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Figure 8
Victoria Biggs is a smart criminal. The bodies in the bags can’t say the same.
Victoria left the streets behind six years ago but they still taunt her. After the police fail to piece together her old gang leader, Chains’, sloppy crumb trail, she devises a plan and rounds up her old crew. But when Victoria walks in on Chains’ retaliation too late, she learns one of them snitched. She stops crying long enough to ditch her family loyalty.
By morning, Chains will wish he’d killed himself. And the nark will wish for nothing more than life in a padded cell.
Victoria left the streets behind six years ago but they still taunt her. After the police fail to piece together her old gang leader, Chains’, sloppy crumb trail, she devises a plan and rounds up her old crew. But when Victoria walks in on Chains’ retaliation too late, she learns one of them snitched. She stops crying long enough to ditch her family loyalty.
By morning, Chains will wish he’d killed himself. And the nark will wish for nothing more than life in a padded cell.
- GenresThriller
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2014
2 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Lillian Graves
3 books10 followersThe first story I ever wrote was Sonic the Hedgehog fan-fiction at the tender age of eight.
As a tomboy, I spent hours watching boys play video games during play dates. To include myself in their world of buttons and power-ups, I'd ask incessant questions about the characters, worlds, and storyline. I got the bright idea to bring a notebook when their answers became so intricate with rules and plotholes.
This caught the attention of my future partner in crime, B.W., who tore his eyes from the TV and asked me why I had a notebook. When I told him my plans to document and fill in the missing pieces to the storylines, he asked me if he could illustrate them.
Of course I said yes.
The next day, I tore the perforated sides off our first scan-copied story and stapled the top corner. Then I knocked on all the doors in my neighborhood asking if I could sit down and read it to them.
It didn't take long before my neighbors started asking for sequel copies right off the press. We sold so well, we started charging snacks during our readings.
At this point, I was a renowned businesswoman on the playground. I'd walk laps with B.W., plotting Sonic's adventures for the next month's edition. But all the fun came to a screeching halt when B.W. moved three states away. I vowed never to write another Sonic word without him and I didn't.
I turned to poetry, as every teenage writer does. Don't worry, I was awful at it. Then I turned to essays and reviews, where I formed the opinions on social issues I stand behind today. But it wasn't until college when I took everyone's advice and wrote my first novel.
Now, seven novels later, I've decided to start peddling the block again and publish my debut novel, FIGURE 8. As a proud supporter of gender equality and the LGBTQ community, I am proud to share my work, even if I don't get cookies and milk with every read. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
As a tomboy, I spent hours watching boys play video games during play dates. To include myself in their world of buttons and power-ups, I'd ask incessant questions about the characters, worlds, and storyline. I got the bright idea to bring a notebook when their answers became so intricate with rules and plotholes.
This caught the attention of my future partner in crime, B.W., who tore his eyes from the TV and asked me why I had a notebook. When I told him my plans to document and fill in the missing pieces to the storylines, he asked me if he could illustrate them.
Of course I said yes.
The next day, I tore the perforated sides off our first scan-copied story and stapled the top corner. Then I knocked on all the doors in my neighborhood asking if I could sit down and read it to them.
It didn't take long before my neighbors started asking for sequel copies right off the press. We sold so well, we started charging snacks during our readings.
At this point, I was a renowned businesswoman on the playground. I'd walk laps with B.W., plotting Sonic's adventures for the next month's edition. But all the fun came to a screeching halt when B.W. moved three states away. I vowed never to write another Sonic word without him and I didn't.
I turned to poetry, as every teenage writer does. Don't worry, I was awful at it. Then I turned to essays and reviews, where I formed the opinions on social issues I stand behind today. But it wasn't until college when I took everyone's advice and wrote my first novel.
Now, seven novels later, I've decided to start peddling the block again and publish my debut novel, FIGURE 8. As a proud supporter of gender equality and the LGBTQ community, I am proud to share my work, even if I don't get cookies and milk with every read. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 24, 2014
The language in this book is most impressive. “Back roads led me to the weathered house. I cut my lights and slammed on the brakes, feeling the tires serenade the gravel with my wrath.” Or, consider the “rolling fog massaged its flanks against the boards of the weathered house.” Further, reflect that “she viewed happiness as a choice, and in turn only fought the battles worth losing.”
The narrative is heavily accented with what is, I suppose, the new Urban English. “I gave him my trade-ins and ran to the ricer already rearing to go in the garage. My face pressed to the glass. A scrub and Burner slit their eyes in my direction. The initiate sat behind the wheel. My car door shut and the initiate floored it towards the Shambles. Sous and Chef parked our personal cars in the ricers’ garage for cover.”
Language and story are strong on atmosphere. “I padded down the hallway, avoiding the narc floorboards, and followed the heartbeat that stuttered my name. Every palpitation made his sternum quiver with a tenderness that chipped away at my defenses.” One is almost disarmed of the inclination to question the clarity of antecedent.
But I think one must persist, for it is not clear if the ambiguity is intentional or a fault. What is one to make of “she was dripping desperation, which made them an akin pair”? Is this exactly what the author intended to say or is there a typo or ?
The main character, who tells the story in the first person, falls off the wagon and hallucinates. I think, in the end that the author’s own voice should override, but it does not. The MC is left to meander and it left me unconvinced. “I looked around at all of their faces, airbrushing their child’s flaws so as to distract them from the real problems at home. Everything revolved around image. For me, it was survival. When one promises forever on the streets, they are expected to deliver. For those of us who don’t, like Waterboy and myself, there is a price to pay. How I’d made it this far was more than luck. It was skill.”
So she said, but that is not what the story tells us.
The narrative is heavily accented with what is, I suppose, the new Urban English. “I gave him my trade-ins and ran to the ricer already rearing to go in the garage. My face pressed to the glass. A scrub and Burner slit their eyes in my direction. The initiate sat behind the wheel. My car door shut and the initiate floored it towards the Shambles. Sous and Chef parked our personal cars in the ricers’ garage for cover.”
Language and story are strong on atmosphere. “I padded down the hallway, avoiding the narc floorboards, and followed the heartbeat that stuttered my name. Every palpitation made his sternum quiver with a tenderness that chipped away at my defenses.” One is almost disarmed of the inclination to question the clarity of antecedent.
But I think one must persist, for it is not clear if the ambiguity is intentional or a fault. What is one to make of “she was dripping desperation, which made them an akin pair”? Is this exactly what the author intended to say or is there a typo or ?
The main character, who tells the story in the first person, falls off the wagon and hallucinates. I think, in the end that the author’s own voice should override, but it does not. The MC is left to meander and it left me unconvinced. “I looked around at all of their faces, airbrushing their child’s flaws so as to distract them from the real problems at home. Everything revolved around image. For me, it was survival. When one promises forever on the streets, they are expected to deliver. For those of us who don’t, like Waterboy and myself, there is a price to pay. How I’d made it this far was more than luck. It was skill.”
So she said, but that is not what the story tells us.
November 17, 2014
Figure 8 is described as a "Dark Crime Thriller." It was definitely unique, but the book was also very challenging for me to review. Having completed the book, I am still unsure about a lot of the events that took place. Figure 8 has a very visceral feel to it, which is what kept me reading, but at the same time the plot was hard to follow. Here is an example of a line from the book that I think showcases the rawness and mystery of the book, "My tongue plagued with virus flicked over the backs of my lip hunting for a host, but I refrained from turning her loose. Doing so would make me a hypocrite."
On the positive side, I enjoyed the storyline between the protagonist and Devin and Abby. This is a plot line that was explored throughout the book and it was interesting to see how the relationships between these characters changed throughout the story. I also thought the author did a good job of portraying addiction, as a lot of the characters struggle with addition throughout the story. Addiction is something that can be challenging to describe in words, but I felt the story effectively portrayed how addition adversely affected the characters' lives.
On the con side, the book suffered from its complexity. There was a lot of action taking place throughout the story, and at times it was hard to follow the plot. Also, the underlying premise of the story that the protagonist was in charge of an illicit operation, with all the challenges associated with that, was not believable to me. Figure 8 has an interesting premise, but there were points in the story where I didn't believe that the protagonist was capable of managing the operation and going to school and taking care of a young girl.
Overall, I think this is the type of book that will appeal to certain audiences that like darker story lines and penetrating language.
On the positive side, I enjoyed the storyline between the protagonist and Devin and Abby. This is a plot line that was explored throughout the book and it was interesting to see how the relationships between these characters changed throughout the story. I also thought the author did a good job of portraying addiction, as a lot of the characters struggle with addition throughout the story. Addiction is something that can be challenging to describe in words, but I felt the story effectively portrayed how addition adversely affected the characters' lives.
On the con side, the book suffered from its complexity. There was a lot of action taking place throughout the story, and at times it was hard to follow the plot. Also, the underlying premise of the story that the protagonist was in charge of an illicit operation, with all the challenges associated with that, was not believable to me. Figure 8 has an interesting premise, but there were points in the story where I didn't believe that the protagonist was capable of managing the operation and going to school and taking care of a young girl.
Overall, I think this is the type of book that will appeal to certain audiences that like darker story lines and penetrating language.
August 25, 2014
“Figure 8” is a different kind of action-thriller with many twists and backstory that keep readers engaged and guessing as the event unfolds. The story is raw and puts into perspective what it means to live a rough life with no way out. There’s love but the character’s business and personal life begins to bleed into one another preventing it from fully blooming.
The book’s opening pages starts off dark and progressively gets darker (darker = better) as the character begin to get themselves tangled in a web of drugs, love and a secret that follows them till the end. I was drawn to the intricate and tight storyline that made everything separate and yet connected.
Because the story involves so many individuals and backstory, you could get lost at times what might be past or present and what relates to who. I did have to reread some of the chapters to get an understanding of how each piece fits to the overall structure. Overall, I thought this book was good and kept me on the edge of guessing what could come next.
The book’s opening pages starts off dark and progressively gets darker (darker = better) as the character begin to get themselves tangled in a web of drugs, love and a secret that follows them till the end. I was drawn to the intricate and tight storyline that made everything separate and yet connected.
Because the story involves so many individuals and backstory, you could get lost at times what might be past or present and what relates to who. I did have to reread some of the chapters to get an understanding of how each piece fits to the overall structure. Overall, I thought this book was good and kept me on the edge of guessing what could come next.
August 28, 2014
I received an ARC copy of FIGURE 8 by Lillian Graves and am excited to say I enjoyed it. It is a very dark book but I felt it was handled very well.
I liked how the protagonist's relationship showed the struggles as well as the loving moments of dating someone who feels alien to their own skin. Casey's character will ring true for anyone who's loved someone with addiction.
That said, this book dives right into the action, forcing the reader to pick up on clues and piece everything together. At first it was a little daunting, but once the side characters came into play and their side stories unfolded, it amplified the stakes. I really enjoyed Keys and Cristal (don't shoot me) for this reason.
I'd recommend to anyone who's open-minded and looking for a dark, almost masochistic, read in between your cozies.
I liked how the protagonist's relationship showed the struggles as well as the loving moments of dating someone who feels alien to their own skin. Casey's character will ring true for anyone who's loved someone with addiction.
That said, this book dives right into the action, forcing the reader to pick up on clues and piece everything together. At first it was a little daunting, but once the side characters came into play and their side stories unfolded, it amplified the stakes. I really enjoyed Keys and Cristal (don't shoot me) for this reason.
I'd recommend to anyone who's open-minded and looking for a dark, almost masochistic, read in between your cozies.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews