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Down the Lane
Down the Lane takes the reader on an eye-opening look at the parts of Niagara Falls they don't tell you about in the tourist brochures. Follow Doc -- a strip club manager with dreams of getting out of the game -- as he gets involved with forces beyond his control. While biker gangs and old Mafia chieftains fight to control the city's underworld, Doc gets swept up in the violence and threats, and does everything he can to stay alive and out of prison.
260 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 24, 2021
Most books are set in far-away places, or fantastical lands that don’t exist. What a welcome surprise, therefore, to find myself immersed in a story where so many of the locations bought back a memory or two. Down the Lane is set in Niagara Falls, a short drive from my own childhood hometown. The protagonist often integrates his own memories of the various settings, whether it be businesses or streets, into the story. He reminisces briefly and then the narrative continues. I found this technique helped provide a backstory, or foundation if you will, for the circumstances described in the book. For example, he would pause to remember time spent with relatives in his youth. Many years ago, I had relatives in the hotel industry in Niagara and spent time there almost every year. The author of Down the Lane does an excellent job of taking the reader back in time to this place that has two sides: the Lundy’s Lane carnival atmosphere for children, and the spaces that come alive after midnight.
There is a lot to like, but characterization and dialogue hooked me the most. Both are authentic. These people are flawed; who isn’t? And the steady stream of choices and obstacles the characters face in this alluring (at least initially) world of crime and intrigue seem almost insurmountable. It would be enough to drive many people to addiction or mental health struggles, and the author shows through many examples how much resilience is required to survive in this place. The realism grabbed me and made me think of so many people I have known who have also experienced similar problems – some driven to severe addiction, and others hiding behind a façade in order to protect their loved ones (who are involved in a life of crime). There is vulnerability between these pages no matter how much the protagonist wishes he could hide it.
That’s not to say that the novel is depressing or hopeless; the tale reads like a shot of alcohol from the point of view of the characters, though – temporarily buoying them up when they discover the intoxication of music, sex, and money, which makes them reckless or confident, and ultimately wanting that same feeling again and again. The problem is, they eventually need more than one shot (metaphorically) to secure it. While not everyone has been involved in such a life, I think everyone has loved, lost, gambled (something), and hoped desperately for a way to improve their life. These themes are what make Down the Lane so compelling. We’re all searching; we’ve all made bad choices. We both love and hate these characters in equal measure, because with one wrong turn, anyone could be them. And once you’re in, all the moralizing in the world can’t instantly get you out.
Give this page-turner a read; you won’t be disappointed.
J.G. MacLeod, author
There is a lot to like, but characterization and dialogue hooked me the most. Both are authentic. These people are flawed; who isn’t? And the steady stream of choices and obstacles the characters face in this alluring (at least initially) world of crime and intrigue seem almost insurmountable. It would be enough to drive many people to addiction or mental health struggles, and the author shows through many examples how much resilience is required to survive in this place. The realism grabbed me and made me think of so many people I have known who have also experienced similar problems – some driven to severe addiction, and others hiding behind a façade in order to protect their loved ones (who are involved in a life of crime). There is vulnerability between these pages no matter how much the protagonist wishes he could hide it.
That’s not to say that the novel is depressing or hopeless; the tale reads like a shot of alcohol from the point of view of the characters, though – temporarily buoying them up when they discover the intoxication of music, sex, and money, which makes them reckless or confident, and ultimately wanting that same feeling again and again. The problem is, they eventually need more than one shot (metaphorically) to secure it. While not everyone has been involved in such a life, I think everyone has loved, lost, gambled (something), and hoped desperately for a way to improve their life. These themes are what make Down the Lane so compelling. We’re all searching; we’ve all made bad choices. We both love and hate these characters in equal measure, because with one wrong turn, anyone could be them. And once you’re in, all the moralizing in the world can’t instantly get you out.
Give this page-turner a read; you won’t be disappointed.
J.G. MacLeod, author
December 12, 2022
Paul Lafferty is a fantastic author. I've read thousands of books over the years but it is difficult to say any that manage to leap off the page quite like Doc and his sardonic perspective of the world. The strip club manager is a sarcastic, bored, and arguably unpleasant part-time biker who looks down upon everyone as well as everything in his Niagara Falls neighborhood. However, the characters are so vividly realized through his cynical eyes that you not only agree with him but want to hear him as he talks about their quirks.
