Themes:
Crime, thriller, suspense, mystery, action
Synopsis:
Richard 'Rico' Sanders is sent on a hunt to retrieve his gangster boss's priceless ruby necklace and teach the thief a lesson. With his partner Jerry, it seems like a straightforward task for long-time criminal enforcer Rico, until the chase leads him away from the known streets of Chicago to the sunny city of Honolulu.
The job escalates when bystanders are caught in the crossfire and things quickly go sideways for the hitman with a conscience - he is left with an ultimatum to finish the task at hand or risk the life of the woman he loves?
Thoughts:
This book was a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. With a handful of characters and quick introductions it literally dives into the plot from the very first chapter. It took me a few minutes to figure out how the necklace is initially lost purely because there's a lot happening in that particular scene but everything is smoothed out in the following chapters. I loved how every little detail tied together in the story and felt it was really well planned.
Rico is everything I want from a crooked protagonist character, from his attractive physical appearance and his tough 'don't mess with me' attitude, to his hidden caring side, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. I found myself caring more about his happiness and welfare then the mission at hand! Of course, I personally loved the slight romance side to the deadly plot and thought it brought a perfect balance to the story because realistically what are humans without emotions? The supporting characters were also brilliant in their own light, each having their own importance. However, I was mostly intrigued by Jean's life and wanted to know more from her point of view. Paul's backstory was particularly interesting, I liked the 'coincidental reunion' between him and Evelyn too but wonder if anything develops between them.
The story itself is full on, it flashes between present day action and characters previous lives - which brings a great insight and fits well with the current situation. There is a good mix of family drama with a cheating husband and backstabbing best friend which also adds to the story. Considering the short chapters and length of this novel it's impressively packed and gives all the information you need to connect the dots. The action scenes were lively and intense, felt quite similar to Pulp Fiction - don't get attached to any characters as Ed Duncan doesn't shy away from killing people off! But, I think there could have been a little more suspense in between the rapid succession of events. With an unexpected turn of events, things could have gone either way towards the end but it wraps on a positive note with a satisfying finish. It would be interesting to see where Rico's path will take him, if he will pursue his feelings for Jean or if there are any ghosts from his past wanting to pay a visit. I'll definitely be keeping up with the rest of this series, I could easily see it on screen and think it would make a good series/movie, especially with the beautiful scenery of Hawaii depicted.
I would recommend this book if you're after an exciting hit-man thriller with good writing. A quick, easy read with lots of entertainment!
Rating:
3.75/5
Favourite Quote:
'Yet, as a flower is drawn to the sun, she was drawn to him by a force she could neither explain nor control. Perhaps more importantly she knew that, in his own way, he was drawn to her as strongly as she was to him. Of that she was certain.'
*Disclaimer - I was sent a free copy of this book to review. All thoughts and comments are genuine and honest from my opinion.
Comments