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Breaker
ITW THRILLER AWARD FINALIST • A razor-sharp thriller featuring one of the most compelling and complex characters ever to walk the Windy City’s shadowy streets.
Living alone in the dusty apartment where he grew up, Ray Nelson is a mystery to his neighbors and an unbeatable foe to the brutal men he fights in the ring for money. But a life defined by sinister secrets doesn’t stop Ray from trying to do the right thing for his dangerously high-flying sister. Or for Natalie, the young girl living next door. As a sadistic murderer’s ominous white van trolls for young victims throughout the Windy City, Ray is determined to protect Natalie from both predators and a bleak future.
When she sees a bruised and beaten Ray return from late-night fights, Natalie spots a kindred spirit. Still, she cannot imagine the darkness just beneath, or what’s hidden in the rooms he calls home. Now, as the horrors of his own past creep back to life with a twisted vengeance, Ray may not even be able to save himself.
Praise for Breaker
“Richard Thomas’s Breaker is a modern noir fever brutal, lyrical, evocative. But it also exhibits surprising tenderness—its shattered characters find strength in one another, and beauty in the pattern of the cracks.”—Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind
“Gritty, raw, powerful, visceral—that’s all you need to know about Richard Thomas’s novel Breaker. It’s a ‘gotta read this’ book.”—Les Edgerton, author of The Genuine, Imitation, Plastic Kidnapping
“One of the most terrifying, harrowing stories you’ll read all year . . . With a solid mix of heartbreak and action, along with some plot-defying acrobatics not seen on the page too often, Breaker delivers the goods on all fronts.”—This Is Horror
Praise for Richard Thomas’s Disintegration
“A dark existential thriller of unexpected twists, featuring a drowning man determined to pull the rest of the world under with him, Disintegration is a stunning and vital piece of work.”—Irvine Welsh, author of Trainspotting
“A twisted masterpiece . . . Richard Thomas writes like a man possessed.”—Chuck Wendig, author of Blackbirds and Double Dead
“This novel is so hard-hitting it should come with its own ice pack. Richard Thomas is the wild child of Raymond Chandler and Chuck Palahniuk.”—Benjamin Percy, author of The Dead Lands, Red Moon, and The Wilding
“Disintegration is provocative. It’s also damned fine noir.”—Laird Barron, author of The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All and The Croning
“A psycho-sexual descent into an unhinged psyche and an underworld Chicago that could very well stand in for one of the rings of Dante’s Hell.”—Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Little Sleep
“Gritty, obsessive, and compulsively readable.
Living alone in the dusty apartment where he grew up, Ray Nelson is a mystery to his neighbors and an unbeatable foe to the brutal men he fights in the ring for money. But a life defined by sinister secrets doesn’t stop Ray from trying to do the right thing for his dangerously high-flying sister. Or for Natalie, the young girl living next door. As a sadistic murderer’s ominous white van trolls for young victims throughout the Windy City, Ray is determined to protect Natalie from both predators and a bleak future.
When she sees a bruised and beaten Ray return from late-night fights, Natalie spots a kindred spirit. Still, she cannot imagine the darkness just beneath, or what’s hidden in the rooms he calls home. Now, as the horrors of his own past creep back to life with a twisted vengeance, Ray may not even be able to save himself.
Praise for Breaker
“Richard Thomas’s Breaker is a modern noir fever brutal, lyrical, evocative. But it also exhibits surprising tenderness—its shattered characters find strength in one another, and beauty in the pattern of the cracks.”—Chris Holm, author of The Killing Kind
“Gritty, raw, powerful, visceral—that’s all you need to know about Richard Thomas’s novel Breaker. It’s a ‘gotta read this’ book.”—Les Edgerton, author of The Genuine, Imitation, Plastic Kidnapping
“One of the most terrifying, harrowing stories you’ll read all year . . . With a solid mix of heartbreak and action, along with some plot-defying acrobatics not seen on the page too often, Breaker delivers the goods on all fronts.”—This Is Horror
Praise for Richard Thomas’s Disintegration
“A dark existential thriller of unexpected twists, featuring a drowning man determined to pull the rest of the world under with him, Disintegration is a stunning and vital piece of work.”—Irvine Welsh, author of Trainspotting
“A twisted masterpiece . . . Richard Thomas writes like a man possessed.”—Chuck Wendig, author of Blackbirds and Double Dead
“This novel is so hard-hitting it should come with its own ice pack. Richard Thomas is the wild child of Raymond Chandler and Chuck Palahniuk.”—Benjamin Percy, author of The Dead Lands, Red Moon, and The Wilding
“Disintegration is provocative. It’s also damned fine noir.”—Laird Barron, author of The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All and The Croning
“A psycho-sexual descent into an unhinged psyche and an underworld Chicago that could very well stand in for one of the rings of Dante’s Hell.”—Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Little Sleep
“Gritty, obsessive, and compulsively readable.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2016
8 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Richard Thomas
102 books706 followersRichard Thomas is the award-winning author of nine books: four novels—Incarnate (Podium), Disintegration and Breaker (Penguin Random House Alibi), and Transubstantiate (Otherworld Publications); four short story collections—Spontaneous Human Combustion (Turner Publishing—Bram Stoker finalist), Tribulations (Cemetery Dance), Staring Into the Abyss (Kraken Press), and Herniated Roots (Snubnose Press); as well as one novella of The Soul Standard (Dzanc Books). His over 175 stories in print include The Best Horror of the Year (Volume Eleven), Cemetery Dance (twice), Behold!: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders (Bram Stoker Award winner), The Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors (Shirley Jackson Award winner), Lightspeed, PANK, storySouth, Gargoyle, Weird Fiction Review, Midwestern Gothic, Shallow Creek, The Seven Deadliest, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Qualia Nous, Chiral Mad (numbers 2-4), PRISMS, Pantheon, and Shivers VI. He has won contests at ChiZine and One Buck Horror, has received five Pushcart Prize nominations, and has been long-listed for Best Horror of the Year seven times. He was also the editor of four anthologies: The New Black and Exigencies (Dark House Press), The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press) and Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker (twice), Shirley Jackson, Thriller, and Audie awards. In his spare time he is a columnist at Lit Reactor. He was the Editor-in-Chief at Dark House Press and Gamut Magazine. His agent is Paula Munier at Talcott Notch. For more information visit www.whatdoesnotkillme.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 13, 2016
Richard Thomas spits out sentences with machine-gun fire that smack you in the chest. This book is poetry. Breaker was written like a modern, urban, epic poem. Yes, it was dark, violent, savage, but it's also filled with heroic deeds and sacrifice. Like an insect on their backs, all limbs desperately clawing and scraping at the air, it's about a fight to rise above one's lineage. The human spirit is fragile, and Thomas writes about human fragility with intensity, compassion, understanding and empathy. Breaker started in part as a character study, but once the plot picks up with twists and turns, I found myself caring for a certain outcome, hoping for a certain ending, as if it was humankind that was fighting for redemption, not just the characters Thomas created.