Part of what makes Doc so likable, or at least engaging, is the fact he's pretty hard on himself as well. At one point he natters on about how unfulfilling his life and relationships are. He then checks himself and states that he's complaining about having no-strings-attached sex with a hot co-worker. Its this kind of self-awareness that makes the story work.
This is an adult book that handles the maturity of seedy strip joints and sex workers without getting too melodramatic. At the start of the book, it's just another 9-5 job, just with the hours reversed. It really channels the late 90s, early 2000s well. There's a fabulous number of twists and turns throughout this book and if you like crime fiction then this is a great addition to your library.
It reminds me most of The Big Lebowski in that it's a detective story where the protagonist has no interest in actually solving the crime.
Part of what makes Doc so likable, or at least engaging, is the fact he's pretty hard on himself as well. At one point he natters on about how unfulfilling his life and relationships are. He then checks himself and states that he's complaining about having no-strings-attached sex with a hot co-worker. Its this kind of self-awareness that makes the story work.
This is an adult book that handles the maturity of seedy strip joints and sex workers without getting too melodramatic. At the start of the book, it's just another 9-5 job, just with the hours reversed. It really channels the late 90s, early 2000s well. There's a fabulous number of twists and turns throughout this book and if you like crime fiction then this is a great addition to your library.
It reminds me most of The Big Lebowski in that it's a detective story where the protagonist has no interest in actually solving the crime.
September 3, 2021
Crime novel
This book was about the journey that Doc was on. Life in the club, living on the fast lane. Murders start happening around him and he always finds himself in the middle of all the drama.
Doc down plays his actions like they were small time compared to the others. Which by comparison would be so. However it was enough go suck him in to the spotlight of the key members and the police.
This took you on a journey of someone who wanted a taste of the fast lane and how they ended up being consumed and pushed their goals to the back.
It will be exciting to see how the next book plays out!
This book was about the journey that Doc was on. Life in the club, living on the fast lane. Murders start happening around him and he always finds himself in the middle of all the drama.
Doc down plays his actions like they were small time compared to the others. Which by comparison would be so. However it was enough go suck him in to the spotlight of the key members and the police.
This took you on a journey of someone who wanted a taste of the fast lane and how they ended up being consumed and pushed their goals to the back.
It will be exciting to see how the next book plays out!
November 29, 2021
I really enjoyed Down the Lane. It's dark and gritty, full of drama, action, twists and turns. It paints a vivid picture of a seedy underworld with some real shady people. You find yourself deeply immersed in the world of Doc, walking with him through the perils that are taking over his life. He lives in a world of strip clubs, drugs, alcohol, mobsters, gambling, murder and debauchery. You aren't sure who can be trusted. Who is telling the truth. Who is lying. I loved the way the story unfolded and allowed the reader to try to unravel what is really happening. I found myself really worried for Doc and hoping he could find his way out of what seemed to be an impossible situation. I am excited to read the next books of the series!
January 10, 2022
I was drawn into the world of DOWN THE LANE from the very first chapter. Author Paul Lafferty does a fantastic job of describing the gritty world of strip clubs, drugs, alcohol and biker gangs. I found myself completely immersed in the characters, flawed as they were, and unable to stop turning pages. Ian “Doc” had wanted to be a teacher, but didn’t end up finishing his courses, and so now works as a club manager in Niagara Falls, over on the Canadian side of the border. I found the detailed description of Niagara Falls, and its shady sides, very well done. When Ian’s friend Vince is killed, Ian tries to figure out what really happened, which in a world where you can’t really trust anyone, and biker gangs will shoot you for going into the wrong bar (I found that description especially impactful), to me started to feel at times like a lesson in futility. You want to shake him by the shoulders and tell him to just get as far away from these people as possible. And yet with every scene where he and Viking and his other friends do drugs and alcohol and get into messes, you begin to understand how for Ian and everyone else in this story, their lives are so twisted up in this lifestyle, they may not be able to find a way out. I also enjoyed the minor storyline between Ian and the two women he was seeing. This is a rough and gritty story that had me absolutely absorbed in the characters and eager to find out what would happen on the next page.
October 16, 2021
Okay, I’ll admit it: I haven’t read a NON-SciFi book since Rhett Reese’s wonderful “Anxiety,” last Spring.
What can I tell you: I have my Wheelhouse!
But I kept seeing these amazing reviews for Paul “Doc” Lafferty’s Down The Lane, and my curiosity got the better of me.
So I gave it a go.
And I do not regret it ONE bitty-bit!
I mean, wanna talk about a book that lies WAY outside of what I’d consider my sweet spot! It’s a book about a DJ at a Niagara (Canda side) exotic dance club, who dabbles in selling weed and steroids, and interfaces with a succession of underworld folks, precariously keeping himself away from the biker gangs who vie for the territory. There are substances and crime and all manner of other gritty textures from the streets surrounding the tourist spots, the side vacationers never see.
And yet…
It’s ALSO a story about friendship, about a struggle to find authentic human encounters in the midst of the grimiest, most dehumanizing circumstances, about a young man questioning the path his life will take, and yet feeling helpless to steer his own course as he’s carried along by the murky currents of the streets.
Ian (“Doc”) studied to become a teacher. He’s still not convinced that he won’t ultimately go that way. But the succession of beautiful dancers, the drugs and booze, the feeling of being indispensable in these dives (largely run by idiots) are all hard to resist. So, he doesn’t.
But a tragic --and inevitable-- development complicates things quite severely and now he’s doing everything he can to not get a criminal record (which would pretty much seal the deal on ever becoming a teacher)...and, oh, yeah, NOT get himself killed as a new ‘Motorcycle Club’ muscles its way into the territory of the old guard with which he’d maintained a precarious under-the-radar peace.
If it’s not one thing it’s another!
Along the way, Doc discovers who his TRUE friends are, which of the various women in his life are and are not Keepers, develops his relationship with his father, confronts his fears, alternately succumbs to and masters his weaknesses, finds his strengths, and takes a LOT of hits from a bong called Big Daddy.
Down The Lane is a marvelous, dark, hilarious, surprisingly soulful book! It does not shy away from hard truths, but never QUITE abandons hope.
But enough out of me. Just read the thing, willya?
What can I tell you: I have my Wheelhouse!
But I kept seeing these amazing reviews for Paul “Doc” Lafferty’s Down The Lane, and my curiosity got the better of me.
So I gave it a go.
And I do not regret it ONE bitty-bit!
I mean, wanna talk about a book that lies WAY outside of what I’d consider my sweet spot! It’s a book about a DJ at a Niagara (Canda side) exotic dance club, who dabbles in selling weed and steroids, and interfaces with a succession of underworld folks, precariously keeping himself away from the biker gangs who vie for the territory. There are substances and crime and all manner of other gritty textures from the streets surrounding the tourist spots, the side vacationers never see.
And yet…
It’s ALSO a story about friendship, about a struggle to find authentic human encounters in the midst of the grimiest, most dehumanizing circumstances, about a young man questioning the path his life will take, and yet feeling helpless to steer his own course as he’s carried along by the murky currents of the streets.
Ian (“Doc”) studied to become a teacher. He’s still not convinced that he won’t ultimately go that way. But the succession of beautiful dancers, the drugs and booze, the feeling of being indispensable in these dives (largely run by idiots) are all hard to resist. So, he doesn’t.
But a tragic --and inevitable-- development complicates things quite severely and now he’s doing everything he can to not get a criminal record (which would pretty much seal the deal on ever becoming a teacher)...and, oh, yeah, NOT get himself killed as a new ‘Motorcycle Club’ muscles its way into the territory of the old guard with which he’d maintained a precarious under-the-radar peace.
If it’s not one thing it’s another!
Along the way, Doc discovers who his TRUE friends are, which of the various women in his life are and are not Keepers, develops his relationship with his father, confronts his fears, alternately succumbs to and masters his weaknesses, finds his strengths, and takes a LOT of hits from a bong called Big Daddy.
Down The Lane is a marvelous, dark, hilarious, surprisingly soulful book! It does not shy away from hard truths, but never QUITE abandons hope.
But enough out of me. Just read the thing, willya?
August 31, 2021
It's obvious Lafferty knows his stuff; whether it's about Niagara Falls, motorcycle clubs, strip clubs or the world of booze and drugs. I was hooked from page one and it was a wild, crazy and compelling ride to the very end. Lafferty's characters are well-developed and plentiful, but there is no trouble differentiating who is who in this large ensemble of memorable personalities. I could imagine each character in my head as if I were watching it on the big screen, and each one of them with a past and personality that are larger than life. I'm not a big fan of trigger warnings, but this book contains language and situations that are probably not for the faint of heart or younger readers. I'm really looking forward to the sequel to see what's in store for Ian!
