After years of peace along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, two factions of the Vietnamese Mafia, the Dragon Family and the Tiger Society, are at war. Their criminal underworld is set to destroy area communities in a deadly maelstrom of blood-soaked collateral damage.
Talented engineer, boxing champion... Notorious criminal. Razor has always used his skills for personal gain and nothing more. Blondie, his woman and long-time crime partner, is a boxing champ and engineering talent in her own right. Their attempt to live a quiet existence doesn't last. Their coach, Eddy, unites them with boxing legend Shocker to finish the job he started.
An alliance with the Dragon Family positions them all at the mercy of a fearsome opponent unlike any they have ever faced. The job spirals into something far larger, darker, and deadlier than they could have imagined. The experience changes them all.
“Listen to me, boy! You can’t out-punch this guy; you have to out-think him.” - Fred Williams
Mississippi author Chris Roy’s biographical data reads like a novel. He was ‘raised in a south Mississippi trailerhood in the midst of ugly Gulf Coast beaches and spectacular muddy bayous, roaming the towns and wilds of the rich and poor, thieving and thinking without a curfew. Until 1999, Chris lived comfortably with the modest criminal ventures of his youth. But a fistfight ended tragically, his opponent died, resulting in a life sentence for Chris, which he started serving in the Mississippi Department of Corrections from January 2000. Hard knocks are the best teachers - the author learned this almost too late, though he did rid himself of drugs and violence. Chris' institutional record hasn't been marred by a single fight or involvement in drugs - an incredible feat, considering the brutally challenging prison environment he lives in. Now he lives his life of crime vicariously, through the edgy characters and fast-paced stories he pens, hoping to entertain readers. When he isn't writing, he's reading, drawing or looking for prospects to train in boxing.’ That story alone encourages readers to explore his talent – and talent as a writer he has.
The very opening of the story demonstrates how well Chris is able to capture atmosphere and character. – ‘It’s been a while since someone stuck a gun in my face. My line of work as a teenager had me looking at the wrong end of a pistol a total of six times. When I was eighteen I nearly killed a guy. Took his gun and beat his drug-addled head senseless with it. Drug related crimes on the Mississippi Coast haven’t changed much in the nine years since. This meth shooter in front of me is no different than the last idiot, a scared to death addict desperately seeking a mark in this quiet place of opportunity, hoping to stick me for a nice wad of cash he can poke into his scrawny arm. I sighed with a sort of relief, trying unsuccessfully to suppress an eager smile. Held my hands up. I have been hoping, dreaming, for something like this to happen. Life has been BORING since I, myself, retired from crime. And the legit endeavors I’ve pursued in recent years are about as thrilling as watching two geriatrics drag race their electric scooters. This was the kind of danger I used to live for. What happened to that guy? He grew a vagina, my subconscious slapped me with. That nagging awareness has been too vocal for comfort lately. “Give me your money!” the man shrieked at me, pistol waving, shaking two feet from my face. His shrunken features were pale, sweaty, and unshaven. Hair long and greasy, shinning grossly under the lights of the parking garage. His voice echoed off the concrete walls, roof, and the cars that filled nearly every slot. “You want to get shot? Give me your money!” I’m blessed with freaky-quick hands. Lethal weapons that were far quicker than the eye, and enabled me to live in the world of crime for over a decade without carrying a gun. To my mind, the gun in my face was just another punch mitt for my left-hook to strike like a viper, a move that I’ve perfected in numerous gyms and dozens of boxing tournaments. I had absolute confidence I could hit and stun his hand before he could pull the trigger.’
Mixing a fine balance between raw thriller and funky humor, Chris rolls out another keen story – the synopsis is brief: ‘Elaborate cons, impossible heists and high-speed chases were his thing. His talent in boxing and engineering made those pursuits a gamble with death he never wanted to quit. Then he left the world of crime with his woman, a blonde bombshell who was also accomplished in boxing and was his engineering equal. Their late boxing coach gives them a reason to return to The Life with his last wish. His will instructs his former pupils to join with other multitalented individuals, form a team that will commit major crimes for the sake of communities on the Gulf Coast. A job Coach Eddy started before he was murdered: Taking on the Vietnamese Mafia’
Raw yet polished this is another strong step for a serious writer – a flag waving that someone in there is very talented. The mixture of narration versus conversation is at times confusing to read, but it never gets in the way of this unique story.
Razor and his girlfriend, Blondie, are two talented boxers who decided to make crime their career ̶ filming their crimes and police chases for their online show called Criminals. These internet celebrities had retired from that type of life when they receive a note regarding the Eddie's will (their late boxing coach). Following the instruction on the note, they end up in Eddie’s house where they meet with other of his students ̶ Shocker, Ace and Bobby (Shocking Circumstances). The gathering is no coincidence. The coach has one last wish ̶ Restore the power to the Vietnamese Mafia against the street gangs ̶ and from beyond the grave he pleads that his students comply with it. As you can imagine, this not so easy task involves criminal actions, drugs, shootings and, of course, high-speed chases. The only way they can do it is if they work as a team and have each other’s back.
One aspect I really enjoyed is the development of the interactions and feelings between the characters. In the beginning the animosity between some of these characters is quite clear - there is even a fist fight between Shocker and Blondie. But gradually these groups of people start to realise they have more in common than just the boxing coach. Chris Roy can easily show the confrontation between strong personalities and the redemption they ultimately seek. Another bright point about this book is the very fast-paced story which is perfect for me and probably for all thrill seekers. There’s always something interesting happening, which makes you want to read it all in one go. In that aspect, Chris Roy never disappoints.
The only downside is that the dialog between characters sometimes feels a bit rushed with room for development.
Overall, this is a crime thriller series with a fast-paced story and a bit of humor in the mix! Highly recommend!
On a side note: It isn’t the first time I've read a novel written by Chris Roy. Upon some research about this crime thriller writer, I must say that it is truly amazing he has distanced himself from the criminal behaviour and explored his talent as a writer. No doubt a better way to apply one’s strength and energy that otherwise would've been wasted in forms of violence.