November 20, 2015
Richard Thomas is a monstrously great writer. In Breaker, a Windy City Dark mystery, he presents us with Ray, a man of unusual and intimidating appearance; a sinister stranger in a white van who victimizes Chicago’s working class school girls; and Natalie, the girl that lives next door to Ray. Though this is the first Windy City Dark mystery I read, I fell in, only extricating myself close to bedtime, because this is not the kind of thing you want entering your dreams. This smashing thriller came to me free of charge from Net Galley and Random House Alibi.
The first thing I usually look for in fiction is strong character development. In excellent fiction, sometimes the setting drives the character; sometimes the setting and character drive the plot; sometimes the plot is driven by character. Breaker definitely falls into the last of these categories. Told primarily in Ray’s first person and counterpointed by Natalie’s, along with a narrative that pops in and out surrounding the white van, the suspense is almost unbearable. The character is so palpable that I impulsively reached into my Goodreads account and checked the “literary fiction” box among my own library categories. The story is dark and haunting; fans of Stephen King, a writer Thomas lists among those that have influenced him, won’t want to miss out on this story. Though it is not driven by the supernatural, the tone and level of nightmarish suspense are quite similar.
Part of the hook is the affinity the reader must feel for Ray after just a short time. He lives alone; others are often afraid of him on sight because of his enormous size and ghastly pallor. His mother is dead, and we learn more about this eerie aspect of Ray’s past as the story progresses. He lives in the city’s gritty underbelly, spends almost nothing of what money he makes as a cage fighter—a sport so much more horrible than boxing—on himself, and he is constantly alone.
Meanwhile, Natalie, the 15-year-old next door, is being stalked by the white van. Because Natalie is kind to him and does not fear him, Ray reaches out to her in an uncharacteristic way and teaches her the self-defense tips none of her high school teachers will ever be able to provide. Their friendship is platonic but the bond is tight.
Meanwhile, the white van has Chicago even more on edge than it usually is; girls are disappearing, and no one knows who is taking them. Every white van begins to look sinister. I found myself gripping my electronic reader, and though I had been resting the arm that held it on a pillow, I found myself holding it up in the air because my hand had nearly tightened into a fist.
It’s that creepy.
I marked a number of really stellar passages—this guy is fantastic with gripping figurative language—but at the end of the day, I am not supposed to reveal any quotes till the book is on the shelves, and I want you to know about this one right now.
It’s up for sale January 5, 2016, and it will help you forget all about your post-holiday blues. Get this book!
The first thing I usually look for in fiction is strong character development. In excellent fiction, sometimes the setting drives the character; sometimes the setting and character drive the plot; sometimes the plot is driven by character. Breaker definitely falls into the last of these categories. Told primarily in Ray’s first person and counterpointed by Natalie’s, along with a narrative that pops in and out surrounding the white van, the suspense is almost unbearable. The character is so palpable that I impulsively reached into my Goodreads account and checked the “literary fiction” box among my own library categories. The story is dark and haunting; fans of Stephen King, a writer Thomas lists among those that have influenced him, won’t want to miss out on this story. Though it is not driven by the supernatural, the tone and level of nightmarish suspense are quite similar.
Part of the hook is the affinity the reader must feel for Ray after just a short time. He lives alone; others are often afraid of him on sight because of his enormous size and ghastly pallor. His mother is dead, and we learn more about this eerie aspect of Ray’s past as the story progresses. He lives in the city’s gritty underbelly, spends almost nothing of what money he makes as a cage fighter—a sport so much more horrible than boxing—on himself, and he is constantly alone.
Meanwhile, Natalie, the 15-year-old next door, is being stalked by the white van. Because Natalie is kind to him and does not fear him, Ray reaches out to her in an uncharacteristic way and teaches her the self-defense tips none of her high school teachers will ever be able to provide. Their friendship is platonic but the bond is tight.
Meanwhile, the white van has Chicago even more on edge than it usually is; girls are disappearing, and no one knows who is taking them. Every white van begins to look sinister. I found myself gripping my electronic reader, and though I had been resting the arm that held it on a pillow, I found myself holding it up in the air because my hand had nearly tightened into a fist.
It’s that creepy.
I marked a number of really stellar passages—this guy is fantastic with gripping figurative language—but at the end of the day, I am not supposed to reveal any quotes till the book is on the shelves, and I want you to know about this one right now.
It’s up for sale January 5, 2016, and it will help you forget all about your post-holiday blues. Get this book!
January 7, 2020
When you open up a Richard Thomas book, you know before even turning a page that you've got your hands on a literary gem. From the first page to the last, Breaker is a great book. It's very easy to read and very direct. This time you're not clawing your way out of a web of mysterious images.
As the dedication at the end makes clear, this story is an ode to those who have suffered, those who struggle to drown out the pain, those on the edges, those who have shut themselves out.
Along the way, the journey takes us through underground fight clubs where the rules are whatever the oddsmakers say they are, serial creeps in white vans, teenage schoolgirls who carry brass knuckles and mace, and skeletons that haunt our lonely rooms.
As the dedication at the end makes clear, this story is an ode to those who have suffered, those who struggle to drown out the pain, those on the edges, those who have shut themselves out.
Along the way, the journey takes us through underground fight clubs where the rules are whatever the oddsmakers say they are, serial creeps in white vans, teenage schoolgirls who carry brass knuckles and mace, and skeletons that haunt our lonely rooms.
November 5, 2015
The title of this book says it all: It takes place in Chicago, and if the story got any darker, I probably would have stopped reading after the first few chapters. It was unsettling, upsetting and, in some respects, unsatisfying - but it's also an outstanding work. Thanks to the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read it in exchange for a review. And for the record, I give this one 4.5 stars, which isn't possible here.
Ray Nelson is more than a bit of a physical freak - never loved by his now-gone parents and shunned by neighbors in his apartment building. His drug-addicted sister, Stephanie, pops in from time to time (primarily to raid his wallet), and he mostly rebuffs the efforts of the young girl next door, Natalie, to befriend him. In essence, he's a virtual recluse; the only thing that seems to keep him going is something that just as easily could kill him: organized street brawling in the dark of the night, earning enough money to pay what few bills he has.
Over the years, he's tried to keep his sister out of trouble, and as he sees Natalie head into mid-teen years, he grows concerned about the bad neighborhood and what will happen to her in a place where tomorrow is no better than a repeat of today. That takes a more sinister turn with the appearance of a white van whose driver is looking for - and finding - young victims. Ray wants to help his sister and is determined to protect Natalie, but he's got plenty of secrets in his own past that threaten his good intentions. There are several unexpected twists as the story unfolds, none of them pleasant (but then this is a dark mystery, after all).
The sadness and despair that permeate notwithstanding, this is a hard book to put down. I wasn't able to find a page count anywhere, but I finished it in three days of very little spare time for reading, so it isn't very long. The ending brings (surprise!) another smack in the gut, but also a tiny glimmer of hope. Is it enough? I'll never tell - you'll just have to read it and decide for yourself.
Ray Nelson is more than a bit of a physical freak - never loved by his now-gone parents and shunned by neighbors in his apartment building. His drug-addicted sister, Stephanie, pops in from time to time (primarily to raid his wallet), and he mostly rebuffs the efforts of the young girl next door, Natalie, to befriend him. In essence, he's a virtual recluse; the only thing that seems to keep him going is something that just as easily could kill him: organized street brawling in the dark of the night, earning enough money to pay what few bills he has.
Over the years, he's tried to keep his sister out of trouble, and as he sees Natalie head into mid-teen years, he grows concerned about the bad neighborhood and what will happen to her in a place where tomorrow is no better than a repeat of today. That takes a more sinister turn with the appearance of a white van whose driver is looking for - and finding - young victims. Ray wants to help his sister and is determined to protect Natalie, but he's got plenty of secrets in his own past that threaten his good intentions. There are several unexpected twists as the story unfolds, none of them pleasant (but then this is a dark mystery, after all).
The sadness and despair that permeate notwithstanding, this is a hard book to put down. I wasn't able to find a page count anywhere, but I finished it in three days of very little spare time for reading, so it isn't very long. The ending brings (surprise!) another smack in the gut, but also a tiny glimmer of hope. Is it enough? I'll never tell - you'll just have to read it and decide for yourself.
January 13, 2016
I’ll confess to being somewhat skeptical when I started reading the new Windy City Dark book by Richard Thomas. DISINTEGRATION, the first entry in the series, was such a beautiful rendering of the dirty underbelly of a Chicago that never was that I was sure there’d be no way to outdo it. It would be a tall order to even match the greatness of that book. It only took me a few short chapters to realize how mistaken I was. BREAKER is an outstanding, heartbreaking motherfucker of a book that takes us into the lives of Ray and Natalie, two deeply scarred, beautifully drawn characters struggling to survive in a world that has seemingly discarded them.
There are many elements that go into the making of a good story, but there’s only one thing that can take a good story and turn it into a great one and that’s character. If your character development is strong, all the other elements tend to fuse together, becoming mutually supportive of the overall story, which is ultimately about the characters. And it’s this element that makes BREAKER a great novel. Natalie and Ray are so real, so poignant and emotional that you can’t help falling into the conflict with them, getting caught up in their trials and cheering them on, hoping beyond hope that they will come out okay. But BREAKER is a very dark, hard hitting story that deals with the very real issues of abuse and abandonment, and the strength and self-torment of its survivors. And Thomas’ voice, combined with the strength of his characters, sets a perfect mood for this often disturbing, always brutal, gritty noir tale:
“For now, I sit and rest. Sunglasses on, I retreat farther into myself, hiding in plain sight, and yet every woman that walks past me shifts her purse or bag to the other side, out of my reach, as the seats on both sides of me stay empty.”
Another element that helps to make a story strong, one that Thomas is adept at, is setting. With spare, blistering prose and concise description he paints a world that is both bleak and appealing at the same time, drawing the reader in the way a master painter draws a viewer’s eye to the focus of a painting:
“I pull the door open and step inside, bracing myself for the heat and noise, but there is nothing here tonight. Just a few lights flicked on, running up and down the walls, and one long solitary bulb directly over the ring–a soft yellow glow emanating from the metal cage wrapped around it.”
Overall, I can’t say I liked BREAKER better than DISINTEGRATION. Conversely, I couldn’t say the opposite was true. What I can say is DISINTEGRATION set an astronomically high bar for the Windy City Dark series and BREAKER jumped right over that fucker. If you haven’t read Richard Thomas yet, you need to remedy that asap. Start with BREAKER and then go read everything else he’s published.
There are many elements that go into the making of a good story, but there’s only one thing that can take a good story and turn it into a great one and that’s character. If your character development is strong, all the other elements tend to fuse together, becoming mutually supportive of the overall story, which is ultimately about the characters. And it’s this element that makes BREAKER a great novel. Natalie and Ray are so real, so poignant and emotional that you can’t help falling into the conflict with them, getting caught up in their trials and cheering them on, hoping beyond hope that they will come out okay. But BREAKER is a very dark, hard hitting story that deals with the very real issues of abuse and abandonment, and the strength and self-torment of its survivors. And Thomas’ voice, combined with the strength of his characters, sets a perfect mood for this often disturbing, always brutal, gritty noir tale:
“For now, I sit and rest. Sunglasses on, I retreat farther into myself, hiding in plain sight, and yet every woman that walks past me shifts her purse or bag to the other side, out of my reach, as the seats on both sides of me stay empty.”
Another element that helps to make a story strong, one that Thomas is adept at, is setting. With spare, blistering prose and concise description he paints a world that is both bleak and appealing at the same time, drawing the reader in the way a master painter draws a viewer’s eye to the focus of a painting:
“I pull the door open and step inside, bracing myself for the heat and noise, but there is nothing here tonight. Just a few lights flicked on, running up and down the walls, and one long solitary bulb directly over the ring–a soft yellow glow emanating from the metal cage wrapped around it.”
Overall, I can’t say I liked BREAKER better than DISINTEGRATION. Conversely, I couldn’t say the opposite was true. What I can say is DISINTEGRATION set an astronomically high bar for the Windy City Dark series and BREAKER jumped right over that fucker. If you haven’t read Richard Thomas yet, you need to remedy that asap. Start with BREAKER and then go read everything else he’s published.
January 16, 2016
As brutal as Thomas's earlier novel, Disintegration, but somehow even more disturbing because of its smaller, more intimate scale. Highly recommended.
December 1, 2015
Writing reviews is not my forte but this story got under my skin and keeps nudging at me to spread the word. The second novel by Richard Thomas I've read, it has all the same dark gritty noir as his first novel DISINTEGRATION but the story is more complex, woven masterfully to reveal an ending that is unexpected, haunting, and yet, full of hope. It moved me to tears.