August 7, 2021
Ian gets caught up in the business kind of by accident. Now he needs out. Paul Laverty has delved deep into the gangster world with his character of Ian "Doc". This book stars fast and gets faster. I loved every page.
January 14, 2022
"Down the Lane" was a trip down memory lane for me. Having grown up in the area, I was hit with a huge sense of nostalgia when I read familiar place names, and read about familiar locations. I heard Henry from Goodfellas narrating this story, and by the end of the book, the author himself refers to "Canadian Goodfellas".
I'm intrigued by gritty stories. I love it when an author succeeds in capturing my attention and making me feel like I'm standing on the side watching the action take place. I feel like I know Ian (Doc, our protagonist). Maybe we've all had an "Ian" in our lives. My favourite character, however, was Viking, Ian's best friend. Viking should star in his own book!
"Down the Lane" was less about strip-clubs and all the shady things that happen there, and more about the inevitable crime, drugs, booze, and deceit that comes with "the life".
The story itself was stylish, often dark, and already I can sense the author's style, despite this being his first book. I love that. An author needs a "signature". Lafferty has one.
I would have liked to have read less, and imagined more. There were lengthy, unnecessary descriptions.
For the remainder of this review, please note that I read the paperback version: It was full of errors. Every page. Most notable is the formatting. There were sentences that were indented for no apparent reason. It was almost as if it was written sometime in the 1950s with a manual typewriter - and hey, that's not a bad thing! That would have made me love it even more - except that it wasn't.
There was missing punctuation, missing words, too many words - Ex: "She'd would", and "everyone other" vs "every other", and inconsistencies throughout. Ian and his father were to meet with a lawyer at 10 a.m. A page and a half later, they meet with the lawyer at 9 a.m. All this tells me that the manuscript was not adequately proofread.
Then there was the ending. When I invest time to read a novel, depending on the genre, I expect either a punch-in-the-gut ending, one that will make me cry, one that will make me gasp, or one that will put a smile on my face for the duration of the day. The ending to "Down the Lane" failed to do any of those.
All that said, I was intrigued throughout, and the author has succeeded in obtaining another reader in me.
I liked my trip down the lane. I just wish there were fewer speed bumps.
I'm intrigued by gritty stories. I love it when an author succeeds in capturing my attention and making me feel like I'm standing on the side watching the action take place. I feel like I know Ian (Doc, our protagonist). Maybe we've all had an "Ian" in our lives. My favourite character, however, was Viking, Ian's best friend. Viking should star in his own book!
"Down the Lane" was less about strip-clubs and all the shady things that happen there, and more about the inevitable crime, drugs, booze, and deceit that comes with "the life".
The story itself was stylish, often dark, and already I can sense the author's style, despite this being his first book. I love that. An author needs a "signature". Lafferty has one.
I would have liked to have read less, and imagined more. There were lengthy, unnecessary descriptions.
For the remainder of this review, please note that I read the paperback version: It was full of errors. Every page. Most notable is the formatting. There were sentences that were indented for no apparent reason. It was almost as if it was written sometime in the 1950s with a manual typewriter - and hey, that's not a bad thing! That would have made me love it even more - except that it wasn't.
There was missing punctuation, missing words, too many words - Ex: "She'd would", and "everyone other" vs "every other", and inconsistencies throughout. Ian and his father were to meet with a lawyer at 10 a.m. A page and a half later, they meet with the lawyer at 9 a.m. All this tells me that the manuscript was not adequately proofread.
Then there was the ending. When I invest time to read a novel, depending on the genre, I expect either a punch-in-the-gut ending, one that will make me cry, one that will make me gasp, or one that will put a smile on my face for the duration of the day. The ending to "Down the Lane" failed to do any of those.
All that said, I was intrigued throughout, and the author has succeeded in obtaining another reader in me.
I liked my trip down the lane. I just wish there were fewer speed bumps.
September 11, 2022
When everyone says gritty, they are right. Doc’s observation of his life and the life of those around him, were the best parts. The trip to Toronto was shocking. Everyone has a nickname rather than their full names which makes the image of them easier.
Overall a mix of violence, sex and life in one story.
Overall a mix of violence, sex and life in one story.
November 2, 2021
Down the Lane is flat out a fantastic novel. The author Paul Lafferty has obviously drawn upon his real life experiences to tell a tale that is packed with action and suspense. As we follow the protagonist, “Doc” around the underbelly of the Niagara Falls/Southern Ontario area, he quickly discovers that a life fueled by easy money, strip clubs, drugs, and alcohol—mixed in with a vicious biker gang war—isn't what he's cut out for. Doc is quite literally lucky to be alive. Doc wants out, and like everything else in his life, it's not easy leaving. I am fascinated and impressed at the level of detail that the author brings to the table. Everything in this story feels authentic and terrifying. Paul Lafferty pulls back the curtain on a world that is crazy dangerous, and all too real. Reading through this excellent narrative, I have to imagine that even if half of what is written is actually true, then we should feel privileged to have been given this glimpse. In a way, the story reminded me of the movie Goodfellas (book: Wise Guy) in that the protagonist gets mixed up in a world that he really doesn't belong in. I heartily recommend this novel, and cannot wait to read its sequel, which I am told is coming out late 2021/early 2022! Bravo, Paul Lafferty!
October 26, 2021
This is definitely not my genre but turns out to be one of the best stories I've read in a long time. Authentic, original, revealing.
Before you realise, a docile ‘Doc’ has seduced you into following him from the comfortable chaos of a well situated single to the neon nightmare of a strip club manager in a milieu where violence is the main course on a menu of sex, drugs, and rocker gangs.
High on whatever is at hand ‘Doc’ stumbles from hot beds and bruising encounters to lethal threats without realising that he might already have drawn his last breath.
At an amazing pace, Paul Lafferty describes, with insider detail, the brutal reality of biker bands and criminal clans.
In a world where friendship doesn’t exist, can ‘Doc’ escape from the threat of sudden death, crooked cops, and murder charges? Will he say no to Jimmy?
Before you realise, a docile ‘Doc’ has seduced you into following him from the comfortable chaos of a well situated single to the neon nightmare of a strip club manager in a milieu where violence is the main course on a menu of sex, drugs, and rocker gangs.
High on whatever is at hand ‘Doc’ stumbles from hot beds and bruising encounters to lethal threats without realising that he might already have drawn his last breath.
At an amazing pace, Paul Lafferty describes, with insider detail, the brutal reality of biker bands and criminal clans.
In a world where friendship doesn’t exist, can ‘Doc’ escape from the threat of sudden death, crooked cops, and murder charges? Will he say no to Jimmy?
July 18, 2020
This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a raw, unvarnished look at the seedy underbelly of the strip club scene and all the various criminal elements that make it run.
Lafferty is a natural story-teller and he thrusts the reader into this world in a very unforgiving way. The main character, Ian, who also has a myriad of nicknames, works for a strip club basically running the business. Through every fault of his own, Ian finds himself thrust into the middle of a turf war between rival biker gangs.
As I was reading, I thought of the movie Pretty Woman (I was stunned last week when I read that movie is thirty years old). The movie sort of glamourized prostitution (don’t get me started on the damsel in distress part of that movie) but it made me realize this book is the antithesis of that movie. It’s the real view of what’s behind the velvet curtain. This point is demonstrated perfectly early on by the main character Ian. “You must have heard the stereo type about the girl dancing because she’s working her way through college. I haven’t met one yet -”
There is a whole cast of characters that Ian seems unable or unwilling to stay away from. This is a flawed character who drinks and does drugs while sleeping around. The writer brilliantly shows the vulnerable side of Ian when he stops to make breakfast for the young child of one of the strippers, or when he stops to go visit with his father at a local pub. You want to dislike this character, for all his choices are both unhealthy and unethical, but somehow you find yourself rooting for him. You actually find yourself hopeful that Ian can get out of this merry-go-round of craziness, that’s just brilliant writing.
My favorite character in the book was Viking. He was charismatic and exactly the friend we all wish we could call upon when needed. This genius line from a short scene sums up Viking. “This aint sports” he always told me “hit them first, hit them hard, and a good kick to the face on the way down always helps.”
Overall, the story was gripping, with plenty of twists and turns. You were breathless trying to keep up with all the ridiculously poor decisions Ian makes (most of which occur during an inebriated state). This was one hell of a wild ride and I hope these characters are not done telling their story to Lafferty.
Lafferty is a natural story-teller and he thrusts the reader into this world in a very unforgiving way. The main character, Ian, who also has a myriad of nicknames, works for a strip club basically running the business. Through every fault of his own, Ian finds himself thrust into the middle of a turf war between rival biker gangs.
As I was reading, I thought of the movie Pretty Woman (I was stunned last week when I read that movie is thirty years old). The movie sort of glamourized prostitution (don’t get me started on the damsel in distress part of that movie) but it made me realize this book is the antithesis of that movie. It’s the real view of what’s behind the velvet curtain. This point is demonstrated perfectly early on by the main character Ian. “You must have heard the stereo type about the girl dancing because she’s working her way through college. I haven’t met one yet -”
There is a whole cast of characters that Ian seems unable or unwilling to stay away from. This is a flawed character who drinks and does drugs while sleeping around. The writer brilliantly shows the vulnerable side of Ian when he stops to make breakfast for the young child of one of the strippers, or when he stops to go visit with his father at a local pub. You want to dislike this character, for all his choices are both unhealthy and unethical, but somehow you find yourself rooting for him. You actually find yourself hopeful that Ian can get out of this merry-go-round of craziness, that’s just brilliant writing.
My favorite character in the book was Viking. He was charismatic and exactly the friend we all wish we could call upon when needed. This genius line from a short scene sums up Viking. “This aint sports” he always told me “hit them first, hit them hard, and a good kick to the face on the way down always helps.”
Overall, the story was gripping, with plenty of twists and turns. You were breathless trying to keep up with all the ridiculously poor decisions Ian makes (most of which occur during an inebriated state). This was one hell of a wild ride and I hope these characters are not done telling their story to Lafferty.
May 25, 2021
I received a copy of
Down the Lane
in exchange for an honest review.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am not ordinarily a crime fiction reader, and if this book is one thing, it is most assuredly crime fiction. But that said, it is a solid read, and I am on board for its upcoming sequel.
I feel the need to highlight that the female characters are generally written thinly, and are treated as little more than props. The characters are often sexist, and sometimes racist and homophobic, however, given the book's setting, this does come across as realistic.
I'm not sure if this impacts the paperback, or even the published eBooks, the formatting in the copies I received is a mess, with most pages including multiple sentences that have been broken across lines, which made the book difficult to read.
Still, there is a lot to enjoy about the book. It was slow to start, with the inciting incident not happening until chapter four. Slow-paced through the first half, when the book kicks into gear, it twists and turns nicely, with a great pace.
It is evident that the author knows his subject matter, and as somebody who has never set foot anywhere near Niagara Falls, reading the book, it felt like I lived there. The seedy underbelly felt realistic, rather than sensationalized.
The male characters are well-written, and the lead character (Doc) and his best friend (Viking) bounce off each other in enjoyable ways.
I can't whole-heartedly recommend the book, but if you can overlook the issues, it is definitely worth a read.
For my full review, click here.
May 18, 2021
This was a very interesting read. Started off slow and probably would've been better to end it a few pages earlier, but from the midway point through the climax it was very engaging. Perhaps my biggest complaint or issue, is that the main character kinda seemed shoe-horned into all this. Like even though it was explained towards the end, to me, it just never made sense that he would be such a major focal point of these bikers. He was literally no threat to them at any point, yet he was painted as the center of everything in the story. I just found that weird and difficult to process.
That's not to say I didn't like that book, because I did. It kept my interest from the opening chapter and teased shades of masterful storytelling throughout. Also found it cool to learn so much about the world of biker gangs, which I knew very little about going in. Very glad I experienced it and look forward to where the saga goes from here.
That's not to say I didn't like that book, because I did. It kept my interest from the opening chapter and teased shades of masterful storytelling throughout. Also found it cool to learn so much about the world of biker gangs, which I knew very little about going in. Very glad I experienced it and look forward to where the saga goes from here.
April 27, 2021
Gritty and compelling
Ian gets caught in the middle of a tense situation when his friend Vince owes money to a local biker gang. Things don’t go smoothly when Ian tries to negotiate for more time, and he quickly learns he does t know who to trust. To make matters worse, a new MC is trying to move into their territory, and Ian’s childhood friends Chris and Stevie are right in the center of the drama.
There were several heart-stopping twists in this compelling and gritty tale about a young man in the fringes of the underworld who didn’t want anything to be his fault. My favorite character is Viking. Not only is he completely loyal to Ian, no matter how badly he screws up, but he’s not shy about calling him out when things become too dangerous for them both. Great storytelling, wild and crazy characters, and a shocking ending! Must read for those who love crime fiction
Ian gets caught in the middle of a tense situation when his friend Vince owes money to a local biker gang. Things don’t go smoothly when Ian tries to negotiate for more time, and he quickly learns he does t know who to trust. To make matters worse, a new MC is trying to move into their territory, and Ian’s childhood friends Chris and Stevie are right in the center of the drama.
There were several heart-stopping twists in this compelling and gritty tale about a young man in the fringes of the underworld who didn’t want anything to be his fault. My favorite character is Viking. Not only is he completely loyal to Ian, no matter how badly he screws up, but he’s not shy about calling him out when things become too dangerous for them both. Great storytelling, wild and crazy characters, and a shocking ending! Must read for those who love crime fiction
April 17, 2020
Down the Lane by Paul Lafferty is probably a thrill seekers dream all wrapped up neatly inside of one book. As a reader, I traveled along the dangerous, exciting and unfamiliar path inside of Niagara Falls, Canada with Doc (Ian), his main character. The author expertly describes each event with such detail that summoned all of my senses as I read; touch, sight, hearing and even smell at one point. I was and felt completely immersed inside of the authors realm of dark twists and turns with Doc and his entire cast of cohorts and characters. Thank you to the author for a thrilling story that leaves me anxiously awaiting for your second book.
May 25, 2021
Who knew the small city of Ottawa was so scary?
Down the Lane is a book that brings in the action straight from page one. Being a Canadian, one only hears about the major cities in Canada, definition not the capital, Ottawa.
Gangs, drugs, murder, this won't let you put it down. Lafferty writes a straight and honest story that leaves you begging for more.
Down the Lane is a book that brings in the action straight from page one. Being a Canadian, one only hears about the major cities in Canada, definition not the capital, Ottawa.
Gangs, drugs, murder, this won't let you put it down. Lafferty writes a straight and honest story that leaves you begging for more.
Read
January 6, 2022Not a review, but a little backstory. Yes, 90 % of this is fictional. I can't believe how many people that I knew back then and were around ask me what is and isn't true. It was a crazy time, and I dealt with pure insanity every single night. Bikers, cops, mobsters, strippers, frat boys, underage kids...but its only a story..did I know some guys? Kind of...what really happened? I'll never tell...
May 16, 2021
Bikers, strippers, murder and more
This is a compelling story and so worth reading. The characters are compelling and the story is great. Find out what happens at night in Niagara.
This is a compelling story and so worth reading. The characters are compelling and the story is great. Find out what happens at night in Niagara.
September 13, 2021
Really gives you insight into the seedier side of one of North America’s more popular tourist sites.
March 1, 2024
To be completely honest, I knew the author when I was a kid. In fact, I’d never have stumbled across this book had we not reconnected by chance on social media during the Covid years. Based on what I remembered of the author, I thought this was going to be about Star Wars or the Beatles! This was a little divergent from that!
I know the title Down The Lane has a couple of references, the obvious one being a reference to Lundy’s Lane. But for me, this was more of a trip down Memory Lane. While names of businesses were often altered from the reality, everything here is based on reality and every location is a real location. Everywhere that “Doc” went in the book, I could clearly visualize where they were and I hadn’t lived in The Falls in over 35 years. Lafferty did a great job of painting that picture for us. There were a few spots in there that I had personal connections to and jokingly called the author out on them! I think the most heart-warming for me personally – and no other read of this book will appreciate this – is at one point Doc is looking outside of his parents front window at the neighbourhood in front of him. I know where that house is, and I know that view from there contains my childhood home. Got some warm and fuzzies at that point.
After completion, I had to take a moment to understand the “point” of the book. There is definitely an over-arching story being told here. However, this is a tale of debauchery. Tons of booze, drugs and womanizing. There is a lot more going on under the surface. But is there a point? SPOILER: . The world Doc et al live in can be fast and fun but it can wear you down in a hurry and it took its toll in one form or another on every major and minor character in this book. There's also a good moral story in here about understanding who are your friends and who you only THINK are your friends.
