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The Driver
Michael Skellig is a limo driver waiting for his client in the alley behind an upscale hotel. He’s spent the past twenty-eight hours ferrying around Bismarck Avila, a celebrity skateboard mogul who isn’t going home any time soon. Suddenly the wind begins to speak to Skellig in the guttural accent of the Chechen torturer he shot through the eye in Yemen a decade ago: Troubletroubletrouble. Skellig has heard these warnings before—he’s an Army Special Forces sergeant whose limo company is staffed by a ragtag band of wounded veterans, including his Afghan interpreter—and he knows to listen carefully.
Skellig runs inside just in time to save Avila from two gunmen but too late for one of Avila’s bodyguards—and wakes up hours later in the hospital, the only person of interest in custody for the murder. Complicating matters further is the appearance of Detective Delilah Groopman of the LAPD, gorgeous and brash, for whom Skellig has always held a candle. As for Avila? He’s willing to help clear Skellig’s name under one peculiar condition: that Skellig become Avila’s personal chauffeur. A cushy gig for any driver, except for the fact that someone is clearly trying to kill Avila, and Skellig is literally the only person sitting between Avila and a bullet to the head.
9 hours and 11 minutes
Skellig runs inside just in time to save Avila from two gunmen but too late for one of Avila’s bodyguards—and wakes up hours later in the hospital, the only person of interest in custody for the murder. Complicating matters further is the appearance of Detective Delilah Groopman of the LAPD, gorgeous and brash, for whom Skellig has always held a candle. As for Avila? He’s willing to help clear Skellig’s name under one peculiar condition: that Skellig become Avila’s personal chauffeur. A cushy gig for any driver, except for the fact that someone is clearly trying to kill Avila, and Skellig is literally the only person sitting between Avila and a bullet to the head.
9 hours and 11 minutes
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 8, 2017
352 people are currently reading
1872 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
July 14, 2017
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars here.
When I saw that Hart Hanson, creator of the television show Bones , had written a thriller, I jumped on it pretty quickly. And while there are certainly similarities between the show and the book, particularly the smart-ass banter between the characters, The Driver is a rip-roaring, complex, humorous, and satisfying thrill ride, with some fantastically memorable characters.
Michael Skellig is a limo driver, the owner of his own limousine company. A former Army Special Forces officer who has seen and done things he doesn't like to talk or think about, he hears voices on the wind of those he has killed in the past. But strangely, these voices don't mean him harm, they warn him of impending danger, and sometimes force him to wise up before something goes totally awry. Skellig's employees are all fellow veterans, each with their own set of issues to deal with, whether physical, emotional, or cultural.
"I don't know for absolute sure whether the voices I hear in the wind are supernatural or if they're just in my head. Do they tell me things I don't know or things I just don't know consciously? Are those voices my own guilty subconscious trying to tell me something and the only way to get my attention is to speak to me in the voices of those whose lives I've taken? Or do ghosts actually exist?"
Skellig has spent more than a day driving Bismarck Avila, a skateboard star-turned-business mogul, from place to place. While waiting for Avila to come out of a hotel, he is waiting with his car in an alley when the voice of one of his victims warns him that trouble is on the way. He rushes into the hotel and is able to thwart an attack on Avila's life, although in the process one of Avila's bodyguards is killed. And when Skellig wakes up in the hospital a few hours later, he finds himself the only suspect in the bodyguard's murder.
Being at the right and wrong place at the right and wrong time throws Skellig into the midst of Avila's problems, which further intensify around the time he blackmails Skellig into becoming his personal driver. People around Avila keep winding up dead, and Skellig is too curious and too noble just to let things unfold around him. And as the danger mounts for Skellig and his colleagues, it also causes friction in his relationships with his sometime-girlfriend (and attorney), Connie, and his friend and periodic nemesis, Detective Delilah Groopman, Connie's best friend, with whom Skellig has always been a bit infatuated.
The Driver is a wild ride which will make one hell of a movie. Hanson has created some complex characters whom I hope to see more of, and as you might imagine, he has a knack for memorable dialogue and some pretty fantastic action scenes. He throws in some gimmicks as well which irritated me a little—in trying to describe how one character speaks, he writes many of the words this character says In Capital Letters, and another tends to talk in fragments, so. He writes. That way. (See what I mean?)
But those quirks aside, I really enjoyed this book and hope it's just the start of a long relationship with Skellig and his ragtag band of compatriots. This is a fun, cool read, and hopefully it marks the start of a fantastic writing career for Hanson.
NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
When I saw that Hart Hanson, creator of the television show Bones , had written a thriller, I jumped on it pretty quickly. And while there are certainly similarities between the show and the book, particularly the smart-ass banter between the characters, The Driver is a rip-roaring, complex, humorous, and satisfying thrill ride, with some fantastically memorable characters.
Michael Skellig is a limo driver, the owner of his own limousine company. A former Army Special Forces officer who has seen and done things he doesn't like to talk or think about, he hears voices on the wind of those he has killed in the past. But strangely, these voices don't mean him harm, they warn him of impending danger, and sometimes force him to wise up before something goes totally awry. Skellig's employees are all fellow veterans, each with their own set of issues to deal with, whether physical, emotional, or cultural.
"I don't know for absolute sure whether the voices I hear in the wind are supernatural or if they're just in my head. Do they tell me things I don't know or things I just don't know consciously? Are those voices my own guilty subconscious trying to tell me something and the only way to get my attention is to speak to me in the voices of those whose lives I've taken? Or do ghosts actually exist?"
Skellig has spent more than a day driving Bismarck Avila, a skateboard star-turned-business mogul, from place to place. While waiting for Avila to come out of a hotel, he is waiting with his car in an alley when the voice of one of his victims warns him that trouble is on the way. He rushes into the hotel and is able to thwart an attack on Avila's life, although in the process one of Avila's bodyguards is killed. And when Skellig wakes up in the hospital a few hours later, he finds himself the only suspect in the bodyguard's murder.
Being at the right and wrong place at the right and wrong time throws Skellig into the midst of Avila's problems, which further intensify around the time he blackmails Skellig into becoming his personal driver. People around Avila keep winding up dead, and Skellig is too curious and too noble just to let things unfold around him. And as the danger mounts for Skellig and his colleagues, it also causes friction in his relationships with his sometime-girlfriend (and attorney), Connie, and his friend and periodic nemesis, Detective Delilah Groopman, Connie's best friend, with whom Skellig has always been a bit infatuated.
The Driver is a wild ride which will make one hell of a movie. Hanson has created some complex characters whom I hope to see more of, and as you might imagine, he has a knack for memorable dialogue and some pretty fantastic action scenes. He throws in some gimmicks as well which irritated me a little—in trying to describe how one character speaks, he writes many of the words this character says In Capital Letters, and another tends to talk in fragments, so. He writes. That way. (See what I mean?)
But those quirks aside, I really enjoyed this book and hope it's just the start of a long relationship with Skellig and his ragtag band of compatriots. This is a fun, cool read, and hopefully it marks the start of a fantastic writing career for Hanson.
NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
August 12, 2021
"This was nothing more or less then an elemental tussle of wills between a street rat and an ex-con, even if the street rat was dressed up as a lifestyle mogul and the criminal was dressed like a Latvian schoolteacher's fantasy of a Navajo mountain surfer cowboy." This author is a TV writer and he has a way with dialogue, quirky characters with cute nicknames, action scenes and unbelievable storylines. I could see this book as a movie, or even a TV series with the core group of characters getting involved in another zany adventure each week. My favorite character was Bismarck Avila, a skateboarding hip-hop mogul. However the main group was comprised of Michael Skellig (no nickname) the owner of a limo service and his employees Ripple, Lucky and Tinkertoy. Skellig winds up being the driver for Avila and that puts him at the center of a series of criminal and violent situations.
The book generally had a jokey tone, although at the end it became very violent. Everyone in it is a wiseass. The women in the book had responsible jobs (detective, doctor, lawyer) but they really just existed to be hit on by one of the male characters, who are apparently irresistible. The book was pretty entertaining, but I doubt that I would dvr the series. The tone would get tiresome over time.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The book generally had a jokey tone, although at the end it became very violent. Everyone in it is a wiseass. The women in the book had responsible jobs (detective, doctor, lawyer) but they really just existed to be hit on by one of the male characters, who are apparently irresistible. The book was pretty entertaining, but I doubt that I would dvr the series. The tone would get tiresome over time.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 9, 2017
This is a book I had problems measuring how much I liked but it's undeniable that I liked it. So let's call it a 3.5.
Skellig is veteran and now a limo driver who is forced to work for a skater celebrity, whose life he had just saved. However, danger is not over and Skellig has just gotten himself in a mess so big even his friends could be in danger.
This is an action-filled thriller narrated in first person by Skellig, who also tends to speak to the reader. I'm not sure I can call it a different style but it surely isn't conventional. It has its cons, though. I think Skellig is a character who would work much better on a screen, he has this attitude and he loves trying to evade by being funny, except his jokes aren't funny, not even to the characters in the book. I'm sure that would be great on a TV, when you're able to see the face he's making at that moment. In fact, most of the funny scenes would have been funnier if played by an actor, so I think I'd watch a live action of this book.
Now, as a book, it also is quite enjoyable. Even though I'd frown most of the time to Skellig's attitude, it got to a point I'd giggle just because he was doing it again. I definitely can't complain about him being out of character.
As for the plot, we have some mystery but the plot twists aren't strong. I think this is more the type of story for you to enjoy as it happens instead of feeling excited about what hasn't yet. Just sit and enjoy, I'd say.
The really big flaw is the romance. I wasn't even expecting any to happen but as it did I need to mention this: what the hell? Actually, I was generous calling it romance. Skellig's love(?) life so erratic I'm glad the author didn't place any bets on that. One page he was head over heels and even heartbroken about Connie the lawyer, and then he'd be thinking again and going after Delilah the detective... All that in a weird, borderline-bipolar manner. I think Hanson was going for a love triangle because, in theory, there was lots of potential. He failed. I wish those parts were just erased from the story, they were just too weird.
I almost forgot to mention but Hanson was obviously worried about diversity. I won't got in details but he's got almost all here. Immigrants, people with disability, homosexuals and, of course, women. I view this positively, despite the main guy still being a white American man, so I think those more knowledgeable in this could raise concerns. For me, I say, "yay!"
This got longer than I had foreseen but summing up, it was a nice book. I don't usually read book written by men, action, book starred by men... there was a handful of stuff here that could have made me stay away, and I'm glad they didn't. I had a great time, and I hope to read Hanson's next work soon. I wonder if this will be made into a series? The story was pretty much closed but I feel there's a chance.
Review based on an ARC provided by Penguin's First to Read program. Many thanks to the publisher for giving me this opportunity.
Skellig is veteran and now a limo driver who is forced to work for a skater celebrity, whose life he had just saved. However, danger is not over and Skellig has just gotten himself in a mess so big even his friends could be in danger.
This is an action-filled thriller narrated in first person by Skellig, who also tends to speak to the reader. I'm not sure I can call it a different style but it surely isn't conventional. It has its cons, though. I think Skellig is a character who would work much better on a screen, he has this attitude and he loves trying to evade by being funny, except his jokes aren't funny, not even to the characters in the book. I'm sure that would be great on a TV, when you're able to see the face he's making at that moment. In fact, most of the funny scenes would have been funnier if played by an actor, so I think I'd watch a live action of this book.
Now, as a book, it also is quite enjoyable. Even though I'd frown most of the time to Skellig's attitude, it got to a point I'd giggle just because he was doing it again. I definitely can't complain about him being out of character.
As for the plot, we have some mystery but the plot twists aren't strong. I think this is more the type of story for you to enjoy as it happens instead of feeling excited about what hasn't yet. Just sit and enjoy, I'd say.
The really big flaw is the romance. I wasn't even expecting any to happen but as it did I need to mention this: what the hell? Actually, I was generous calling it romance. Skellig's love(?) life so erratic I'm glad the author didn't place any bets on that. One page he was head over heels and even heartbroken about Connie the lawyer, and then he'd be thinking again and going after Delilah the detective... All that in a weird, borderline-bipolar manner. I think Hanson was going for a love triangle because, in theory, there was lots of potential. He failed. I wish those parts were just erased from the story, they were just too weird.
I almost forgot to mention but Hanson was obviously worried about diversity. I won't got in details but he's got almost all here. Immigrants, people with disability, homosexuals and, of course, women. I view this positively, despite the main guy still being a white American man, so I think those more knowledgeable in this could raise concerns. For me, I say, "yay!"
This got longer than I had foreseen but summing up, it was a nice book. I don't usually read book written by men, action, book starred by men... there was a handful of stuff here that could have made me stay away, and I'm glad they didn't. I had a great time, and I hope to read Hanson's next work soon. I wonder if this will be made into a series? The story was pretty much closed but I feel there's a chance.
Review based on an ARC provided by Penguin's First to Read program. Many thanks to the publisher for giving me this opportunity.
January 1, 2018
4-4.5*s The *s are for this type of book At first I was-"Oh this is gonna be stupid buuuuuuut I soon became totally absorbed. A lot of humor, as well as serious thoughts about the plight of our veterans. Larry H wrote an excellent review of this title review- read it, and also take note of his totally fab new pic!
December 20, 2024
This book starts with the longest sentence in the history of writing, whew…after that pure fun!
I read The Seminarian (another great book by Hanson) before The Driver and the similarities are uncanny, even the main character tells you that before joining the army he wanted to join the seminary. Southern California is the location for both books, the main character is easy going and good natured but the female characters around him have strong convictions are intelligent, sometimes volatile but always loyal. He really can write great female characters. The protagonist takes a back seat and enjoy the tumultuous pace that women bring into his life. Cody Fiso is also in this book. One reviewer was complaining at the diversity of this motley crew but I find it refreshing, it doesn’t seems like Hanson is doing this on purpose to appeal to a wider audience, it feels like he is creating great characters for a tv show. There is great respect in the treatment of these players.
Overall a great and fun read! The main character again tries to do good and find himself in a heap of trouble. Diversity in characters with a predilection for strong, educated and uncensored points of view in women characters (yes!). What there is not to like?
I read The Seminarian (another great book by Hanson) before The Driver and the similarities are uncanny, even the main character tells you that before joining the army he wanted to join the seminary. Southern California is the location for both books, the main character is easy going and good natured but the female characters around him have strong convictions are intelligent, sometimes volatile but always loyal. He really can write great female characters. The protagonist takes a back seat and enjoy the tumultuous pace that women bring into his life. Cody Fiso is also in this book. One reviewer was complaining at the diversity of this motley crew but I find it refreshing, it doesn’t seems like Hanson is doing this on purpose to appeal to a wider audience, it feels like he is creating great characters for a tv show. There is great respect in the treatment of these players.
Overall a great and fun read! The main character again tries to do good and find himself in a heap of trouble. Diversity in characters with a predilection for strong, educated and uncensored points of view in women characters (yes!). What there is not to like?
August 8, 2017
Big thanks to Dutton Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
Reading the description for the book and seeing the awesome cover (you all know by now that I’m a sucker for a great cover) I knew I needed to read this! THE DRIVER by Hart Hanson – the mind behind the TV show Bones – was a great thriller. It had all the elements you love, but with a touch of humor. Usually that doesn’t sound like a good combo, but Hansom meshes them flawlessly and made for an incredibly enjoyable read.
Michael Skellig is a limo driver and he’s waiting for his client outside of an upscale hotel. His current client is a skateboarding mogul, Bismarck Avila and his bodyguards. Skellig is also the owner of the limo company and he, along with his group of employees, is a veteran. Specifically an Army Special Forces sergeant and his training kicks in – something changes in the wind causing him to think one thing: troubletroubletrouble. He goes running in to get Avila and just in time, because two Chechen gunman attack and kill one bodyguard and put Skellig in the hospital.
When he wakes up in the hospital he finds himself in custody and is the only person of interest in this murder. Things get complicated when Detective Delilah Groopman from the LAPD gets involved – someone that Skellig has always been fond of. Avila is willing to help clear Skellig’s name but only if he becomes his personal chauffeur – seems like a great gig? Well, Skellig would like it a lot more if his client wasn’t obviously a target for murder. Will he be able to clear his name and save Avila?
I loved the writing. While some people might find it to be overly descriptive or, at times, too comical, I felt that it worked very well for this book! It’s a very uniquely written thriller and made for a quick read! I love when thrillers and mysteries have all of the elements we love but also have something that sets them apart. The characters were great and the mystery was there to keep the pages turning. The relationships and interactions between the characters were genuine and showed how unique they all were – with most being wounded veterans, Hanson presents the different mental effects very well. There were some violent parts towards the end, so that added to the thriller elements we know and love (sometimes).
Overall, I loved the added humor. I know that won’t be for everyone, so if you aren’t looking for a thriller with a lot of laughs thrown in, then you’ll want to move on. Hart Hanson perfectly meshes comedy with mystery!
I give this 5/5 stars!
Reading the description for the book and seeing the awesome cover (you all know by now that I’m a sucker for a great cover) I knew I needed to read this! THE DRIVER by Hart Hanson – the mind behind the TV show Bones – was a great thriller. It had all the elements you love, but with a touch of humor. Usually that doesn’t sound like a good combo, but Hansom meshes them flawlessly and made for an incredibly enjoyable read.
Michael Skellig is a limo driver and he’s waiting for his client outside of an upscale hotel. His current client is a skateboarding mogul, Bismarck Avila and his bodyguards. Skellig is also the owner of the limo company and he, along with his group of employees, is a veteran. Specifically an Army Special Forces sergeant and his training kicks in – something changes in the wind causing him to think one thing: troubletroubletrouble. He goes running in to get Avila and just in time, because two Chechen gunman attack and kill one bodyguard and put Skellig in the hospital.
When he wakes up in the hospital he finds himself in custody and is the only person of interest in this murder. Things get complicated when Detective Delilah Groopman from the LAPD gets involved – someone that Skellig has always been fond of. Avila is willing to help clear Skellig’s name but only if he becomes his personal chauffeur – seems like a great gig? Well, Skellig would like it a lot more if his client wasn’t obviously a target for murder. Will he be able to clear his name and save Avila?
I loved the writing. While some people might find it to be overly descriptive or, at times, too comical, I felt that it worked very well for this book! It’s a very uniquely written thriller and made for a quick read! I love when thrillers and mysteries have all of the elements we love but also have something that sets them apart. The characters were great and the mystery was there to keep the pages turning. The relationships and interactions between the characters were genuine and showed how unique they all were – with most being wounded veterans, Hanson presents the different mental effects very well. There were some violent parts towards the end, so that added to the thriller elements we know and love (sometimes).