The main character Ray is what the story is, both dark and light, a monster but a soulful human being, a freak but someone's salvation. His relationship with his young neighbor Natalie is gripping and by the end I'm not certain if the story has been more about him or her. The shift is subtle but profound.
The themes addressed are edgy and heart wrenching. Dark, for sure, but not despondent or grotesque. They delve into the raw emotions that come from a hard life of being left-out, abused, and treated as something less than human. But underneath it all is the constant theme of hope amidst all that is lost, the desire for life to be something better, to keep going no matter what.
Ray not only fights hard in the back rooms of the Chicago underbelly, he lives hard in a bad part of town, but his respect for life shines through like stars in the night sky, pinholes of light in a world of darkness. Natalie is fascinated by him, a living metaphor of her own existence, repelled by his deeds but sheltered by his desire to not let her slip into his world. She becomes his salvation as much as he is hers.
The constant evil of the white van creeping the streets is every bit as unsettling as the supernatural elements of any Stephen King novel, but worse because it's so normal. By the end the terrifying reality of it will have you checking over your shoulder any time you walk down the street wishing you had a friend like Ray.
The main character Ray is what the story is, both dark and light, a monster but a soulful human being, a freak but someone's salvation. His relationship with his young neighbor Natalie is gripping and by the end I'm not certain if the story has been more about him or her. The shift is subtle but profound.
The themes addressed are edgy and heart wrenching. Dark, for sure, but not despondent or grotesque. They delve into the raw emotions that come from a hard life of being left-out, abused, and treated as something less than human. But underneath it all is the constant theme of hope amidst all that is lost, the desire for life to be something better, to keep going no matter what.
Ray not only fights hard in the back rooms of the Chicago underbelly, he lives hard in a bad part of town, but his respect for life shines through like stars in the night sky, pinholes of light in a world of darkness. Natalie is fascinated by him, a living metaphor of her own existence, repelled by his deeds but sheltered by his desire to not let her slip into his world. She becomes his salvation as much as he is hers.
The constant evil of the white van creeping the streets is every bit as unsettling as the supernatural elements of any Stephen King novel, but worse because it's so normal. By the end the terrifying reality of it will have you checking over your shoulder any time you walk down the street wishing you had a friend like Ray.
December 27, 2015
Broken souls, that is what Richard Thomas quickly is becoming an expert on. It is evident in his short stories, for instance the eerie Asking for Forgiveness or the somber Twenty Reasons to Stay and One to Leave, that both have damaged people at the center. It was also a main theme in his previous release Disintegration, where the main character had witnessed tragedy and because of it had become an easy target for the lowlife of Chicago.
This follow up, another Windy City Dark Mystery, is similar; a journey into the dark recesses of shattered souls while at the same time showing the reader the bleak underbelly of The Second City: Chicago. Although this time Thomas treats the reader to the lives of two individuals instead of one.
First is Ray; a white beast of a man who spends his time as a fighter at an underground club. His pale skin and large frame makes people instantly suspicious of him as he walks the streets. One of his many gifts, as he himself puts it, is his temper, honed by a lifetime of abuse and he wished to pass that abuse on to other people. His scars run deep; a mysterious father, who vanishes after a while, a sexually abused sister and a murderous mother. As the story unfolds he realizes that his childhood, sinister as it was, may have been a lot worse than he imagined.
The second person is Natalie. She lives next door to Ray and sees him come home with fresh bruises and cuts. She is the target of neighborhood boys, has parents who constantly fight and has developed the ability to blend into the woodwork; a useful skill to have in the area in which she lives. Ray takes her under his wing to protect her from bullies and the mysterious white van that drives around the city causing children to disappear. They form a relationship reminiscent of the one between Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (The Professional), although much sadder. Things take a turn once Ray comes to the conclusion that someone is after him and will do anything in their power to hurt him.
Breaker takes the Windy City Dark Mystery series to another level. The bleak outlook on life and humanity that was ever present in Disintegration is still present, but this time hope is sprinkled between the sentences. Ray is more sympathetic a character from the get go, a sensation that is only enhanced as more and more hints at his horrible past is revealed to him, as well as the reader. He is constantly at a disadvantage due to his size, pale skin and background, but instead of lashing out at a world where he doesn’t belong he channels it through fighting and helping the neighbor girl.
Richard Thomas shows that he is a master of neo noir fiction and that he understands the psyche of broken and damaged people. Breaker is proof of this; it is well written, well thought out, bleak yet hopeful and convincing in its innovative story.
This follow up, another Windy City Dark Mystery, is similar; a journey into the dark recesses of shattered souls while at the same time showing the reader the bleak underbelly of The Second City: Chicago. Although this time Thomas treats the reader to the lives of two individuals instead of one.
First is Ray; a white beast of a man who spends his time as a fighter at an underground club. His pale skin and large frame makes people instantly suspicious of him as he walks the streets. One of his many gifts, as he himself puts it, is his temper, honed by a lifetime of abuse and he wished to pass that abuse on to other people. His scars run deep; a mysterious father, who vanishes after a while, a sexually abused sister and a murderous mother. As the story unfolds he realizes that his childhood, sinister as it was, may have been a lot worse than he imagined.
The second person is Natalie. She lives next door to Ray and sees him come home with fresh bruises and cuts. She is the target of neighborhood boys, has parents who constantly fight and has developed the ability to blend into the woodwork; a useful skill to have in the area in which she lives. Ray takes her under his wing to protect her from bullies and the mysterious white van that drives around the city causing children to disappear. They form a relationship reminiscent of the one between Natalie Portman and Jean Reno in Léon (The Professional), although much sadder. Things take a turn once Ray comes to the conclusion that someone is after him and will do anything in their power to hurt him.
Breaker takes the Windy City Dark Mystery series to another level. The bleak outlook on life and humanity that was ever present in Disintegration is still present, but this time hope is sprinkled between the sentences. Ray is more sympathetic a character from the get go, a sensation that is only enhanced as more and more hints at his horrible past is revealed to him, as well as the reader. He is constantly at a disadvantage due to his size, pale skin and background, but instead of lashing out at a world where he doesn’t belong he channels it through fighting and helping the neighbor girl.
Richard Thomas shows that he is a master of neo noir fiction and that he understands the psyche of broken and damaged people. Breaker is proof of this; it is well written, well thought out, bleak yet hopeful and convincing in its innovative story.
February 5, 2016
ARC REVIEW
This was a hard one for me to review, I had sit on it for a while and let the book just permeate in my mind. I enjoyed it. It was hard not to like it's beautifully written, a dark mystery that leans to the noir style. It's very dark, "Windy City Dark Mystery" it says it all. But it went deeper and darker than I was expecting. It's violent and raw; it shows the worst of the worst of human nature. It is also exciting, it makes you heart pound in your chest and then in the next chapter it depresses you just a little. The characters; an anti-hero, a tortured soul who is a freak that fights for money; a young girl on the brink of womanhood who sees a certain kinship in her secretive and somewhat scary next door neighbor; and a serial killer who trolls the streets looking for his next victim.
Ray Nelson is an undefeated underground fight club fighter. He lives alone in a dark apartment in a bad area of Chicago. He has no reason for living, I think he goes into every fight hoping it kills him, but the thought of his sister and his unafraid neighbor keep him from giving in to death's call. Natalie is his young neighbor and as much as he tells himself not to care he feels protective of her. Natalie knows there is a dark side to Ray but it's the same dark side that she herself has, she cares about Ray, she's kind to him when people usually shy way from him. When one of her friends from school ends up murdered she asks Ray for lessons in self defense, he obliges only because he knows it could be the matter of life of death for her. Ray wants to do one thing right in his whole fucked up life and that's to save Natalie.
Throughout the book Ray remembers certain things about his past, things that ultimately shaped him into the scary freak he is today. He remembers certain things and the whispers of the serial killer brings back the memories, and he discovers that he is somehow connected to the serial killer. The flashbacks are extensive but necessary for you to really understand and sympathize with Ray. It is a slow build up that definitely pays off in the end. Natalie is a brave girl, lead by paranoia and loyalty to Ray to see things through.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone but for those who enjoy a dark noir mystery this is a definite yes. If there would to be a sequel with Natalie, I would probably read it. And yes I'm such a girl I cried at the end.
This was a hard one for me to review, I had sit on it for a while and let the book just permeate in my mind. I enjoyed it. It was hard not to like it's beautifully written, a dark mystery that leans to the noir style. It's very dark, "Windy City Dark Mystery" it says it all. But it went deeper and darker than I was expecting. It's violent and raw; it shows the worst of the worst of human nature. It is also exciting, it makes you heart pound in your chest and then in the next chapter it depresses you just a little. The characters; an anti-hero, a tortured soul who is a freak that fights for money; a young girl on the brink of womanhood who sees a certain kinship in her secretive and somewhat scary next door neighbor; and a serial killer who trolls the streets looking for his next victim.
Ray Nelson is an undefeated underground fight club fighter. He lives alone in a dark apartment in a bad area of Chicago. He has no reason for living, I think he goes into every fight hoping it kills him, but the thought of his sister and his unafraid neighbor keep him from giving in to death's call. Natalie is his young neighbor and as much as he tells himself not to care he feels protective of her. Natalie knows there is a dark side to Ray but it's the same dark side that she herself has, she cares about Ray, she's kind to him when people usually shy way from him. When one of her friends from school ends up murdered she asks Ray for lessons in self defense, he obliges only because he knows it could be the matter of life of death for her. Ray wants to do one thing right in his whole fucked up life and that's to save Natalie.
Throughout the book Ray remembers certain things about his past, things that ultimately shaped him into the scary freak he is today. He remembers certain things and the whispers of the serial killer brings back the memories, and he discovers that he is somehow connected to the serial killer. The flashbacks are extensive but necessary for you to really understand and sympathize with Ray. It is a slow build up that definitely pays off in the end. Natalie is a brave girl, lead by paranoia and loyalty to Ray to see things through.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone but for those who enjoy a dark noir mystery this is a definite yes. If there would to be a sequel with Natalie, I would probably read it. And yes I'm such a girl I cried at the end.
December 18, 2015
This book is scheduled to release in January 2016--do NOT miss this one. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy from Netgalley, and I am so glad I did, because when people ask me for a book recommendation at upcoming Christmas/NYE parties, I will enthusiastically namedrop Richard Thomas and his phenomenal novel BREAKER (and then try really hard not to spoil the book just because I want to talk about it so bad).
I absolutely loved the first half of this novel. Thomas's writing in the first half is impeccable, and the relationship that is built between the MC and a neighborhood girl is one of the most triumphant and endearing relationships I've experienced. As a writer myself, Thomas's superhuman writing abilities make me slightly jealous. Well, I was jealous for a few days, and then the jealousy morphed into some serious motivation to stay on par with authors like Thomas. Anyway, more about the book...
In that first half, Thomas sets up a fresh, gritty world different from anything else I've ever experienced. "Underground fighter" sounded a bit cliche at first, but I trusted Thomas. And sure enough, he delivered. I could really sympathize with Thomas's MC, Raymond Nelson. The guy has had it really rough, but his fighting spirit gave me something to rally around. I felt like I was right next to Ray during the fight sequences, dodging each blow and then countering with a hook. Thomas's fight sequences were my favorite parts of the book. His writing style is consistently poetic and action-packed, and this mixture works best in the fight scenes. Simply put, the writing is beautiful.
The second half of the story was great, too, don't get me wrong. The story takes several unpredictable turns, and it had me flipping through pages as fast as I could read them. However, I did feel like a few of the scenes were a tad rushed and not as polished as those I read in the first half. There was also some repetitious phrasing toward the end. Beyond this minor concern, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book. I feel extremely grateful to have received an early copy, and would highly recommend it to any reader.
If you haven't read Thomas's previous work, go check out DISINTEGRATION. That book made me a fan. And now BREAKER has me impatiently waiting for news of Thomas's next release.
I absolutely loved the first half of this novel. Thomas's writing in the first half is impeccable, and the relationship that is built between the MC and a neighborhood girl is one of the most triumphant and endearing relationships I've experienced. As a writer myself, Thomas's superhuman writing abilities make me slightly jealous. Well, I was jealous for a few days, and then the jealousy morphed into some serious motivation to stay on par with authors like Thomas. Anyway, more about the book...
In that first half, Thomas sets up a fresh, gritty world different from anything else I've ever experienced. "Underground fighter" sounded a bit cliche at first, but I trusted Thomas. And sure enough, he delivered. I could really sympathize with Thomas's MC, Raymond Nelson. The guy has had it really rough, but his fighting spirit gave me something to rally around. I felt like I was right next to Ray during the fight sequences, dodging each blow and then countering with a hook. Thomas's fight sequences were my favorite parts of the book. His writing style is consistently poetic and action-packed, and this mixture works best in the fight scenes. Simply put, the writing is beautiful.
The second half of the story was great, too, don't get me wrong. The story takes several unpredictable turns, and it had me flipping through pages as fast as I could read them. However, I did feel like a few of the scenes were a tad rushed and not as polished as those I read in the first half. There was also some repetitious phrasing toward the end. Beyond this minor concern, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book. I feel extremely grateful to have received an early copy, and would highly recommend it to any reader.
If you haven't read Thomas's previous work, go check out DISINTEGRATION. That book made me a fan. And now BREAKER has me impatiently waiting for news of Thomas's next release.
December 31, 2015
This review is difficult for me to write, because everything I want to say puts me at risk of sounding like an infatuated groupie. But, really, damn can this guy write!
Breaker has two narrators. The first and most prominent is Ray, and his part is written in first person. We crawl right inside his mind, which is a dark and disturbing place. He is rough and raw, broken, yet reaching out for a bright spot, a bit of redemption or salvation in his difficult life.
The second narrator is Natalie, and her part is written in third person. She's a teenager struggling in an adult world, where the actual adults have mostly left her to fend for herself.
The plot launches from there, with a killer on the loose and Ray feeling the need to protect his lost and lonely young neighbor. We have mystery, suspense, lots of twists and unexpected revelations. But to label this book a mystery is not enough. Richard Thomas excels at psychological depth. He doesn't just give us a mystery to solve. In fact, the mystery, for me, was more of an undercurrent. What held me spellbound was the emotion, the ache, the literary magic of his words, and the way I felt while reading.
As the series title implies, this book is indeed dark. Thomas doesn't let us escape without some pain. But there is also incredible depth and a thread of hope throughout.
While this is the second book in the Windy City Dark Mystery Series, it is essentially a stand-alone read. The common factor in this series is the city in which the stories take place. You don't need to read the first book, Disintegration: A Windy City Dark Mystery, before reading this one. But if you haven't read that one, you should, because, as you have probably figured out, I cannot say enough positive things about Richard Thomas's writing.
*I was provided with an ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
Breaker has two narrators. The first and most prominent is Ray, and his part is written in first person. We crawl right inside his mind, which is a dark and disturbing place. He is rough and raw, broken, yet reaching out for a bright spot, a bit of redemption or salvation in his difficult life.
The second narrator is Natalie, and her part is written in third person. She's a teenager struggling in an adult world, where the actual adults have mostly left her to fend for herself.
The plot launches from there, with a killer on the loose and Ray feeling the need to protect his lost and lonely young neighbor. We have mystery, suspense, lots of twists and unexpected revelations. But to label this book a mystery is not enough. Richard Thomas excels at psychological depth. He doesn't just give us a mystery to solve. In fact, the mystery, for me, was more of an undercurrent. What held me spellbound was the emotion, the ache, the literary magic of his words, and the way I felt while reading.
As the series title implies, this book is indeed dark. Thomas doesn't let us escape without some pain. But there is also incredible depth and a thread of hope throughout.
While this is the second book in the Windy City Dark Mystery Series, it is essentially a stand-alone read. The common factor in this series is the city in which the stories take place. You don't need to read the first book, Disintegration: A Windy City Dark Mystery, before reading this one. But if you haven't read that one, you should, because, as you have probably figured out, I cannot say enough positive things about Richard Thomas's writing.
*I was provided with an ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
December 14, 2015
You know that moment when you're on a roller coaster, at the top of that first hill and realizing how stupidly long the drop is going to be? And you maybe wish you could reconsider because you're not sure you can deal with what's about to happen, but, damn, it's too late and here we go, you're falling.
That's kinda like this book.
Okay, so, there were some points in this book when I thought, 'Man, this is batshit. This would never happen'. Especially when I thought about Disintegration. Then I realized I'm kind of dumb. Both of these books take place in a world that is... adjacent to ours, but not actually a part of. Like, everything is where you'd expect it to be, but the alleyways are a bit darker, the white vans more ominous, the strays more starving, and the snow a little colder. In the Windy City, kindness is gold in both rarity and value.
I think it's important to note that "batshit" does not mean bad. Like, some crazy things happened, but like that roller coaster, it was a great ride.
I only really have two, minor nitpicks. The first is that I wish we had gotten a bit more of the mystery. The book read more like a character study with a dash of mystery for flavor. Which isn't necessarily bad. It's just about taste on that one.
The second is that Natalie reads a bit young to me. She's supposed to be fifteen, but he breadth of knowledge seems closer to that of a twelve-year-old.
The characters themselves, Ray and Natalie, are great. Their friendship and the care with which they are handled is beautiful. Make sure you read the dedication at the end.
Ultimately, this is a book about empathy and complex, problematic people doing some sketchy things to survive.
Side note, can we talk about that cover for a second? I really dig that cover.
That's kinda like this book.
Okay, so, there were some points in this book when I thought, 'Man, this is batshit. This would never happen'. Especially when I thought about Disintegration. Then I realized I'm kind of dumb. Both of these books take place in a world that is... adjacent to ours, but not actually a part of. Like, everything is where you'd expect it to be, but the alleyways are a bit darker, the white vans more ominous, the strays more starving, and the snow a little colder. In the Windy City, kindness is gold in both rarity and value.
I think it's important to note that "batshit" does not mean bad. Like, some crazy things happened, but like that roller coaster, it was a great ride.
I only really have two, minor nitpicks. The first is that I wish we had gotten a bit more of the mystery. The book read more like a character study with a dash of mystery for flavor. Which isn't necessarily bad. It's just about taste on that one.
The second is that Natalie reads a bit young to me. She's supposed to be fifteen, but he breadth of knowledge seems closer to that of a twelve-year-old.
The characters themselves, Ray and Natalie, are great. Their friendship and the care with which they are handled is beautiful. Make sure you read the dedication at the end.
Ultimately, this is a book about empathy and complex, problematic people doing some sketchy things to survive.
Side note, can we talk about that cover for a second? I really dig that cover.
February 7, 2016
Thomas is a reliable writer. What do I mean by that? Few books have the ability to carry you along without flourishes to the prose that dazzle you with their design. Thomas proves in Breaker that he can win a reader's trust and have your heart in his hand by solid, reliable writing. That's not to say this is dumbed down. There are moments in Breaker that slows you to halt as you retread the sentence to read something quite profound. But I'll go back to my main point: this is a fast read, solid storytelling filled with slick dialogue.
The main protagonist is well formed. Part Leon, part Travis Bickle, part Norman Bates, damn, part Cornelius from Fight Club, Ray is a troubled soul who finds solace in underground, and highly illegal, fighting. In the ring we discover he is fighting more than local gangsters. More than opportunists wagering against him. Ray is fighting demons from his past. His blood on the ropes drips in memories that drives this narrative forward, introducing themes of redemption, hope and salvation. And it's in a young girl who lives next to him where we find the heart that beats through every line Thomas offers. That's where the real strength to this novel lies, the relationship between both Ray and the girl, Natalie. She is hope he has lost. The glimmer of light in a life cloaked by his own childhood. In Natalie we see Ray's belief in humanity restored.
It's easy for writers who write noir, or thrillers, to suffocate the heart of a good story under layers of violence and brutality. Thomas dodges this trope wisely and gives his readers a story that resonates long after you close that final page. Recommended for anyone wishing for a quick, but enthralling read.
The main protagonist is well formed. Part Leon, part Travis Bickle, part Norman Bates, damn, part Cornelius from Fight Club, Ray is a troubled soul who finds solace in underground, and highly illegal, fighting. In the ring we discover he is fighting more than local gangsters. More than opportunists wagering against him. Ray is fighting demons from his past. His blood on the ropes drips in memories that drives this narrative forward, introducing themes of redemption, hope and salvation. And it's in a young girl who lives next to him where we find the heart that beats through every line Thomas offers. That's where the real strength to this novel lies, the relationship between both Ray and the girl, Natalie. She is hope he has lost. The glimmer of light in a life cloaked by his own childhood. In Natalie we see Ray's belief in humanity restored.
It's easy for writers who write noir, or thrillers, to suffocate the heart of a good story under layers of violence and brutality. Thomas dodges this trope wisely and gives his readers a story that resonates long after you close that final page. Recommended for anyone wishing for a quick, but enthralling read.
December 23, 2015
This novel set in Chicago, the Windy City, features Ray Nelson, a large ungainly man who keeps to the shadows, Nathalie, a young girl living in his apartment building and a white van with a driver who abducts young girls. This novel is offbeat but well written and interesting. Ray keeps his mother's corpse in the spare bedroom of his apartment. While this sounds somewhat macabre Thomas writes so well that you get caught up in Ray's story which comes to a shattering conclusion when he comes face to face with the driver of the white van, confronts him and learns much about his own life that he had understood.
Don't be put off by the plot descriptions here and elsewhere. It's a gripping story! You will enjoy it.
Don't be put off by the plot descriptions here and elsewhere. It's a gripping story! You will enjoy it.
March 4, 2016
A fast paced neo-noir.
This book reminded me of early Lehane, fast paced, bleak, and not without an appreciation for the city and its dark alleys. Every character has a secret, a hidden darkness, and all of them utilize it in different ways. Don't expect a gentle journey. From the beginning you're going to take some punches to the gut. As the story progresses, those punches are going to hit faster and faster until Richard Thomas delivers a finale that will knock you out cold. When those rough scenes hit, there is no padding in the writing, no trying to baby the reader, just raw, unapologetic darkness.
This book reminded me of early Lehane, fast paced, bleak, and not without an appreciation for the city and its dark alleys. Every character has a secret, a hidden darkness, and all of them utilize it in different ways. Don't expect a gentle journey. From the beginning you're going to take some punches to the gut. As the story progresses, those punches are going to hit faster and faster until Richard Thomas delivers a finale that will knock you out cold. When those rough scenes hit, there is no padding in the writing, no trying to baby the reader, just raw, unapologetic darkness.
February 16, 2017
Richard's writing style is engaging, poetic, and powerful. He managed to take a distasteful main character and make him engaging, sympathetic, and tragic. The pacing is fantastic and the writing itself fascinating - an interesting blend of noir and literary. I can't talk too much about the plot without spoiling it, but the breadcrumbs leading up until the ending were well done, and I enjoyed the thrill of the ride. Well done!
February 18, 2016
Richard Thomas has an uncanny way of chaining your heart to less-than-lovable characters, and then cranking that chain until you give out. He writes with precision, and he doesn't have much mercy for the reader. I liked this one even better than the first Windy City Mystery, and I'm really looking forward to the next.
January 13, 2016
Imagine if Marv from Sin City had a stronger moral compass, less restraint, bigger heart, and lived in Chicago. There's your main character to Breaker, who is backed up by a stellar supporting cast which includes the city itself.
Another great read in the Windy City series.
Another great read in the Windy City series.
December 18, 2015
Extremely beautiful writing on a very dark subject. This book is not for the squeamish. The overall message is that a monstrous exterior can hide a good person. The book is worth reading just for the sheer beauty of expression.
February 10, 2020
In Breaker, Richard Thomas serves up a suspenseful, neo-noir tale that is action-packed. Vivid descriptions that capture the dark side of Chicago. Compelling characters. Breaker reminded me of Leon--The Professional. A violent protagonist, who is also a decent human being. If you enjoy dark fiction, check out Breaker. Highly recommended.
April 11, 2016
As I said in my review of Disintegration, the first of Richard Thomas's Windy City Dark mysteries, each book stands alone because they share a common setting (Chicago) but not a common cast of characters. Normally, that would be a plus for me; the books in the series can be read in any order, and I don't have to remember the details from a prior book in order to understand a character's actions in a subsequent book. In this case, however, Thomas's designation of Breaker as a Windy City Dark mystery does more harm than good because the sense of place so strongly present in Disintegration is not there in Breaker. Breaker could have been set in any large city - not ordinarily an issue for me, but problematic in this case because Thomas failed in at least part of what he set out to achieve.
Ray, the protagonist of Breaker, is also not as strong a character as Disintegration's anti-hero, which is why I gave Breaker a half star less than Disintegration. Despite these quibbles, however, Thomas's noir sensibility and perfectly paced plot make Breaker an excellent selection for readers who like their stories dark.
I received a free copy of Breaker through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ray, the protagonist of Breaker, is also not as strong a character as Disintegration's anti-hero, which is why I gave Breaker a half star less than Disintegration. Despite these quibbles, however, Thomas's noir sensibility and perfectly paced plot make Breaker an excellent selection for readers who like their stories dark.
I received a free copy of Breaker through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2016
I reviewed this book for NetGalley.
Mr. Thomas is a hell of a writer. I read "Disintegration," the first book in the "Windy City Mysteries" and was suitably impressed. This novel is just as good, even better!
Mr. Thomas has a beautiful, gritty dark voice. He creates an atmosphere of dark despair so masterfully, yet allows some sunshine to peek through the clinging, oppressive mist. His characters talk like real people, which is difficult to find in a lot of fiction.
The plot centers around Ray, someone who appears strange and scary to others, but is really caring and human inside, and Natalie, his teenage neighbor with whom he has a caring, platonic and eventually mentoring relationship. The reader feels for both of these characters and the horrible situations that envelope them like a dark, dank, smelly fog. The ending has the death of the old warrior, Ray, transforming the child, Natalie, into a new champion for the weak. Very lovely tale of love, self-sacrifice and eventual justice and protection of the innocent.
This novel, while character driven in the beginning, has such a perfect union of character, dialogue, plot and setting that sets it far above most noir novels, old and new. Enjoy it in its perfection, especially in the ending which could be termed "semi-happy."
A really great read!!!
Mr. Thomas is a hell of a writer. I read "Disintegration," the first book in the "Windy City Mysteries" and was suitably impressed. This novel is just as good, even better!
Mr. Thomas has a beautiful, gritty dark voice. He creates an atmosphere of dark despair so masterfully, yet allows some sunshine to peek through the clinging, oppressive mist. His characters talk like real people, which is difficult to find in a lot of fiction.
The plot centers around Ray, someone who appears strange and scary to others, but is really caring and human inside, and Natalie, his teenage neighbor with whom he has a caring, platonic and eventually mentoring relationship. The reader feels for both of these characters and the horrible situations that envelope them like a dark, dank, smelly fog. The ending has the death of the old warrior, Ray, transforming the child, Natalie, into a new champion for the weak. Very lovely tale of love, self-sacrifice and eventual justice and protection of the innocent.
This novel, while character driven in the beginning, has such a perfect union of character, dialogue, plot and setting that sets it far above most noir novels, old and new. Enjoy it in its perfection, especially in the ending which could be termed "semi-happy."
A really great read!!!
January 25, 2016
This is a dark and gritty story, but a very good one. Ray Nelson lives in the apartment that he grew up in and you are taken through his childhood through his memories which were not good. He now leaves at night and at least once a week goes to a ware house where fights in an underground fight ring. Taking on one to four opponents at a time with usually one arm tied behind his back. He looks scared and because of his size people are put off of him and scared. The one person who is not afraid of him is his neighbor Natalie. She looks out for him and he does the same for her. He also teaches her how to protect herself from the gangs around the neighborhood, and some of the people she has to watch for on her way to school. What they both don’t know is that Ray’s past is going to come back and destroy what at least he thought he had made, and had overcome. He and Natalie are both fighting for their lives, and the last part of this book is really what makes the story come together. You find yourself routing for them against the evil that has come back that he thought was dead. A good suspenseful book with what I thought was a surprise ending at least in my opinion. I got this book from net galley. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
December 20, 2015
Violence, its promoters and victims, seem to rule David Nelson’s life. His mom, almost certainly a killer of his older brother, supposedly dead of SIDS, and who had been slowly poisoning him; his dad, a child molester and killer, who David thought had left long ago; a sister strung out on drugs, and his own life – being paid to fight no holds bared in a secret, illegal ring.
Until he realizes his neighbor’s young teen daughter needs protection – more importantly, she needs to know how to protect herself and to fight if need be.
And so an unusual relationship springs up – the often violent David Nelson teaching his young teen neighbor how to fight, how to protect herself, and how to protect others.
But Nelson’s father is not dead, and he returns with a deadly ambition – to get his son join him preying on young girls and eventually murdering them.
This is a non-stop, violence riddled thriller that will have you wanting to make sure your doors are locked at night and your phone ready to hit 911 or moving to Maine, here, where crime is blessedly low.
Until he realizes his neighbor’s young teen daughter needs protection – more importantly, she needs to know how to protect herself and to fight if need be.
And so an unusual relationship springs up – the often violent David Nelson teaching his young teen neighbor how to fight, how to protect herself, and how to protect others.
But Nelson’s father is not dead, and he returns with a deadly ambition – to get his son join him preying on young girls and eventually murdering them.
This is a non-stop, violence riddled thriller that will have you wanting to make sure your doors are locked at night and your phone ready to hit 911 or moving to Maine, here, where crime is blessedly low.
January 21, 2016
Military and Police often use an analogy bout sheepdogs and wolves. The idea is that both have a capability for violence. They both have teeth. They snarl and bark. They are natural predators. The flock fears them for this capacity. The difference is that the wolves hunt the flock, while the sheepdogs will die for them.
Ray, the co-protagonist of Richard Thomas's Breaker is not a sheepdog. He is more like the human neo-noir equivalent of White Fang. His draw to protect Natalie is unmatched by any other person in Chicago. He's still wild, in many ways.
Thomas always works best with damaged individuals. He sorts through the broken pieces and finds the beauty within them. He treats them with love. Ray is no different. He's damaged, severely even, but has a redeemable quality about him, even if it can only be seen by a handful of people.
It's a good book, well-written, and an interesting study of the nature of violence, and the individuality of those with the capacity (or even instinct) to commit it.
Ray, the co-protagonist of Richard Thomas's Breaker is not a sheepdog. He is more like the human neo-noir equivalent of White Fang. His draw to protect Natalie is unmatched by any other person in Chicago. He's still wild, in many ways.
Thomas always works best with damaged individuals. He sorts through the broken pieces and finds the beauty within them. He treats them with love. Ray is no different. He's damaged, severely even, but has a redeemable quality about him, even if it can only be seen by a handful of people.
It's a good book, well-written, and an interesting study of the nature of violence, and the individuality of those with the capacity (or even instinct) to commit it.
June 29, 2016
I love this story and its endearing revulsion. Breaker had me in the city lurking through menacing alleyways in the dead of night. There were trials and tribulations throughout this heartfelt book. Ray Nelson, works nights, brutally butchering his opponents for money in the fighting ring. An unsuspecting hero arises from a harsh reality and you want to like him, and when you do, your not sure you should have. In the crack of a dank city sidewalk, grows a pretty flower waiting to be crushed underfoot, Natalie, a young girl who resides next door who needs protection. Shes like a kitten meowing from a drain pipe. The story gave me courage,knowing under adversity, there is strength and promise.
January 28, 2016
Let me start by saying that this is the third book that I have read by Richard Thomas. That tells you something right off the bat, that I keep coming back for more of his work. Richard Thomas' writing ability is exceptional. Breaker has that dark edge, gritty to the point where it felt like I needed to wash my hands after reading. There are few authors that can really do that. I will continue reading Richard Thomas' work in the future.
March 27, 2018
Dark and savage but filled with humanity. The prose is precise and clean. The story grabs you on page one and doesn't let go until the end. And the story rings true. You end up really living the life of the characters, seeing the dark world through their eyes and you care. What more could you ask. Richard Thomas has a gift, folks, and it's on display in this novel. Huge fan of this novel. Highly recommended.
May 17, 2016
Richard Thomas' books are beautiful written and moving. They can also make you gasp at the level of human cruelty in the world. And then a redemptive tenderness creeps in. What an amazing talent this writer is. Though not for the feint of heart, I recommend all his novels with a taste for hard-edged human drama and suspense.
January 3, 2016
A very good noir novel
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/breake... or http://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/2... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/breake... or http://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/2... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
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