I had a few detractions to this, there were a couple of points along the way that didn’t gel properly. And I really felt like I was tossed into the middle of something with little context. A little more back-story about some of these guys would be great. Something to establish who some guys are and their relationships. I don’t believe we even knew the narrators name until we really started moving in the book. And I’d stick to calling characters by one name, ie, the easy flip/flop of Phil to Viking to Phil to Viking.
I know there is a sequel to this coming. I also know some of my questions are going to be answered. And so I look forward to reading what comes next!
I know the title Down The Lane has a couple of references, the obvious one being a reference to Lundy’s Lane. But for me, this was more of a trip down Memory Lane. While names of businesses were often altered from the reality, everything here is based on reality and every location is a real location. Everywhere that “Doc” went in the book, I could clearly visualize where they were and I hadn’t lived in The Falls in over 35 years. Lafferty did a great job of painting that picture for us. There were a few spots in there that I had personal connections to and jokingly called the author out on them! I think the most heart-warming for me personally – and no other read of this book will appreciate this – is at one point Doc is looking outside of his parents front window at the neighbourhood in front of him. I know where that house is, and I know that view from there contains my childhood home. Got some warm and fuzzies at that point.
After completion, I had to take a moment to understand the “point” of the book. There is definitely an over-arching story being told here. However, this is a tale of debauchery. Tons of booze, drugs and womanizing. There is a lot more going on under the surface. But is there a point? SPOILER: . The world Doc et al live in can be fast and fun but it can wear you down in a hurry and it took its toll in one form or another on every major and minor character in this book. There's also a good moral story in here about understanding who are your friends and who you only THINK are your friends.
I had a few detractions to this, there were a couple of points along the way that didn’t gel properly. And I really felt like I was tossed into the middle of something with little context. A little more back-story about some of these guys would be great. Something to establish who some guys are and their relationships. I don’t believe we even knew the narrators name until we really started moving in the book. And I’d stick to calling characters by one name, ie, the easy flip/flop of Phil to Viking to Phil to Viking.
I know there is a sequel to this coming. I also know some of my questions are going to be answered. And so I look forward to reading what comes next!
April 1, 2022
Don't be fulled by the scenery – a nightclub, from the perspective of its manager, is not a cozy place. The author lets us behind the curtain and shows us the dirty world; Lafferty is brutally honest. We see a different reality of fast but never easy money, alcohol, drugs, corruption and strange value systems of people constantly on or over the edge of law. The protagonist struggles with his life choices only to find himself in the middle of the clash of the biker gangs. Interestingly enough, love and friendship, so deficient in this world, save our likable narrator.
September 1, 2022
An incredible quick read.
The characters are authentic and believable, as they interact within a seedy underworld.
A really enjoyable read.
The author highlights a world that not many of us have experienced, or would want to, as he draws on his knowledge of having worked as a bouncer, bartender, club manager and DJ.
The characters are authentic and believable, as they interact within a seedy underworld.
A really enjoyable read.
The author highlights a world that not many of us have experienced, or would want to, as he draws on his knowledge of having worked as a bouncer, bartender, club manager and DJ.
June 17, 2022
I don't usually read unless it's biography or business books. But when I came across this one I was skeptical, once I started reading it I was relating big time in terms of life in general and when you just want to live your life.
Real page-turner. Hilarious. Amazing.
Real page-turner. Hilarious. Amazing.
August 15, 2022
Absolutely amazing and funny at the same time. Very gripping and compelling.
January 4, 2025
What can I say? It's one thing to read an author's interpretation of working the sex clubs and being on the wrong side of a biker gang, then it's something else reading a first hand account!
Ian 'Doc' is a DJ in a club, then the club's owner (his friend) gets shot. The local biker gangs are to blame. The thing is, he's the next target!
His best friend Viking goes above and beyond to get Doc out of the mess he has found himself in, but will it be enough?
You will have to read to find out.
Ian 'Doc' is a DJ in a club, then the club's owner (his friend) gets shot. The local biker gangs are to blame. The thing is, he's the next target!
His best friend Viking goes above and beyond to get Doc out of the mess he has found himself in, but will it be enough?
You will have to read to find out.
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