Overall, I loved the added humor. I know that won’t be for everyone, so if you aren’t looking for a thriller with a lot of laughs thrown in, then you’ll want to move on. Hart Hanson perfectly meshes comedy with mystery!
I give this 5/5 stars!
May 28, 2017
Michael Skellig, ex-army, runs his Los Angeles limo company with a small contingent of fellow veterans: Lucky, his wise Afghan interpreter, Tinkertoy, his Amazonian mechanic, and Ripple, his smart-mouthed, amputee dispatcher. While waiting for his client, a YouTube-famous skateboarding rapper, the voice of one of the men he's killed whispers that something isn't right. Skellig barges onto the scene just in time to save his client and to involve himself and his crew in a world of trouble involving deceit, millions, corrupt law enforcement, and all the action sequences your heart could desire.
Fans of Carl Hiassen will absolutely love this crime fiction debut from Hart Hanson. The novel is terrifically sharp. I grinned through much of the book with a good number of involuntary guffaws sprinkled in. The story is filled with a wild cast of characters and circumstances. Skellig's narrative is wonderfully fun in the face of some pretty dire situations. A quick and pleasurable read. Recommended for a reader looking for a good time and a must-read for Hiassen fans.
Fans of Carl Hiassen will absolutely love this crime fiction debut from Hart Hanson. The novel is terrifically sharp. I grinned through much of the book with a good number of involuntary guffaws sprinkled in. The story is filled with a wild cast of characters and circumstances. Skellig's narrative is wonderfully fun in the face of some pretty dire situations. A quick and pleasurable read. Recommended for a reader looking for a good time and a must-read for Hiassen fans.
August 18, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Hart Hanson was the creator of the television show Bones which I had never watched but if it is anything like this novel I see myself having a few Bones marathons sometime soon, it will take a lot of time to get through all the seasons.
In The Driver, we meet Michael Skellig, a former Army Special Forces sergeant with some demons from his tours of duty. He owns a limo company that employs some vets and an Afghan interpreter who are fighting their own demons. The company has three limos, 1 with all the bells and whistles, 1 classic and 1 that is probably haunted. Celebrity skateboard mogul, Bismarck Avila, prefers to ride in style. Skellig parked outside a fancy hotel while his client Avila takes care of “business” suddenly “knows” his client is in trouble. He rushes through the hotel but is not in time to stop all of the bloodshed. He wakes up in the hospital accused of killing one of Avila’s bodyguards.
Hanson has a unique writing style but I quickly found my way and became drawn right into Michael Skellig’s story.
The characters are very diverse and the “family” Skellig has brought together is very genuine and the interactions between them run the gambit of hilarious to chilling and everything in between depending on the situations they were facing. Their struggles were real and their devotion to each other was clear.
The plot is action packed, thrilling and suspenseful with twists galore. Dangerous situations valiantly described brought the drama to life. I can easily see this book made into a movie. The story had me on the edge of my seat.
I am not sure if this book will become part of a series, these characters went through so much in this one. He is definitely an author I want to see more from.
Hart Hanson was the creator of the television show Bones which I had never watched but if it is anything like this novel I see myself having a few Bones marathons sometime soon, it will take a lot of time to get through all the seasons.
In The Driver, we meet Michael Skellig, a former Army Special Forces sergeant with some demons from his tours of duty. He owns a limo company that employs some vets and an Afghan interpreter who are fighting their own demons. The company has three limos, 1 with all the bells and whistles, 1 classic and 1 that is probably haunted. Celebrity skateboard mogul, Bismarck Avila, prefers to ride in style. Skellig parked outside a fancy hotel while his client Avila takes care of “business” suddenly “knows” his client is in trouble. He rushes through the hotel but is not in time to stop all of the bloodshed. He wakes up in the hospital accused of killing one of Avila’s bodyguards.
Hanson has a unique writing style but I quickly found my way and became drawn right into Michael Skellig’s story.
The characters are very diverse and the “family” Skellig has brought together is very genuine and the interactions between them run the gambit of hilarious to chilling and everything in between depending on the situations they were facing. Their struggles were real and their devotion to each other was clear.
The plot is action packed, thrilling and suspenseful with twists galore. Dangerous situations valiantly described brought the drama to life. I can easily see this book made into a movie. The story had me on the edge of my seat.
I am not sure if this book will become part of a series, these characters went through so much in this one. He is definitely an author I want to see more from.
December 21, 2017
So smart, so funny. If Philip Marlowe were an Afghanistan war vet trying to hang onto his last vestiges of idealism while living in LA, he'd sound like Michael Skellig.
Couldn't put it down. When I'd read the last page, I closed the book and amazoned my sweet, funny brother a copy. I can't think of another book that's prompted me to do that.
Couldn't put it down. When I'd read the last page, I closed the book and amazoned my sweet, funny brother a copy. I can't think of another book that's prompted me to do that.
August 24, 2017
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Michael Skellig was a Special Forces Sergeant in the Army, who came out of the War on Terror with more than just scars and stories. He also came back with a burden to help Vets. So far, he's gathered a small group of them around him in his limo company. It's more than just a company, it's a family -- a place for them all to heal. These are the strangest, most tragic, yet funniest group of characters you're likely to meet this year. You'll be glad that Hanson introduced you to them as well as being a little angry that he does what he does to them.
Skellig is driving for a skating mogul/rap musician/all around lifestyle entrepreneur, Bismarck Avila, and he stumbles upon an attempt on Avila's life and thwarts it -- with no help at all from Avila's bodyguards. Avila blackmails Skellig into driving for him regularly (no, really) which gets Skellig involved in Avila's less-than-legal activities. All Skellig is trying to do is keep Avila alive -- and maybe find out why people are trying to kill him.
But Avila's criminal associates and rivals don't understand that, they think Skellig is an accomplice, assistant, or just generally in cahoots with Avila. So they come looking for a pound of flesh from Skellig and his little found family, hoping that'll result in them getting what Avila owes them. All it does is provoke Skellig.
Skellig isn't your typical thriller figure -- he's got a couple of PhD's -- one in mathematics, a sense of duty and loyalty, a knack for categorizing people using Hippocrates' four humors (hey, it beats Myers–Briggs Types -- at least for entertainment value), and an odd sense of humor. I don't know that Hanson's setting this up as a series, but if he is, Skellig is going to be one of my favorite series' leads soon.
Avila . . . I just don't know what to say about him. He's an interesting weasel of a character. There are times when you'd like Skellig to just walk away and let the police or some criminal or another take him out. Other times you feel sorry for the kid and hope someone protects him from himself and his dumb choices.
The plot moves quickly -- not so much that you don't get invested in characters, their hopes, dreams, phobias -- and steadily. There's a wit to the writing, as well as to the dialogue. Skellig's right-hand-man is his former interpreter, an Afghan man, is wise, funny and wily -- he's also Skellig's conscience pretty often. The two of them going back and forth is one of the highlights of the month for me. The writing is crisp, descriptive (sometimes you might feel overly so, as you read descriptions about the kinds of trauma visited upon bodies/body parts), and engaging. Really, for a debut, this is some outstanding work.
Ari Fliakos does a fantastic job -- accents, voices, emotions, humor -- he nails them all. Last year, I listened to his narration of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, which was easily as good as this. But I didn't recognize his voice -- the only reason I know both books had the same reader is that's what the Internet tells me -- the performance he gives is so good. I've got to make a point of listening to more things with his name on them.
The Driver is perfect for fans of Shane Kuhn's John Lago books (The Intern's Handbook, Hostile Takeover) or Josh Bazell's Peter Brown (Beat the Reaper) books -- but a little less violent. Just as smart, just as witty, just as . . . not your typical thriller. This is probably the best thing that Hanson's ever brought into the world, I hope this is the first in a long line of novels from him.
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Michael Skellig was a Special Forces Sergeant in the Army, who came out of the War on Terror with more than just scars and stories. He also came back with a burden to help Vets. So far, he's gathered a small group of them around him in his limo company. It's more than just a company, it's a family -- a place for them all to heal. These are the strangest, most tragic, yet funniest group of characters you're likely to meet this year. You'll be glad that Hanson introduced you to them as well as being a little angry that he does what he does to them.
Skellig is driving for a skating mogul/rap musician/all around lifestyle entrepreneur, Bismarck Avila, and he stumbles upon an attempt on Avila's life and thwarts it -- with no help at all from Avila's bodyguards. Avila blackmails Skellig into driving for him regularly (no, really) which gets Skellig involved in Avila's less-than-legal activities. All Skellig is trying to do is keep Avila alive -- and maybe find out why people are trying to kill him.
But Avila's criminal associates and rivals don't understand that, they think Skellig is an accomplice, assistant, or just generally in cahoots with Avila. So they come looking for a pound of flesh from Skellig and his little found family, hoping that'll result in them getting what Avila owes them. All it does is provoke Skellig.
Skellig isn't your typical thriller figure -- he's got a couple of PhD's -- one in mathematics, a sense of duty and loyalty, a knack for categorizing people using Hippocrates' four humors (hey, it beats Myers–Briggs Types -- at least for entertainment value), and an odd sense of humor. I don't know that Hanson's setting this up as a series, but if he is, Skellig is going to be one of my favorite series' leads soon.
Avila . . . I just don't know what to say about him. He's an interesting weasel of a character. There are times when you'd like Skellig to just walk away and let the police or some criminal or another take him out. Other times you feel sorry for the kid and hope someone protects him from himself and his dumb choices.
The plot moves quickly -- not so much that you don't get invested in characters, their hopes, dreams, phobias -- and steadily. There's a wit to the writing, as well as to the dialogue. Skellig's right-hand-man is his former interpreter, an Afghan man, is wise, funny and wily -- he's also Skellig's conscience pretty often. The two of them going back and forth is one of the highlights of the month for me. The writing is crisp, descriptive (sometimes you might feel overly so, as you read descriptions about the kinds of trauma visited upon bodies/body parts), and engaging. Really, for a debut, this is some outstanding work.
Ari Fliakos does a fantastic job -- accents, voices, emotions, humor -- he nails them all. Last year, I listened to his narration of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, which was easily as good as this. But I didn't recognize his voice -- the only reason I know both books had the same reader is that's what the Internet tells me -- the performance he gives is so good. I've got to make a point of listening to more things with his name on them.
The Driver is perfect for fans of Shane Kuhn's John Lago books (The Intern's Handbook, Hostile Takeover) or Josh Bazell's Peter Brown (Beat the Reaper) books -- but a little less violent. Just as smart, just as witty, just as . . . not your typical thriller. This is probably the best thing that Hanson's ever brought into the world, I hope this is the first in a long line of novels from him.
August 8, 2017
Skellig owns a limo company and enjoys his job, giving his illegal friend a place to work without necessary paperwork, doing what he wants, when he wants. His latest job is driving around Bismarck Avila, a professional skateboarder with a lot of money who always gets his way. Saving Avila from an unwanted bullet to the head, one of Avila's bodyguards ends up dead and Skellig ends up in jail for murder. Avila's willing to let Skellig go and give the law the true story of Skellig saving his life... on one condition, Avila buys out the limo company and they work exclusively for him. Skellig doesn't really have a choice and so begins this action packed thriller where Skellig is now not only Avila's personal chauffeur, but body guard as well.
It took me about the first 80 pages to get used to the writing style. It was a little... what's the word I'm looking for.... unique. But once I got used to that, the book took off for me! All I could imagine is Jason Statham driving around Shaun White for some reason and in my head, it worked! Some absolutely funny moments (I do love sarcasm), engaging characters (whether you like them or not) and a plot that picks up speed with each chapter. I can absolutely see how this came from the writer of the TV series Bones. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of his work.
It took me about the first 80 pages to get used to the writing style. It was a little... what's the word I'm looking for.... unique. But once I got used to that, the book took off for me! All I could imagine is Jason Statham driving around Shaun White for some reason and in my head, it worked! Some absolutely funny moments (I do love sarcasm), engaging characters (whether you like them or not) and a plot that picks up speed with each chapter. I can absolutely see how this came from the writer of the TV series Bones. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of his work.
December 21, 2017
I'm always bouncing back and forth between more "serious" non-fiction books, "literary" books, books I read for research, and books in the genre I write in: crime thrillers.
THE DRIVER was in that last category, crime thrillers I read for pleasure.
So, needless to say, I was looking forward to THE DRIVER.
I knew very little about Hart Hanson. I didn't know he was the creator of BONES.
Very quickly, however, I knew Hanson is writer with a unique talent. The "voice" that came through in the first person narrative captivated me. Listening to Michael Skellig, the protagonist, was lots of fun. Skelling is fresh, intriguing, and attractive.
But when the story line became too sketchy and jumpy, that "voice" wasn't enough to carry this novel to success. Too much seemed too forced too often. That included characters, plot points, Skellig's sudden ability to beat down and maim bad guys in unbelievable situations, and that thing with being able to hear the voices of dead people- albeit only ones that he killed.
I would still recommend THE DRIVER for readers looking for something new.
THE DRIVER was in that last category, crime thrillers I read for pleasure.
So, needless to say, I was looking forward to THE DRIVER.
I knew very little about Hart Hanson. I didn't know he was the creator of BONES.
Very quickly, however, I knew Hanson is writer with a unique talent. The "voice" that came through in the first person narrative captivated me. Listening to Michael Skellig, the protagonist, was lots of fun. Skelling is fresh, intriguing, and attractive.
But when the story line became too sketchy and jumpy, that "voice" wasn't enough to carry this novel to success. Too much seemed too forced too often. That included characters, plot points, Skellig's sudden ability to beat down and maim bad guys in unbelievable situations, and that thing with being able to hear the voices of dead people- albeit only ones that he killed.
I would still recommend THE DRIVER for readers looking for something new.
February 3, 2019
Hey look, the Bones guy wrote a book! And it's pretty dang good! I'm an easy mark for crime fiction with unconventional main characters, and this certainly scratches that itch with its vet limo company owner with a wildly mismatched family. More interesting, however, are the supporting characters, and the direction in which Hanson choose to focus his lens. The limo company's staff includes veterans who are either physically disabled, suffering from severe ptsd, or all of the above, and the way those characters are draw strikes a remarkable balance between looking at their challenges with clear eyes, and allowing them to be employees, or friends, or accomplices, just like anyone else would be. The relationships within that tiny community are where the book really shines, complete with real humor and real consequences.
June 18, 2019
I keep hearing this referred to as "a thriller" and I'm not sure that's how I would classify it but I don't always know when something shifts from thriller to mystery or suspense. A gritty dark comedy/mystery is more my impression. I guess it is suspenseful/thrilling at times but that wouldn't be my first descriptor.
I laughed aloud more than once. It is clear that Hanson (as a show runner for Bones) knows characters and dialogue and that is where this novel shines. It is really hard for me to pick a favorite because they are all so layered and delightful.
I'm not sure what I would have rated it if I didn't listen to the audio but the narration is so good that it cemented it as a 5 Star read for me.
Genre: Hardboiled fiction; Mysteries
Character: Well-developed
Storyline: Action-packed
Writing Style: Well-crafted dialogue
I laughed aloud more than once. It is clear that Hanson (as a show runner for Bones) knows characters and dialogue and that is where this novel shines. It is really hard for me to pick a favorite because they are all so layered and delightful.
I'm not sure what I would have rated it if I didn't listen to the audio but the narration is so good that it cemented it as a 5 Star read for me.
Genre: Hardboiled fiction; Mysteries
Character: Well-developed
Storyline: Action-packed
Writing Style: Well-crafted dialogue
July 2, 2018
Witty and intrinsic story as seen through the eyes, thoughts, words,and "secret" desires of Army veteran and limousine driver Michael Skellig. The author describes a zany world of the legal establishment, small business enterprise, celebrity, criminal and psychotic behaviors, etc. in a very comedic fashion. The reader witnesses the lowest of human foibles as well as highest of positive qualities in this collection of motley characters. (If you enjoy the stories written by Christopher Moore then you'll appreciate this offering by Hart Hanson.) Underlying the entire story is the author's plea for recognition of the abilities of disabled military veterans to function in today's world.
December 30, 2020
3.5 stars. Alright, I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. I picked this book out randomly from the "mystery" section of the library. So much happens throughout the entire thing, but the most important thing is that I was entertained the whole time. Pretty violent, perhaps problematic at points. There were parts that actually made me laugh and I did, in fact, tear up at one point towards the end. This really isn't the type of book I'd usually read, but I might venture into mysteries and thrillers more now that this warmed me up. Also apparently Hart Hanson created the show Bones (which I haven't watched), but that's pretty cool. I could see this book being a movie, tbh.
June 26, 2018
This book depicts completely unnecessary voyeuristic acts of torture against racial minorities/women/disabled characters. It is sickening to read both on an intellectual level (given the nature of white male perpetrators of sexually violent crimes on disabled people, racial minorities, and women) and in a gut emotional level. Although this “torture porn” occurred in only one scene (that I got to cause cards on the table I stopped reading at this scene), it soured the entire book for me.
August 1, 2017
I received a free ARC of this book from First to Read in exchange for an honest review.
First to Read has an option where you can guarantee you’ll get an ARC of the book by dishing out some of your accumulated points. I used that option for The Driver because I used to enjoy Bones, and I liked The Finder when it was on. On the one hand, I’m frustrated because I feel like I wasted points. On the other hand, I’m glad I did because I can now warn people off of this book. I actually considered not finishing it because I disliked it so much, but I wanted to write a coherent review without anyone accusing me of being “uninformed” because I didn’t finish it.
So here we go. Buckle your seatbelts, kiddos. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
The Driver has a really slow beginning. I did notice that the pacing got better later in the novel, and although I didn’t like it any better than before, reading it went a lot more quickly.
One of my largest problems with the novel is that you can tell Hart Hanson is used to writing television scripts. Especially at the beginning of the novel, it reads more like a screenplay, and throughout, the narrative is peppered with superfluous descriptions—in scripts, you have to tell so you can show on the screen, but in a novel, all you have to do is show. There were times when I felt like Hanson wanted me to sit down and draw out a roadmap of LA and the surrounding areas while he was driving. I’ve been to LA a few times for vacation, so many of this direction-giving was totally lost on me. I would glaze over while I read through them and hope I wasn’t missing anything important. There were paragraphs of this stuff. It was painful.
My main problem, though, is just with Hart Hanson. Michael Skellig is not a likeable protagonist. He has all the makings of the antihero trope. That’s fine—I don’t need to like a main character to like the novel, and sometimes an unlikeable or unreliable protagonist makes for a more interesting narrative. The key to that sort of novel being good, however, is that the author needs to be clear that the protagonist’s bad thoughts or actions are bad. There needs to be distance between the author and the main character, and I didn’t feel like there was here. Too many times I felt like Hanson would show me Skellig doing or saying or thinking something that would make my lip curl, and then immediately trying to get me to like him again. Skellig would objectify a woman or talk about how he wanted to get a woman into bed, but then Hanson would remind me that Skellig is madly in love with and wants to marry a woman who just wants to keep things casual, as if that was some sort of excuse. As if him lusting after women—one of them being her best friend—now was supposed to make sense. And he’s funny! Hanson would insist, a little desperately. He’s funny, so you can’t really dislike him if he’s funny, right? And I mean, he’s got a good heart, really, look how he takes care of these people…
I felt, in short, like he was mansplaining.
Skellig could be a really interesting character if Hanson wasn’t trying so hard to make sure that I liked him despite all of his character flaws.
This book was also pretty horrible about women. I don’t mean that Skellig was horrible about women, because while he was, this is another instance of creating distance between the character and the author. Skellig being a misogynist and an asshole is one thing. Hanson trying to make me excuse him for it or Hanson just straight-up being those things himself are another. I guess because Skellig told the reader himself (multiple times) that he was an asshole, that was supposed to make up for it because he was self-aware? I really don’t know the logic, here, but the way that Skellig treats women is gross, and Hanson’s apparent acceptance of it—and his earnest desire to make me accept it—made me angry. I could honestly rant about the ridiculousness of the treatment of women in this book for ages. Also, I was forty-five pages in, and the word “rape” had already occurred three or four separate times.
And how could I possibly forget the line, “Her voice was sexy but exasperated.” What. Even.
The tense changes a lot, too. Sometimes in the middle of chapters. But I think that’s something that’ll get fixed last. Maybe they were still trying to decide which tense to use? Or maybe his editor just turned a blind eye to that, like they did to so many of this book’s other flaws, because Hart Hanson is famous and, like so many famous people before him who cannot and should not write books, got a book deal because of it.
God! There’s more. Can you believe that there’s more? I could keep going, but I think the final thing I’m going to end on is how Hanson randomly inserts Spanish words and phrases to remind us that Connie is Mexican. It’s ridiculous, and it feels cheap. But don’t worry, he totally fixes it at the end by having Skellig’s mother (who can’t stand Connie) call Connie out for doing it. It read as if an editor pointed out to him that this was really annoying for readers and a big no-no and, instead of fixing it, he tacked this on at the end so he could wipe his hands and say, “Yep! Fixed it.”
I have to give Hanson credit, though. He avoided that one trap that so many authors fall prey to when they’re trying to make it clear that their novel is For Adults. I didn’t see the word “nipple” once.
Get rekt, Hart Hanson.
First to Read has an option where you can guarantee you’ll get an ARC of the book by dishing out some of your accumulated points. I used that option for The Driver because I used to enjoy Bones, and I liked The Finder when it was on. On the one hand, I’m frustrated because I feel like I wasted points. On the other hand, I’m glad I did because I can now warn people off of this book. I actually considered not finishing it because I disliked it so much, but I wanted to write a coherent review without anyone accusing me of being “uninformed” because I didn’t finish it.
So here we go. Buckle your seatbelts, kiddos. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
The Driver has a really slow beginning. I did notice that the pacing got better later in the novel, and although I didn’t like it any better than before, reading it went a lot more quickly.
One of my largest problems with the novel is that you can tell Hart Hanson is used to writing television scripts. Especially at the beginning of the novel, it reads more like a screenplay, and throughout, the narrative is peppered with superfluous descriptions—in scripts, you have to tell so you can show on the screen, but in a novel, all you have to do is show. There were times when I felt like Hanson wanted me to sit down and draw out a roadmap of LA and the surrounding areas while he was driving. I’ve been to LA a few times for vacation, so many of this direction-giving was totally lost on me. I would glaze over while I read through them and hope I wasn’t missing anything important. There were paragraphs of this stuff. It was painful.
My main problem, though, is just with Hart Hanson. Michael Skellig is not a likeable protagonist. He has all the makings of the antihero trope. That’s fine—I don’t need to like a main character to like the novel, and sometimes an unlikeable or unreliable protagonist makes for a more interesting narrative. The key to that sort of novel being good, however, is that the author needs to be clear that the protagonist’s bad thoughts or actions are bad. There needs to be distance between the author and the main character, and I didn’t feel like there was here. Too many times I felt like Hanson would show me Skellig doing or saying or thinking something that would make my lip curl, and then immediately trying to get me to like him again. Skellig would objectify a woman or talk about how he wanted to get a woman into bed, but then Hanson would remind me that Skellig is madly in love with and wants to marry a woman who just wants to keep things casual, as if that was some sort of excuse. As if him lusting after women—one of them being her best friend—now was supposed to make sense. And he’s funny! Hanson would insist, a little desperately. He’s funny, so you can’t really dislike him if he’s funny, right? And I mean, he’s got a good heart, really, look how he takes care of these people…
I felt, in short, like he was mansplaining.
Skellig could be a really interesting character if Hanson wasn’t trying so hard to make sure that I liked him despite all of his character flaws.
This book was also pretty horrible about women. I don’t mean that Skellig was horrible about women, because while he was, this is another instance of creating distance between the character and the author. Skellig being a misogynist and an asshole is one thing. Hanson trying to make me excuse him for it or Hanson just straight-up being those things himself are another. I guess because Skellig told the reader himself (multiple times) that he was an asshole, that was supposed to make up for it because he was self-aware? I really don’t know the logic, here, but the way that Skellig treats women is gross, and Hanson’s apparent acceptance of it—and his earnest desire to make me accept it—made me angry. I could honestly rant about the ridiculousness of the treatment of women in this book for ages. Also, I was forty-five pages in, and the word “rape” had already occurred three or four separate times.
And how could I possibly forget the line, “Her voice was sexy but exasperated.” What. Even.
The tense changes a lot, too. Sometimes in the middle of chapters. But I think that’s something that’ll get fixed last. Maybe they were still trying to decide which tense to use? Or maybe his editor just turned a blind eye to that, like they did to so many of this book’s other flaws, because Hart Hanson is famous and, like so many famous people before him who cannot and should not write books, got a book deal because of it.
God! There’s more. Can you believe that there’s more? I could keep going, but I think the final thing I’m going to end on is how Hanson randomly inserts Spanish words and phrases to remind us that Connie is Mexican. It’s ridiculous, and it feels cheap. But don’t worry, he totally fixes it at the end by having Skellig’s mother (who can’t stand Connie) call Connie out for doing it. It read as if an editor pointed out to him that this was really annoying for readers and a big no-no and, instead of fixing it, he tacked this on at the end so he could wipe his hands and say, “Yep! Fixed it.”
