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The Bang Devils
For Chris Ryan and Jessica Romano, two Americans living in Japan, life is like a movie. Money comes easy when you're an "exotic" Westerner. Sex comes even easier. With every need instantly satisfied, the greatest worry is growing restless. Because when your life is a movie, it doesn't take long before you decide you need to do something ... cinematic. So when a wealthy Japanese businessman, overcome with too much whiskey -- and too much Jessica -- boasts that he secretly keeps a fortune in cash in his home, Jessica enlists Chris and her boyfriend, Taro, to help her execute the perfect kidnapping. But they soon learn that the money might not be the only secret the businessman is keeping. As the stakes start to rise, the three friends begin to question their motives -- and one another. It doesn't take long for them to realize that while the surest way to survive is sticking together, the surest way to get rich is betrayal.
- GenresFiction
305 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2017
Okay story about unbelievably stupid people.
Reminded me of the movie Suicide Kings.
Reminded me of the movie Suicide Kings.
June 10, 2013
Two expatriate Americans and a half-Japanese punk plot to ransom a wealthy businessman. Unfortunately, the businessman is not what he seems and, naturally, the scheme does not unfold as planned.
Author Patrick Foss held my interest with his fast-paced plot and some unexpected plot twists. I especially like a section toward the end where he reveals how the seemingly helpless captive has outwitted his captors and set in motion a series of events that will put him back on top again. However, there were also some problems that nearly moved me to a 2-star review. First of all, I really disliked the characters. Having lived in Japan, I can confirm the accuracy of Foss's presentation of shallow gaijin who are deluded by the ego-stroking that white foreigners can receive in that country. Unfortunately, those people are not interesting and Foss does not make them interesting. I needed at least one character with a degree of self-awareness to break the flow of self-pity and whining in which these conspirators indulge. I was also annoyed by the frequent references to movies. I know that Foss was trying to illustrate the cinematic mindset of his characters, but too much of it comes across as sloppy writing--if you can't describe it well yourself, just reference a movie that most people have seen to give them an image.
Ultimately, it's probably not worth the trouble.
Author Patrick Foss held my interest with his fast-paced plot and some unexpected plot twists. I especially like a section toward the end where he reveals how the seemingly helpless captive has outwitted his captors and set in motion a series of events that will put him back on top again. However, there were also some problems that nearly moved me to a 2-star review. First of all, I really disliked the characters. Having lived in Japan, I can confirm the accuracy of Foss's presentation of shallow gaijin who are deluded by the ego-stroking that white foreigners can receive in that country. Unfortunately, those people are not interesting and Foss does not make them interesting. I needed at least one character with a degree of self-awareness to break the flow of self-pity and whining in which these conspirators indulge. I was also annoyed by the frequent references to movies. I know that Foss was trying to illustrate the cinematic mindset of his characters, but too much of it comes across as sloppy writing--if you can't describe it well yourself, just reference a movie that most people have seen to give them an image.
Ultimately, it's probably not worth the trouble.
April 24, 2014
Two expatriate Americans and a half-Japanese punk plot to ransom a wealthy businessman. Unfortunately, the businessman is not what he seems and, naturally, the scheme does not unfold as planned.
Author Patrick Foss held my interest with his fast-paced plot and some unexpected plot twists. I especially like a section toward the end where he reveals how the seemingly helpless captive has outwitted his captors and set in motion a series of events that will put him back on top again. However, there were also some problems that nearly moved me to a 2-star review. First of all, I really disliked the characters. Having lived in Japan, I can confirm the accuracy of Foss's presentation of shallow gaijin who are deluded by the ego-stroking that white foreigners can receive in that country. Unfortunately, those people are not interesting and Foss does not make them interesting. I needed at least one character with a degree of self-awareness to break the flow of self-pity and whining in which these conspirators indulge. I was also annoyed by the frequent references to movies. I know that Foss was trying to illustrate the cinematic mindset of his characters, but too much of it comes across as sloppy writing--if you can't describe it well yourself, just reference a movie that most people have seen to give them an image.
Ultimately, it's probably not worth the trouble.
Author Patrick Foss held my interest with his fast-paced plot and some unexpected plot twists. I especially like a section toward the end where he reveals how the seemingly helpless captive has outwitted his captors and set in motion a series of events that will put him back on top again. However, there were also some problems that nearly moved me to a 2-star review. First of all, I really disliked the characters. Having lived in Japan, I can confirm the accuracy of Foss's presentation of shallow gaijin who are deluded by the ego-stroking that white foreigners can receive in that country. Unfortunately, those people are not interesting and Foss does not make them interesting. I needed at least one character with a degree of self-awareness to break the flow of self-pity and whining in which these conspirators indulge. I was also annoyed by the frequent references to movies. I know that Foss was trying to illustrate the cinematic mindset of his characters, but too much of it comes across as sloppy writing--if you can't describe it well yourself, just reference a movie that most people have seen to give them an image.
Ultimately, it's probably not worth the trouble.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews