Five Statues

by Gregg Matthews

This is a mystery thriller novel that takes place in the city of Boston Massachusetts.

Henry Hale turned 18 years old yesterday. He has been fighting for his life ever since. He has a gang of teenagers and kids chasing him down Washington Avenue in Chelsea Massachusetts. He needs to get over the Tobin Bridge to escape into a different part of the city.

Henry runs deeper into the city of Boston to try to get away. He needs to learn to adapt to his new surroundings in a different part of the city. He meets up with a new group of teenagers that challenge him to become the leader of their group. The other groups of teenagers who hang around the other statues are identified. The different groups of teenagers have been fighting amongst each other all summer long. The tournament in the Public Garden will resolve all the disputes between the groups of teenagers. The tournament will begin the night the Boston Police go on strike.

Audible Audio

Published April 1, 2021

About the author

Gregg Matthews was born in Boston Massachusetts. He writes crime fiction, murder mystery novels. The novels take place in the city of Boston Massachusetts, and the surrounding New England area.

-Series

"LEARNING CURVE", (A Dario Panetta Novella Book 1) Crime Fiction.

"MOVE FORWARD", (A Dario Panetta Novella Book 2) Crime Fiction.

"NOTHING FANCY", (A Dario Panetta Novella Book 3) Crime Fiction.

-Standalone

"SILVER LAKE", (A Blake Rivers Novella) Murder Mystery.

"STICK PRACTICE", (A Fernie Dumond Novella) Murder Mystery.

-Short Stories

"1020 Seconds", (A John Harrison Short Story) Crime Fiction.

"Sully", (A Sully Short Story) Crime Fiction.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boston is the backdrop for this fast-paced mystery novel. Henry Hale just turned eighteen and now he has to avoid the gang that wants to add him to their ranks. He can’t go home, as a foster kid, once he turns eighteen, he is kicked out of the house, which was a pit of abusive hell for him anyways. On the other side of town, Henry runs into the Boston Public Gardens only to stumble into a territorial war between rival gangs. The book follows Henry as he struggles to survive the coming days and weeks amidst the turmoil.
Henry was a typical teenager, full of hope and cynicism at the same time. He had grit and street sense that helps him avoid the worst of things. The pacing was fast, and the writing was good. This is the first book by the author, but his familiarity with the area he describes is noticeable and he pulls off giving us as the reader the sense that we are right next to Henry through it all.

[Pegboard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inner city teenagers can relate to Five Statues by Gregg Matthews as they see gangs dispute over simple things. They can connect with the territorial pride within their region. Henry Hale is thrown out of his foster home when he turns eighteen. Actually, Henry is chased away by some of his abusers. Running for his life, Henry finds a family where he least expects it. This is a touching story, but sadly it could be a memoir from many of the teenagers living off the streets in major cities.
 
Gregg Matthews grabbed me from the start as Henry Hale starts his life as an eighteen-year-old. Five Statues is a symbol of the abuse, struggles, and hope that some teens face daily. This is an excellent novel that will make you thankful for what you have and where you live.

[Rebecca]

Hypnotized

This book had me mesmerized as soon as I started reading the first couple words. Henry’s journey from how horrible it starts, to the nicer finish had me reading with my heart racing. It’s a bit of a mystery with a lot of great dialogue and heart pumping events. I thought the book was incredibly well done and I had so many emotions for Henry even though he isn’t a real character. I really liked it!