somewhat reluctantly on occasion - Tio Luis will apparently stop at nothing to get his daughter back and Marc finds himself faced with questions of morality and justice as well as with violence and corruption. This is a dark, tense book which pushes characters to their limits - and sometimes beyond. THE CONCRETE MAZE is a fast paced, gripping thriller, but it's ultimately a story of family - unconditional love, loyalty, tenderness. It's so full of heart and soul and raw emotion and it made me cry. It's one of those books that pops into your mind from time to time long after you have finished.

CUTTHROAT - STEVE BREWER Protagonist: Solomon Gage, Troubleshooter
Series?: Standalone
Setting: California
Solomon Gage is a troubleshooter for the mega-rich Sheffield family. He has been with them since a young age and his job is to solve their problems - whether they are business or family related (and, believe me, this is one disfunctional family!) - without question. His loyalty to the family's patriarch, Dominick Sheffield, is unwavering, as is Dominick's love and belief in him, but some of the other family members are not so keen on Solomon. Especially those who are engaged in some dodgy dealings on their own account. A sparkling plot, great characters, very cinematic - Steve Brewer proves he is just as good at the thriller as he is the comic crime novel.

THE BLONDE - DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI Protagonist: Jack Eisley
Series?: Standalone
Setting: Philadelphia
Jack Eisley is in an airport bar preparing for a meeting with a divorce attorney, when an attractive woman tells him she has poisoned his drink and he'll be dead in 12 hours. And then things go downhill on one wild wild night in Philadelphia - what with the nanobots, the hitman, the sex club and the severed heads. As the clock ticks down Jack has to make sense of it all amidst ever increasing weirdness. A wonderfully bizarre mixture of crime fiction, thriller, science fiction and comedy. Dark, strange, warped and funny - no one tells that sort of tale like Duane Swierczynski. Completely and utterly bonkers. A re-read for a book discussion and I loved it just as much as when I read it the first time.

[chelbel]

I hope all reviewers are as careful as you have been! The book is brilliant!

[Steven Torres]

WOw, missed this somehow. Many thanks for liking the book AND telling people about it. See you in Alaska.

[Donna Moore]

Sandra - you're right - and I hope reviewers don't give things away - it's a book that the reader needs to find out stuff gradually.

Margot - you're so right about the sense of place. It's very atmospheric.

Kevin - I applied for the job but they don't want me.

[Kevin Wignall]

Donna, PLEASE become the leader of the world.
Thanks, K

[Sandra Ruttan]

Great comments on WHO IS CONRAD HIRST - I found it a tricky book to review, just because I didn't want to betray anything. Fingers crossed it will do very well for Kevin - it should.