Short Story Wednesday Review: Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats Editor Chad Eagleton

 

Been a really bad three weeks here, physically and mentally, so I am dipping into the massive archive yet again…

 

The title of Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats says it all even before you get to the cover tag line of Drive Fast. Kill Young. Love A Pretty Girl. This anthology edited by Chad Eagleton certainly delivers on that premise. The image of the 50's depicted in Happy Days, American Graffiti, and others is quickly shattered by the introduction by Mick Farren. It sets a tone that is held up quite well by the eight authors involved in the book. 

 

Coming up first is Christoper Grant with “1958: Somewhere In Texas” where three young lesbians are on a robbery and killing spree. Shifting in time back and forth across several months it becomes clear how things began and escalated quickly. 

 

“Red Hot” by Thomas Puck follows next with a tale of Bobby, Karen, and the love of fast cars and beautiful woman. Both are equally dangerous and like a lot of other things can end up being expensive in so many ways.

 

Don Bayliss likes to steal things. It is a passion for him. 17 year old Sharon has ignited another passion in “Forlorn Hope” by Matthew Funk. Having seen combat he is looking for something. He isn't the only one looking.

 

Brothers Charlie and Butch rob places in “Only The Vultures Will See Me Hang” by Nik Korpon. Both served and saw combat and get along well enough most of the time. Then, there are the other times when plans don't go so well just like what often happened in combat.

 

A guitar is the supreme goal for John. Growing up in a Christian household he should have known not to steal it. But, he did and then things got rough in “Lola” by Eric Beetner.

 

Editor Chad Eagleton comes next with his tale “Blue Jeans And A Boy's shirt. “ A fast car, a sawed off shotgun, and a girl walking on a bridge change the future for Lonnie Bonner. Like other stories in the anthology, combat flashbacks play a major role in this tale. Combat that though it happened in the past still fuels the actions of Lonnie now as well as many others in these tales.

 

“Scarred Angel” by Heath Lowrance comes next with a tale where a beautiful hellcat is the one driving the action. Unlike most of the preceding stories where the guys are running things (or at least appear to be) in this case a woman dubbed “Frankie Scar” is definitely running the show. Scotty knew she was something when he saw her at “Jimmy Bo's.” Thanks to his buddies he finally went and said hello. Thanks to her he soon was on a wild ride he would be lucky to survive.

 

“Headless Hoggy Style” by David James Keaton is the final and possibly the most disturbing story of the anthology. Jake is never sure what Cherry is thinking. He plans on getting her to talk and Uncle Jake might be able to help. He also has some things to do as does his Uncle in this dark tale.

The book closes with an acknowledgments section detailing the contributions of those who kept the project alive followed by detailed bios of the contributor's.

 

Reviewing a collection or an anthology is tough as one does not want to give away too much and ruin the stories. This was certainly the case here with these very complicated tales. They are violence filled short stories peopled by characters that usually do what they want when they want to do it. Adult language, adult situations, and more fill the pages of this anthology that proves the point made in the introduction. There was a very dark and very violent side to the 50's and Hoods, Hot Rods and Hellcats gives you a small glimpse of that along with some solidly good stories.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3wftIuh

 

E-book was provided by the editor in exchange for my objective review.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014, 2024

Review: All The Rage In Texas: An Al Quinn Novel by Russ Hall

All The Rage In Texas: An Al Quinn Novel by Russ Hall is the latest reading in the long running and very good series that started with To Hell And Gone In Texas. This one begins with Bonnie out in Al Quinn’s Truck with Little Al in his car seat in the back seat. Both are nearly killed when she tried to merge onto a local highway as a speeder decides to cut her off. She slides off onto the shoulder as the truck barrels by with the driver either shaking his fist or flipping her off.

 

She doesn’t know what he was thinking or doing acting like that. It takes several minutes for her to calm down. Eventually, when there is a long gap in traffic, she pulls out and resumes her trip home.

 

Unfortunately, the truck is sitting a half mile down the divided roadway. Knowing that such incidents have resulted in drivers being shot, she decides to pull back on the side of the road. She also pulls her gun out of her purse in case she needs it. Bonnie is a good shot and is ready if the other driver wants to escalate things farther.

 

He does as he starts back towards the truck firing shots. She answers back with her .38. As the man is undeterred and continues to advance on her, she gets into the glove box. Bonnie pulls out Al’s Glock and returns fire. She hits the guy in the left thigh. He spins, loses his gun, and hits the asphalt. With the shooter down and weaponless for a few minutes, she takes the chance to drive by at high speed, and flee the scene.

 

She calls for help and soon Al, his wife, Fergie, and his brother, Maury, meet her and assess the situation. In addition to damage to the truck, Bonnie’s sure the guy got the license plate of Al’s truck.

 

Bonnie was right because they soon find the wounded man at their house at Lake Travis. The man has his gun and, when nobody comes to answer the door, fires a shot through the door, wounding Al’s dog, Tanner. Justifiably engaged, it takes everything in Al not to solve the issue immediately. Instead, Al tackles him, cuffs him to a nearby faucet, and rushes his dog to a nearby vet as members of the Sheriffs Department arrive.

 

Tanner is soon patched up and the whole family is back together. It becomes clear that the whole family is the target of Ketchum and his group. Sprung by Biff Groton from the hospital where Ketchum was being treated for his injuries, Ketchum and the group goes on a crime spree seeking vengeance on Bonnie, Al, and the rest of the family. Good thing Al worked for the Sherriffs Department for a long time and has lots of friends.

 

They are going to need them in this fast paced read. Stopping Ketchum and his crew is going to take some doing in this enjoyable read. One that highlights the ongoing and steadily worsening road rage situation here in Texas where things are not getting better.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3VMyh9y

My reading copy was purchased in early February 2024 before publication day.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024

FFB Review: Scott’s Take: The Ex-Heroes Series

With Scott approaching his three-year anniversary of his first guest post here on the blog, I thought for today I would remind you of that first post. His guest posts run each Saturday and usually cover science fiction and fantasy books.  

 

 

Hi, I am Scott and this is my first guest review. This review will be on the 5 book series by Peter Clines called The Ex-Heroes Series. The first book was published in 2013. 

 

The world ended in 2009 for all intents and purposes. Zombies have overrun most of the world including in Los Angeles. The so-called exes or ex humans.

 

Most of the survivors reside in a former movie studio turned fortress called The Mount. The place is guarded by the first and last superheroes of this world. Led by “Cloak” (think of a female Batman) and her second in command, “The Mighty Dragon” who also goes by the names, “St. George,” and “George Bailey.” Not only does he have three names that he goes by, he is also a janitor turned superhero. He is the source of hope and inspiration for the survivors of “The Mount.” He is a reluctant hero and leader.

 

Also on the team is “Gorgon” who is a man who can drain the life of any human being by looking at them. He is forced to wear special goggles at all times so as to not just go around draining folks by looking at them.

 

Another major character is “Zzzap.” In his superpower form, he is a living star of energy which really takes a toll on his human form. He is my personal favorite as he is absolutely hilarious. In his human form, he is confined to a wheelchair. In his energy form, he is one of the most powerful heroes here on Earth. He deals with the difference in his abilities by snapping off pop culture references and plenty of sarcastic commentary. Most of those references as the world in this series ended in 2009.

 

Those are the four major characters and there are many, many minor characters. This is a series that is for mature readers only and not kids. It is a very violent series and not for the faint of heart.  Many characters die in the series and no one, even the heroes, are safe. The heroes suffer consequences for their actions including loss of life, injuries, and survivor’s guilt. The heroes are not able to save everyone. A constant them in this series is the idea that if the heroes can barely protect themselves, how are they supposed to be able to save others?

 

The antagonists are varied in each book and throughout the series as a whole. The antagonists take many forms whether they are supervillains, gangs, zombies, food shortages, civil unrest issues, and more. These heroes even face the consequences for facing superheroes turned zombies. The stakes are impossibly high for the last survivors led by what is left of humanity’s most powerful. These heroes even face the consequences for facing superheroes turned zombies. 

 

Each book is from multiple points of view with chapters before the world ended and now.  Each book in the series is kind of its own genre. Each story is very different from the others. I enjoyed some books more than others. Personally, the 4^th book in the series was a genre I am not fond of. They could be read as stand alone, but should be read in order as each character develops and grow realistically throughout the series. More about each character is revealed throughout the series. Events are referenced and relationships change so reading in order is the better way to go about reading this series.

 

The heroes are doing the best they can while trying to save everyone. But, they as well as everyone else are teetering on the edge of extinction as a species. This is humanity’s last stand and last chance to survive.  

