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Brother Found
Danny Meeks is four months away from paying off the heavy debts he acquired remodeling an investment property when the financial crisis hit. He expects to move his pregnant wife and step-son out of their trailer and into a house by the time his wife delivers Danny's first child.
But all these dreams are threatened when Danny's long-lost brother, Joey, arrives with a large bag of cash seeking sanctuary after a botched bank robbery.
Joey brings information that might lead them to their deceased father's lost fortune--or it might lead them into more trouble than they ever dreamed as law enforcement agents and Joey's criminal confederates close in.
Danny yields to his family heritage of thievery to protect his brother and preserve his dreams against adverse circumstances.
Danny knows all such actions come with a price. He's not sure just what the price will be, but he is about to find out.
But all these dreams are threatened when Danny's long-lost brother, Joey, arrives with a large bag of cash seeking sanctuary after a botched bank robbery.
Joey brings information that might lead them to their deceased father's lost fortune--or it might lead them into more trouble than they ever dreamed as law enforcement agents and Joey's criminal confederates close in.
Danny yields to his family heritage of thievery to protect his brother and preserve his dreams against adverse circumstances.
Danny knows all such actions come with a price. He's not sure just what the price will be, but he is about to find out.
83 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2013
6 people want to read
About the author
Rick Mallery
13 books73 followersRick likes to write. Rick likes to share what he writes. Rick shares a lot.
Rick lives with his wife in a quiet house about a mile from the river.
Rick lives with his wife in a quiet house about a mile from the river.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 5, 2013
If you love to be surprised and enjoy a story that keeps you in suspense then this is the book for you. I found myself turning pages quickly to find out who did what and why. It will keep you riveted and intrigued.
This is the second book I read by Rick Mallery and it won't be the last. He writes in different genres and is always entertaining in his delivery of a story.
This is the second book I read by Rick Mallery and it won't be the last. He writes in different genres and is always entertaining in his delivery of a story.
May 23, 2014
This crime novella repeatedly adds new evidence and perspectives, allowing the reader the joy of unravelling the mystery without making it too easy.
Danny Meeks turned his back on the family business of theft. But the combination of inheriting his father’s judgement debts and the collapse of the housing market, turned him from a house renovator on the up to a man working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. When Joey, his long-lost brother, appears with a sack of stolen money and the alleged site of his father’s missing stash, he must choose between family and morality.
Mallery skilfully interweaves the threads of Joey’s descent into crime, their father’s historical crimes, and Danny’s attempts to put the past behind him to produce a story where the reader is uncertain what is coincidence and what is connection.
However, this careful revelation of facts is occasionally taken too far. Most noticeably, the sub-plot around Danny’s attempts to formally adopt his step-son is suddenly radically altered in the last few pages by a character revealing significant information without having displayed any strong reason not to have mentioned it earlier. This pulls the rug out from under the reader, weakening the otherwise solid sense all the mysteries can be solved by putting together the clues available.
As the novella, both in pace and actual length, is not long, this sudden resolution of certain events can feel a little like a missed opportunity rather than an attempt to focus on the major plots.
Danny’s struggle to be both a good husband, a good father, and a good man is extremely well realised, and makes good use of situations where achieving one risks the others.
The supporting cast is almost all similarly well written, displaying an appropriate mix of broad characteristics and specific nuances for the depth of their involvement in the various plots.
Of particular note is Mallery’s adept handling of a character being both homosexual and a transvestite. Rather than emphasise their otherness or shy away from negative reactions, he makes these traits just two parts of the character’s personality, and shows a variety of nuanced and plausible reactions to each from the other characters.
Overall I enjoyed this novella. I recommend it to readers looking for a fast-paced mystery.
Danny Meeks turned his back on the family business of theft. But the combination of inheriting his father’s judgement debts and the collapse of the housing market, turned him from a house renovator on the up to a man working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. When Joey, his long-lost brother, appears with a sack of stolen money and the alleged site of his father’s missing stash, he must choose between family and morality.
Mallery skilfully interweaves the threads of Joey’s descent into crime, their father’s historical crimes, and Danny’s attempts to put the past behind him to produce a story where the reader is uncertain what is coincidence and what is connection.
However, this careful revelation of facts is occasionally taken too far. Most noticeably, the sub-plot around Danny’s attempts to formally adopt his step-son is suddenly radically altered in the last few pages by a character revealing significant information without having displayed any strong reason not to have mentioned it earlier. This pulls the rug out from under the reader, weakening the otherwise solid sense all the mysteries can be solved by putting together the clues available.
As the novella, both in pace and actual length, is not long, this sudden resolution of certain events can feel a little like a missed opportunity rather than an attempt to focus on the major plots.
Danny’s struggle to be both a good husband, a good father, and a good man is extremely well realised, and makes good use of situations where achieving one risks the others.
The supporting cast is almost all similarly well written, displaying an appropriate mix of broad characteristics and specific nuances for the depth of their involvement in the various plots.
Of particular note is Mallery’s adept handling of a character being both homosexual and a transvestite. Rather than emphasise their otherness or shy away from negative reactions, he makes these traits just two parts of the character’s personality, and shows a variety of nuanced and plausible reactions to each from the other characters.
Overall I enjoyed this novella. I recommend it to readers looking for a fast-paced mystery.
February 25, 2014
What A Rip-Roaring Read!
There are no two ways about it. Rick Mallery’s “Brother Found” starts out with a bang. A Botched Bank Burglary Bang, which quickly leads us to a cast of unforgettable characters: Joey Blunt, a misguided young man with potent, albeit questionable disguises; Joey’s brother, Danny Meeks, a hard working family man possessing a certain finely-tuned electronics expertise that keeps him busy at night; Ginger, his pregnant wife, soured and nay-saying; Cole, Danny’s innocent step son; Miranda, their wise, more-than meets-the-eye babysitter, and several more (or less savory) persons.
Having read Mr. Mallery’s “Becomes The Happy Man,” I was half expecting the same unique, hallmark prose. Imagine my surprise to begin reading and discover the absolute versatility of this author up close. His quick, smart banter, excellent foreshadowing, subtle inferences and a shroud of droll humor that had me chuckling throughout made this novel a page-turning, rip-roaring read that has at its core, a touching, although sometimes painful, ‘family values’ premise and the ever-present issue of stolen money. As Danny says to Joey, “I’ll help you do the right thing.” Well, I’m helping you do the right thing: Read this extremely well written book. You’ll be glad you did!
There are no two ways about it. Rick Mallery’s “Brother Found” starts out with a bang. A Botched Bank Burglary Bang, which quickly leads us to a cast of unforgettable characters: Joey Blunt, a misguided young man with potent, albeit questionable disguises; Joey’s brother, Danny Meeks, a hard working family man possessing a certain finely-tuned electronics expertise that keeps him busy at night; Ginger, his pregnant wife, soured and nay-saying; Cole, Danny’s innocent step son; Miranda, their wise, more-than meets-the-eye babysitter, and several more (or less savory) persons.
Having read Mr. Mallery’s “Becomes The Happy Man,” I was half expecting the same unique, hallmark prose. Imagine my surprise to begin reading and discover the absolute versatility of this author up close. His quick, smart banter, excellent foreshadowing, subtle inferences and a shroud of droll humor that had me chuckling throughout made this novel a page-turning, rip-roaring read that has at its core, a touching, although sometimes painful, ‘family values’ premise and the ever-present issue of stolen money. As Danny says to Joey, “I’ll help you do the right thing.” Well, I’m helping you do the right thing: Read this extremely well written book. You’ll be glad you did!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews