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Half-Off
Homicide detectives Drew Hoard and Ray Zybicki take corrupt cops, internationally renowned terrorists, Columbian drug lords, and puppeteer politicians in stride as their fine city of Detroit becomes the epicenter of a new-world, crime-fueled wave of anarchy.
When shady characters behind the scenes start pulling strings, slashing prices and slapping a HALF OFF discount on illegal activity in Detroit, crime in the city skyrockets. Those looking to cause a little chaos come calling, from low-level thugs to sophisticated criminals. Dead bodies start piling up, killers and arsonists for hire set up shop, and innocent cops are getting crossed out. When they see it dangling, Hoard and Zybicki can’t help but tug on a thread that promises to unravel the twisted plot set in motion to destroy Detroit.
Unfortunately for the dynamic detective duo, their meddling threatens powerful people in high places, and the two soon find themselves in an intricate cat and mouse game with evil men and manmade monsters. Can the pair avoid getting burned and survive long enough to find out who’s fanning the flames?
When shady characters behind the scenes start pulling strings, slashing prices and slapping a HALF OFF discount on illegal activity in Detroit, crime in the city skyrockets. Those looking to cause a little chaos come calling, from low-level thugs to sophisticated criminals. Dead bodies start piling up, killers and arsonists for hire set up shop, and innocent cops are getting crossed out. When they see it dangling, Hoard and Zybicki can’t help but tug on a thread that promises to unravel the twisted plot set in motion to destroy Detroit.
Unfortunately for the dynamic detective duo, their meddling threatens powerful people in high places, and the two soon find themselves in an intricate cat and mouse game with evil men and manmade monsters. Can the pair avoid getting burned and survive long enough to find out who’s fanning the flames?
220 pages, Multiple Formats
First published May 7, 2015
14 people want to read
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May 8, 2015
There’s a reason over-saturated mops of genres like horror, noir, romance, sci-fi, and so many others keep soaking up new material and will continue to do so indefinitely. The skeletons for these genres were assembled long ago, but it’s the fun filler that different authors and artists bring to party that makes each entry worth enjoying. Half Off stuffs the police partner/dynamic duo/crime mystery skeleton with enough gooey good stuff and interconnected tendons to stand on its own, and it paves a path for a possible sequel if the author chooses to expand the story.
The novel is an entertaining “what if” scenario that sees the city of Detroit destroying itself from the inside after powerful politicians and coke-peddling Columbians undercut crime in the city. The book builds and imagines a 2013 Detroit in which having your boss killed or hiring someone to set your workplace on fire is an affordable option, and a lot of people seem to be taking advantage of the new anarchy. Tasked with putting out the fires is the weathered detective pair Hoard and Zybicki, and the two are fleshed out enough with their own quirks to root for and worry about on occasion. Mixed in with a bit of martial arts, a healthy dose of inner-city moral turmoil, a few villains manipulating things behind the scenes, and one or two colorful side characters, the protagonists share the spotlight as the book bounces between baddies and the chaos they’re creating. Toward the end especially, I enjoyed the back and forth the author crafted as the tension built and scenarios climaxed.
Half Off might crumble a little if put up to intense scrutiny (it’s hard to imagine the rest of the country and the rest of the world turning a blind eye to the kind of madness that the author proposes is unraveling in Detroit), but some motivations and inner-workings that may confuse could be intentional (government inactivity may be a statement the author is trying to make). Regardless, if you’re an avid fan of the detective or noir genre, or simply love you some Detroit, you’ll enjoy the gun-toting, fist-to-the-face guts Half Off has to offer.
The novel is an entertaining “what if” scenario that sees the city of Detroit destroying itself from the inside after powerful politicians and coke-peddling Columbians undercut crime in the city. The book builds and imagines a 2013 Detroit in which having your boss killed or hiring someone to set your workplace on fire is an affordable option, and a lot of people seem to be taking advantage of the new anarchy. Tasked with putting out the fires is the weathered detective pair Hoard and Zybicki, and the two are fleshed out enough with their own quirks to root for and worry about on occasion. Mixed in with a bit of martial arts, a healthy dose of inner-city moral turmoil, a few villains manipulating things behind the scenes, and one or two colorful side characters, the protagonists share the spotlight as the book bounces between baddies and the chaos they’re creating. Toward the end especially, I enjoyed the back and forth the author crafted as the tension built and scenarios climaxed.
Half Off might crumble a little if put up to intense scrutiny (it’s hard to imagine the rest of the country and the rest of the world turning a blind eye to the kind of madness that the author proposes is unraveling in Detroit), but some motivations and inner-workings that may confuse could be intentional (government inactivity may be a statement the author is trying to make). Regardless, if you’re an avid fan of the detective or noir genre, or simply love you some Detroit, you’ll enjoy the gun-toting, fist-to-the-face guts Half Off has to offer.
Displaying 1 of 1 review