 

The series is highly recommended for superhero fans and zombie fans. Hopefully, there will be more of these books. I could see this series being adapted into a movie or television series. I enjoyed it a lot. This is not for kids. This is an adult series. 

 

 

The Ex Heroes Series

Ex-Heroes

Ex-Patriots

Ex-Communication

Ex-Purgatory

Ex-Isle

 

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2019, 2022

 

Violence Truly IS

 

Unlawful Acts: Violence, Waffle House, and Nigel Bird – Small Crimes: Friday Reads for 5/22/2020

Unlawful Acts: Violence, Waffle House, and Nigel Bird – Small Crimes: Friday Reads for 5/22/2020

Sunday Movie Review: Cold Pursuit

Earlier this week, Scott and I watched COLD PURSUIT. A movie that did not do that well when it hit theaters due to some controversy about various comments Liam Neeson had made while doing promotion work for the movie. Then there was the fact that critics did not much care for it.

Liam Neeson plays the classic traumatized father who seeks out those responsible, one by one, after his son is murdered. Because of toxicology results, the local police believe the kid is just another junkie that predictable overdosed. He wasn’t. Liam Neeson eventually begins to cope with his grief by going after those involved in a bloody and violent pursuit of the kingpin that caused the death of his son. He does so despite being vastly outnumbered and out gunned.

Think a less stylish done version of any John Wick movie and do it in the ice and snow and not the rain. There are also no dogs, no partial or frontal nudity, and no neon. Massive amounts of snow. There is plenty of violence and a bunch of folks get shot and die. Not nearly the body count of a John Wick movie, but they do make a run at it.

The bottom line is that Scott and I liked it. COLD PURSUIT is certainly not the greatest in action films, but after a slow start, it does get going generating plenty of action and a high body count. There is also the occasional dead pan humor which we both enjoyed. One of those films that must not and should not be taken seriously and yet some will anyway because they do that.

If we are doing the old star rating system, the number of guns rating system, the dead body count system, or any other clichéd system where 0 is utter crap and 5 is epically good, call this a 4 and move on. Fun, violent as hell, and easily forgettable.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2019

Netflix Synopsis:

The quiet family life of Nels Coxman, a snowplow driver, is upended after his son's murder. Nels begins a vengeful hunt for Viking, the drug lord he holds responsible for the killing, eliminating Viking's associates one by one. As Nels draws closer to Viking, his actions bring even more unexpected and violent consequences, as he proves that revenge is all in the execution.

Scott’s Take: The Ex-Heroes Series

Please welcome my son, Scott, to the blog. For those of you who do not know, Scott is in his final year of graduate school in the criminology program at The University of Texas At Dallas.  Sandi was pregnant with him when I graduated from there back in May of 1993 when Dragons still soared through the air and the campus pretty much rolled up at 5 PM because everything closed up. Now they have a bar on campus, coffee places and various fast food joints, and the Dragons are all gone thanks to climate change. I have been telling Scott for some time that he should review some of the many books he reads and finally he has agreed to do so from time to time.  So, today we have the first of what I hope are many reviews from Scott. His reading tastes are way different than mine. For one thing, I can’t read dystopian style fiction as real life is grim enough. I am certainly not reading anything with freaking zombies. He does. He likes it. He really likes it. That is messed up.

Ex-Heroes Series by Peter Clines

Hi, I am Scott and this is my first guest review. This review will be on the 5 book series by Peter Clines called The Ex-Heroes Series. The first book was published in 2013. 

The world ended in 2009 for all intents and purposes. Zombies have overrun most of the world including in Los Angeles. The so-called exes or ex humans.

Most of the survivors reside in a former movie studio turned fortress called The Mount. The place is guarded by the first and last superheroes of this world. Led by “Cloak” (think of a female Batman) and her second in command, “The Mighty Dragon” who also goes by the names, “St. George,” and “George Bailey.” Not only does he have three names that he goes by, he is also a janitor turned superhero. He is the source of hope and inspiration for the survivors of “The Mount.” He is a reluctant hero and leader.

Also on the team is “Gorgon” who is a man who can drain the life of any human being by looking at them. He is forced to wear special goggles at all times so as to not just go around draining folks by looking at them.

Another major character is “Zzzap.” In his superpower form, he is a living star of energy which really takes a toll on his human form. He is my personal favorite as he is absolutely hilarious. In his human form, he is confined to a wheelchair. In his energy form, he is one of the most powerful heroes here on Earth. He deals with the difference in his abilities by snapping off pop culture references and plenty of sarcastic commentary. Most of those references as the world in this series ended in 2009.

Those are the four major characters and there are many, many minor characters. This is a series that is for mature readers only and not kids. It is a very violent series and not for the faint of heart.  Many characters die in the series and no one, even the heroes, are safe. The heroes suffer consequences for their actions including loss of life, injuries, and survivor’s guilt. The heroes are not able to save everyone. A constant them in this series is the idea that if the heroes can barely protect themselves, how are they supposed to be able to save others?

The antagonists are varied in each book and throughout the series as a whole. The antagonists take many forms whether they are supervillains, gangs, zombies, food shortages, civil unrest issues, and more. These heroes even face the consequences for facing superheroes turned zombies. The stakes are impossibly high for the last survivors led by what is left of humanity’s most powerful. These heroes even face the consequences for facing superheroes turned zombies. 

Each book is from multiple points of view with chapters before the world ended and now. Each book in the series is kind of its own genre. Each story is very different from the others. I enjoyed some books more than others. Personally, the 4^th book in the series was a genre I am not fond of. They could be read as stand alone, but should be read in order as each character develops and grow realistically throughout the series. More about each character is revealed throughout the series. Events are referenced and relationships change so reading in order is the better way to go about reading this series.

The heroes are doing the best they can while trying to save everyone. But, they as well as everyone else are teetering on the edge of extinction as a species. This is humanity’s last stand and last chance to survive.  

The series is highly recommended for superhero fans and zombie fans. Hopefully, there will be more of these books. I could see this series being adapted into a movie or television series. I enjoyed it a lot. This is not for kids. This is an adult series. 

The Ex Heroes Series

Ex-Heroes

Ex-Patriots

Ex-Communication

Ex-Purgatory

Ex-Isle

Scott Tipple ©2019

On A Warm February Day In 2019 Scott Shows Off Flexibility While Seated

Sunday Movie Review: Black Water

I like action movies. A movie that has Jean-Claude Van Damme is sure to get a look. Even if what they are doing has been done to death. Black sites and escapes from them have all been the action movie rage the last couple of years in between the flood of cartel drug gang violence flicks. BLACK WATER takes the black site deal from the oil tanker or underwater base and puts it on a submarine.  

A skeleton crew of Navy personnel works in one part of the submarine while a CIA team works in the other part doing what they do. Dolph Lungren plays the role of a captured German intelligence dude who is already onboard when Jean-Cluade, in the role of Scott Walker, CIA operative and studly hero, is brought on board to be tortured about missing files.

The interrogation by the CIA team led by a traitor goes wrong—or right if you are Jean-Claude—and he escapes to do his version of Bruce Willis causing trouble in a skyscraper –submarine style. This is a decent action movie as long as you don’t think about it too much. Plenty of violent action, but nothing that is excessive or gory. There is no frontal nudity though there is a very little bit of side nudity of one of the actresses.

We got it by way of Netflix who also provides the synopsis/details below.  For those who wonder, there is no frontal nudity though there is a very little bit of side nudity of one of the actresses.

After he's spirited away to a submarine being used as a secret CIA interrogation site, operative Scott Wheeler learns that he's been framed for treason. But to prove his innocence, he must team up with a fellow prisoner and find a way to escape.

Cast 

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Patrick Kilpatrick, John Posey, Jasmine Waltz, Courtney B Turk, Tandi Tugwell, Lance E. Nichols, Tom DeNucci, Mark Sherman

Director 

Pasha Patriki

Genres 

Action & Adventure, Action Thrillers, Indie Action, Indie Suspense & Thriller

Moods 

Violent, Exciting

Review: A Turtle Roars In Texas: An Al Quinn Novel (Book 2) by Russ Hall

Detective Wayon Gallard has only been a detective for a month so the deceased woman hanging like a scarecrow at the Three Sisters Organic Farm might be a bigger case than he is ready to handle. Though he has been with the department for eleven years, Gallard has been a detective barely a month. Not even long enough to be comfortable wearing a suit on the job. If the case wasn’t complicated enough, somebody opened fire on the crime scene as Deputy Pudge, Gallard, and the two surviving sisters as they contemplated Gladys and the strange note that was pinned to her.

Considering everything that has happened, Sheriff Clayton thinks Detective Gallard is going to need some help and wants Al Quinn to assist and unofficially mentor Gallard. Al Quinn is sixty-two and far too young to be retired in Sheriff Clayton’s opinion. While he tells Quinn that all he wants is for him to show Gallard how to up his detective game, Quinn figures Clayton has something more in mind. The good sheriff frequently has an agenda within an agenda, but what that would be in this case, Quinn has not idea. Things at home are not at all relaxing and since he owes Clayton as they go back many years, he agrees to help for a few days.

Neither Quinn nor Gallard are thrilled to be forced together, but they form an uneasy alliance to work the case agreement. Good thing too as the dead woman isn’t the only murder case they have on their hands in the South Texas Countryside.

Second in the series that began with To Hell And Gone In Texas  is another good read. While billed as an Al Quinn Novel, the read is also about the other people in his life whether it be his brother Maury, his brother’s nurse, Bonnie, or other folks. Those relationships with Quinn, as well as the relationships between each other, are just as much as a part of the read as is the highly entertaining mystery. As was done in the first book, author Russ Hall has set up another complex mystery in the Texas Hill County and challenged readers to figure it out first.

While you could read A Turtle Roars In Texas first, it is recommended that you start at the beginning with To Hell And Gone In Texas. There is some character evolution at work here and less familial backstory in the read, so it is best to read in order. Both books are highly entertaining and mighty good reads. 

A Turtle Roars In Texas: An Al Quinn Novel (Book 2)

Russ Hall

http://www.russhall.com

Red Adept Publishing

http://redadeptpublishing.com/

December 2015

ASIN: B018MXJH5K

eBook (paperback available)

262 Pages

$5.99

According to Amazon, I picked this up back in October 2016. I am fairly certain I used funds in my Amazon Associate account to do so. I don’t think it was a free or reduced price read.

The third book in the series is titled Throw The Texas Dog A Bone and was published last August. I have a copy on my eBook TBR pile. 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2017

Review: "To Hell And Gone In Texas" by Russ Hall

Former Sheriff Detective Al Quinn is enjoying his retirement as well as his small home on the shores of a lake near Austin, Texas.  In some ways he misses his former job, but in others he is glad to be out as 25 years with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department was long enough even if he had a good boss.  His biggest annoyance these days at his isolated home is the drought.  If the unrelenting Texas sun keeps cooking the surrounding area forcing the lake level ever lower he will soon have to do some work to extend the boat dock.

The call from Sheriff Clayton of Travis County, his former boss, changes things. According to Clayton, Ali’s estranged brother, Maury, is in the hospital.  The homicide unit of Austin Police Department thinks it was a possible murder attempt. Sheriff Clayton does not know anymore more and that means Al is going to have to break the twenty year silence between them.

Al soon finds not only Maury in the hospital, but Detective Ferguson Jergens by his side. Al had known her back in High School, even taken her to the Prom, and a lot of years have passed. According to her, somebody gave Maury three tablets of Viagra, a drug he had no prescription for and should have never taken, and it almost killed him. He is still alive and is not out of the woods yet. Whether it happened at the assisted living center where Maury lives or by some other way has yet to be determined. Maury can’t talk.  It also has not been determined if, Maury, a ladies man possibly did it to himself or willingly took the pills offered by others.  According to Detective Jenkins everyone one is a possible suspect and that includes Al because he is the brother and their long history of conflict.

Al may hate his brother for good reason, but he certainly did not attempt to kill him. If he wanted his brother dead he would have done it years ago. He also may be retired and considered a suspect by the beautiful detective, but that is not going to stop him from going over to the assisted living center which is Maury’s home and start asking questions.  Before long a second attempt on Maury’s life is made, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are involved, and , and members of a notorious Mexican drug cartel are involved in a case that moves all over the Austin area as Maury, Al, and their friends battle to stay alive.

Well known for Bones In the Rain (Blue-Eyed Indian Mystery Series) and quite a few other books, award winning author Russ Hall has a really good book on his hands with To Hell And Gone In Texas. A complex action oriented mystery full of interesting characters, numerous suspects and plenty of clues, as well as lots of local color regarding the Austin, Texas area, this is a book that comes fully alive for the reader.  All of the above is a very long way of saying the book is very good and well worth your time.

To Hell And Gone In Texas

Russ Hall

http://www.russhall.com

Red Adept Publishing

http://redadeptpublishing.com/

August 2014

ISBN# 978-1-940215-33-4

Large Paperback (also available in e-book)

238 Pages

$13.99

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

Review: " Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats" edited by Chad Eagleton

The title of Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats says it all even before you get to the cover tag line of Drive Fast. Kill Young. Love A Pretty Girl. This anthology edited by Chad Eagleton certainly delivers on that premise. The image of the 50's depicted in Happy Days, American Graffiti, and others is quickly shattered by the introduction by Mick Farren. It sets a tone that is held up quite well by the eight authors involved in the book.

Coming up first is Christoper Grant with “1958: Somewhere In Texas” where three young lesbians are on a robbery and killing spree. Shifting in time back and forth across several months it becomes clear how things began and escalated quickly.

“Red Hot” by Thomas Puck follows next with a tale of Bobby, Karen, and the love of fast cars and beautiful woman. Both are equally dangerous and like a lot of other things can end up being expensive in so many ways.

Don Bayliss likes to steal things. It is a passion for him. 17 year old Sharon has ignited another passion in “Forlorn Hope” by Matthew Funk. Having seen combat he is looking for something. He isn't the only one looking.

Brothers Charlie and Butch rob places in “Only The Vultures Will See Me Hang” by Nik Korpon. Both served and saw combat and get along well enough most of the time. Then, there are the other times when plans don't go so well just like what often happened in combat.

A guitar is the supreme goal for John. Growing up in a Christian household he should have known not to steal it. But, he did and then things got rough in “Lola” by Eric Beetner.

Editor Chad Eagleton comes next with his tale “Blue Jeans And A Boy's shirt. “ A fast car, a sawed off shotgun, and a girl walking on a bridge change the future for Lonnie Bonner. Like other stories in the anthology, combat flashbacks play a major role in this tale. Combat that though it happened in the past still fuels the actions of Lonnie now as well as many others in these tales.

“Scarred Angel” by Heath Lowrance comes next with a tale where a beautiful hellcat is the one driving the action. Unlike most of the preceding stories where the guys are running things (or at least appear to be) in this case a woman dubbed “Frankie Scar” is definitely running the show. Scotty knew she was something when he saw her at “Jimmy Bo's.” Thanks to his buddies he finally went and said hello. Thanks to her he soon was on a wild ride he would be lucky to survive.

“Headless Hoggy Style” by David James Keaton is the final and possibly the most disturbing story of the anthology. Jake is never sure what Cherry is thinking. He plans on getting her to talk and Uncle Jake might be able to help. He also has some things to do as does his Uncle in this dark tale.

The book closes with an acknowledgments section detailing the contributions of those who kept the project alive followed by detailed bios of the contributor's.

Reviewing a collection or an anthology is tough as one does not want to give away too much and ruin the stories. This was certainly the case here with these very complicated tales. They are violence filled short stories peopled by characters that usually do what they want when they want to do it. Adult language, adult situations, and more fill the pages of this anthology that proves the point made in the introduction. There was a very dark and very violent side to the 50's and Hoods, Hot Rods and Hellcats gives you a small glimpse of that along with some solidly good stories.

Hoods, Hot Rods, and Hellcats

Editor Chad Eagleton

http://cathodeangel.blogspot.com/

Self Published

August 2013

ISBN# 978-1491002537

Paperback (e-book available)

162 Pages

$8.00

E-book was provided by the editor in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple (c)2014

Do Some Damage: Is My Book Too Dirty? by Mike Monson

 This is a posting by the author regarding my review of last week and the warning I included concerning the content of the book. While I have no issue at all with the blog posting, I have made a comment on the Do Some Damage blog explaining my position.

If you missed my review you should read that first and it is here:

 
Do Some Damage: Is My Book Too Dirty? by Mike Monson: by Mike Monson The Kindle edition of my new novella, The Scent of New Death , was released on April 21. That day, a review appear...

FFB DUAL REVIEW---"BABY SHARK" by Robert Fate

Recently BABY SHARK was offered as a free read via Kindle. Having liked the book (and the series) very much I suggested to Barry that he should pick it up and take a look. He did and decided he would review it. Hence, for the first time ever for Friday’s Forgotten Books hosted by Patti Abbott, both Barry and I are reviewing the same book on the same day. Barry’s new review of BABY SHARK is followed by my review originally written a number of years ago when I had all my hair, less weight, and could walk like a normal person….

BABY SHARK (2006) by Robert Fate

Reviewed by Barry Ergang

In 1952, accustomed to accompanying her pool shark father from one Texas poolroom to another where he earns money hustling suckers, seventeen-year-old Kristin Van Dijk doesn't experience violence as a way of life. Not, at least, until a fateful night in Henry Chin's poolroom when a member of the Lost Demons outlaw motorcycle gang shows up wanting revenge for having been hustled by her father. Violence erupts, resulting in multiple deaths that include those of Kristin's father, Henry's son, and one of the biker gang. Kristin is repeatedly raped and beaten by the bikers. When she recovers, having sustained some permanent damage and realizing the police aren't taking the incident seriously, she is determined to hunt down the men responsible for the deaths and her condition. Henry Chin is equally determined.

Kristin gets help from several different experts who put her through a rigorous course of training until she becomes proficient at hand-to-hand combat, the use of firearms, and at shooting pool. Henry hires private detective Otis Millett to locate their quarry, and then he and Kristin go after them. Sometimes Kristin goes alone. Along the way she learns that  people are not always the seemingly respectable folks they present themselves as. 

I read Baby Shark because a considerable number of people at a web group I belong to, one of whom is a close friend, have raved about it.  I enjoyed the book for what it is, a fast-paced, crisply told revenge/coming-of-age tale whose principal characters are decently fleshed-out (though most of the others are just names on the page). But I frankly don't understand the raves. There's nothing startlingly original about the premise, the violence that's vividly depicted, or the characters. Permit me—or forgive me for using—movie references: after being raped and assaulted by "The Wild One," a young woman transforms herself into  "The Karate Kid" and "The Hustler" to "Kill Bill."  

Will I read any of the sequels? Probably, if only to see in what direction the author takes his main characters, and to see how—and if—he develops them further. Mostly, however, Baby Shark hits me the way Mickey Spillane's novels do: as ephemeral mind-candy.

I can't address the paperback edition, but the Kindle edition could use a good proofreader to correct a significant number of punctuation errors.

Barry Ergang ©2012

Barry Ergang has books from his personal collection for sale at http://www.barryergangbooksforsale.yolasite.com/ He'll contribute 20% of the purchase price of the books to our fund, so please have a look at his lists, which have recently been added to. Some of his written work is available in e-book formats at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GXMF86) and at Smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/cassidy20)

Its October, 1952 as this often violent crime novel opens in Henry Chin's Poolroom situated in West Texas. Seventeen year old Kristin "Baby" Van Dijk is there with her father, a pool hustler. With her mom dead and her aunt living up in Oklahoma, it's pretty much her, her dad, and her dad's Coupe de Ville as they travel Texas with her dad playing pool for money and reading books for fun. That is until members of the "Lost Demons" motorcycle gang walk in.

When it's over, her dad is dead, Henry Chin's son is dead, a couple gang members are dead, and Kristin has been raped repeatedly and brutally beaten. Her jaw is broken, teeth are missing, ribs are cracked, her nose is broken and the list keeps going on and on. She was lucky she lived through it and waking up in the hospital in Abilene makes her almost wish she hadn't. Then she meets Detective Hansard and it is pretty much clear that the case is going to go nowhere. As Henry puts it, "No police justice. Henry knows more ways one skin cat." (Page 20)

Author Robert Fate launches the reader into a revenge tale that is so much more than simple revenge. Kristin who rehabs and follows her dad's career path as a pool hustler quickly earning the name "Baby Shark" is not a stereotypical vigilante. Yes, there are elements of that sort of thing in her character, but as he does with all the characters in this fast moving novel, author Robert Fate shows the other side of her. Revenge, retaliation, payback, call it what you will, it has consequences often in unexpected ways and he grippingly details that side of it for the reader.

In a torturous and violence filled path that goes back and forth across West Texas and reaches into Forth Worth and Dallas, author Robert Fate weaves a complex trail of not only revenge, but duplicity and mystery. While the opening may be cut and dried between the black hats and the white hats, it isn't long before nothing is that simple. The result is a powerful, often violent novel that does actually live up to the media hype.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2007, 2012