I have to give Hanson credit, though. He avoided that one trap that so many authors fall prey to when they’re trying to make it clear that their novel is For Adults. I didn’t see the word “nipple” once.
Get rekt, Hart Hanson.
March 18, 2018
Adrenalin - filled thriller. Original characters. Story told with intelligence and humor. Really 4-4.5 stars.
July 31, 2017
Thank you Netgalley and Dutton for the chance to review. All opinions are my own. Publish Date: 8/8/17
Michael Skellig hears the voices of the men he has killed and through his work in the military and his secret work for the government he has killed many people. Even after settling down into a more civilized life as a limo driver he cannot escape his past.
When he is hired to drive for a celebrity skateboard mogul, Bismark Avila. Avila, a former “street rat” has not been able to escape his past either. He has been involved with a vile criminal who now has decided he wants to kill everyone around Avila until Avila gives him what is his.
Did Avila hire Skellig just to drive or for his capabilities from his past? Through a cast of characters ranging from Skellig’s motley crew of veterans that help him run his business to his attorney on again off again girlfriend and his girlfriends best friend who is a detective with the LAPD he must figure out a way to keep all of those he loves safe while figuring out a solution to Avila’s problem.
So action packed you will wish you could possibly read faster! Every explosion and gunshot jump off the page as if watching a movie while you read. This will not disappoint anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers!
5⭐️’s
Michael Skellig hears the voices of the men he has killed and through his work in the military and his secret work for the government he has killed many people. Even after settling down into a more civilized life as a limo driver he cannot escape his past.
When he is hired to drive for a celebrity skateboard mogul, Bismark Avila. Avila, a former “street rat” has not been able to escape his past either. He has been involved with a vile criminal who now has decided he wants to kill everyone around Avila until Avila gives him what is his.
Did Avila hire Skellig just to drive or for his capabilities from his past? Through a cast of characters ranging from Skellig’s motley crew of veterans that help him run his business to his attorney on again off again girlfriend and his girlfriends best friend who is a detective with the LAPD he must figure out a way to keep all of those he loves safe while figuring out a solution to Avila’s problem.
So action packed you will wish you could possibly read faster! Every explosion and gunshot jump off the page as if watching a movie while you read. This will not disappoint anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers!
5⭐️’s
Read
April 17, 2018Here we have another returned military vet, honored, with mildly controlled PTSD, working with fellow vets, equally re-arranged physically and emotionally by their military service, now in a limousine business that he owns. Our driver/owner, Skellig, has many amazing skills that are revealed throughout the book, slyly, in a way that enhances the tale while entertaining the reader. One of his better (weirder) leftover bits of war is that he hears helpful hints, in the voices of men he has killed, right before an ambush. It repeatedly comes in handy. The story here meanders delightfully. There's never a dull moment in the book although at times the disparate parts don't seem connected. In the end everything gets nicely wrapped up. I would gladly read another book about Skellig and his crew. The book is really good. -Suzanne R.
April 4, 2018
Very entertaining if completely improbable plot. Still I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good violent mess of a story with a compelling hero. He's ex-Army, highly decorated, and now running a limo service (he's "The Driver") hiring damaged ex-military (both physically and emotionally) and an Afghan who was a partner in the military and is now an illegal alien.
Great characters, snappy writing, but, as mentioned, pretty violent with many -- including the hero -- damaged or dead by the end. Oh yes, and if you want know how to kill someone and disappear them without a trace, this is your ticket (even if you could never pull it off).
I'm hoping this will be the beginning of a series.
Great characters, snappy writing, but, as mentioned, pretty violent with many -- including the hero -- damaged or dead by the end. Oh yes, and if you want know how to kill someone and disappear them without a trace, this is your ticket (even if you could never pull it off).
I'm hoping this will be the beginning of a series.
July 11, 2017
I won The Driver on goodreads, and it sounded different from other books I've read. It was really good. The characters were fleshed out, and the plot moved along smoothly. The book is about an ex-Army sergeant. He owns a limo service and has hired vets to work in the shop. There is Lucky who was an interpreter for the Army and is in the US illegally. There is Tinkertoy who has PTSD and is a great mechanic. There's also Ripple who lost both his legs in the war. You'll come to like each of them as Michael tries to figure out who wants to kill a famous skateboarder.
December 18, 2017
This is one of the most fun books I’ve listened to all year. It’s fast-paced and action-packed with a whip-smart narrative and dialogue and an array of unique characters, both good guys and bad. To be fully enjoyed, it really needs to be listened to. The audiobook is masterfully narrated by Ari Fliakos, who may have just become my favorite narrator. For such an irreverent story punctuated with humor and violence, damned it if didn’t make me cry.
September 26, 2017
Not complicated, not fantastic, completely satisfying story of a military veteran who gets into difficult situations tries to do the right thing. I like the realistic characterizations, locations, and activities. Keep it up, Hart Hanson!
May 21, 2017
A solid, fun read. A worthwhile crime story with laugh out loud humour. Enjoy.
March 12, 2019
Fast and furious
This has such fire and tempo. I'm obsessed with the writing style and story. It weaves between brutality and love. Goodness and evil. Love this book!
This has such fire and tempo. I'm obsessed with the writing style and story. It weaves between brutality and love. Goodness and evil. Love this book!
May 22, 2021
About a former military/limo driver who is able to prevent the shooting of a skateboarder/rapper from being shot. The driver is tasked with being the skate/rapper's personal driver. The driver has an a collection of former vets/co-workers. A crazed policeman shows up at his place of business, violence commences as well as death. Well, where to hide the body?
Well-written adventure, mostly, swearing, violence.
Well-written adventure, mostly, swearing, violence.
July 18, 2019
Hated it.
SO much bad language, sex and the storyline just wasn't there. No surprise the writer used to write for HBO/Showtime. It shows. Could have been a great book, good premise that just didn't go anywhere.
SO much bad language, sex and the storyline just wasn't there. No surprise the writer used to write for HBO/Showtime. It shows. Could have been a great book, good premise that just didn't go anywhere.
October 26, 2018
I really liked this book and would like to read more adventures. Yes, please.
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