Last Supper

by Christopher Charles

Hosting a local television show about cooking final meals for inmates on death row is the type of gig that Texas chef James McAllister would normally turn down … but sometimes fate makes these decisions for you.

James’s brother, Ryan, is facing capital punishment at the Huntsville Penitentiary for the alleged murder of a police officer, but his lawyer is confident she can get the charge reduced. She just needs time. Meanwhile, in an attempt to boost its image, the prison agrees to unbar its doors to allow cable access reality show The Last Supper to film a dying man's last meal. In exchange for bringing his cooking talents to new lows, James is granted a private meal with his brother each week.

But as the time is ticking on Ryan's appeal, a shady figure from their past resurfaces looking to exploit James's new inroads into the prison and threatening him with information that could destroy everything he's spent his life creating.

Genres: Fiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Author of THE EXILED, a thriller, and co-author with James Patterson of three BookShots, including the NIGHT SNIPER, which is anthologized in the recently published THE FAMILY LAWYER.

"[A] dark gem of a novel . . . Powered by relentless pacing and fully realized characters, this brutal narrative illuminates the harrowing realms of drug addiction and organized crime. Readers won't soon forget Raney's blood-soaked and coke-fueled journey through self-loathing to some semblance of salvation."―Publishers Weekly

"Edgy and satisfying. A sequel would be most welcome . . . The story isn't so much about solving the murders, though that gets taken care of. It's about Raney's personal journey--how he wants to be good but struggles against his weaknesses and might fail."―Kirkus Reviews

"Christopher Charles has written one of the most gripping novels to come my way in a long time. If you need sleep, don't pick it up, because you won't be putting it down anytime soon. Each scene convinces you that you just have to read one more, and pretty soon you've stayed up half the night. Charles is a spellbinding storyteller, and his characters are as vivid and real as they get. I rarely feel this enthusiastic about a novel. The Exiled is the work of an amazing writer."―Stephen Yarbrough, author of Visible Spirits and The Realm of Last Chances

"Son of a bitch! This is one dark and powerful story of a damaged man with a do or die attitude, a man who wants to succeed and never fail. Scribed with a bare-bones narrative, its one part detective, two parts noir with a strong mixture of literary craft and one twist following the next. It takes a lot for a book to hold my interest, even more to finish it, but with The Exiled, Christopher Charles's storytelling was so deeply rooted within the characters, it was impossible to put down."―Frank Bill, author of Crimes in Southern Indiana and Donnybrook

Reviews

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good premise, but the book's mostly not about that. Minimal development of the issues of the last supper, death penalty, contemplating life.

It's mostly a gangster/revenge story that's more tell than show. The main character spends a lot of time explaining why he likes cooking and also how hard he's had it and why the villain is bad. Even the ending, which is supposed to be uplifting (I think?) has him reading the most negative spin on the people he's watching. The whole book is a lot of downers, and there's really no one to root for.

Plot hole problems: I'm pretty sure that's not how TV shows work, switching producers and "going national." How did he get access to Cole's car and jacket? Why would a guy as paranoid and good at outsmarting everyone not notice a GPS tracker on his car? How does he have so many connections to other smugglers/dealers that far afield of Austin? And there was a dead guy in his fridge and he was just like "Well, if I bleach everything, it's still OK to serve food out of here."

[Mickey Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The protagonist of this book is a very complicated person and that makes the book more fun. Some of it reminds me of a Coen brothers' film. There is a lot of tension between him and his nemesis and a lot of history. The Goodreads review, if I'd read it first, would have kept me from reading this book. If you want to read something suspenseful, yet different, pick up this book.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Strange idea that was done well enough to be interesting. Felt like it might have had more to say if the author had gone a little deeper, but instead he let it fall apart with a paper thin "history" for the main character that just didn't work.

D

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is put together well. Good characters, interesting story, all that. It’s got a good grip and kept me on board throughout.

[Laurinda Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat engaging and great characters but less than captivating.