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Roll With It: A Crime Novel
What is your whole life worth, to the nearest dollar?
A bag of cash. No owner. Do you take it?
Emily Scott was the first girl Chloe Medina ever kissed. Back before Chloe was ready to talk about that kind of thing. Now, two decades later, Chloe is a bounty hunter in Arizona, and Emily is a fugitive with a bag of cash and a secret.
Emily is a stand-up comedian and one-time bank robber who came into possession of forbidden knowledge that could get her killed. She knows the identity of Big Wheel, an illusive and semi-mythic criminal kingpin who runs the state. When presented with a chance to run away with a bag full of cash, she didn’t hesitate. But now out on the road she’s stuck between two worlds. After spending twenty years getting good at one thing, and building her identity around it, can she abandon all that work and become someone new? And what happens when she finds out Chloe Medina is on her tail, the hot girl who broke her nose at high school after one kiss?
Chloe isn't the only person chasing Scott down. Deputy U.S. Marshal Treat Tyler is on the case. Scott had been in Tyler’s custody when she escaped, and his reputation is on the line. Tyler used to work with Medina, back when she was a Marshal. They were rivals. Finding out that Medina is tracking the same fugitive? Game on. Again. And, of course, Tyler is hiding his own secrets about Big Wheel.
Can Medina get to Emily before Tyler? And before Big Wheel? And if she does...do they need to talk about that kiss?
“Compelling and unexpected with layered characters, crisp and clever dialogue, and inventive twists. Stringer has created a highly entertaining novel with an unforeseen sense of justice.” – Kendra Elliot.
"Reads like Elmore Leonard and Joe R. Lansdale got together to tell the worlds greatest road story. Packed full of wildly wonderful characters and dialogue that whips like hairpin turns from hilarious to heartbreaking." – Josh Stallings.
A bag of cash. No owner. Do you take it?
Emily Scott was the first girl Chloe Medina ever kissed. Back before Chloe was ready to talk about that kind of thing. Now, two decades later, Chloe is a bounty hunter in Arizona, and Emily is a fugitive with a bag of cash and a secret.
Emily is a stand-up comedian and one-time bank robber who came into possession of forbidden knowledge that could get her killed. She knows the identity of Big Wheel, an illusive and semi-mythic criminal kingpin who runs the state. When presented with a chance to run away with a bag full of cash, she didn’t hesitate. But now out on the road she’s stuck between two worlds. After spending twenty years getting good at one thing, and building her identity around it, can she abandon all that work and become someone new? And what happens when she finds out Chloe Medina is on her tail, the hot girl who broke her nose at high school after one kiss?
Chloe isn't the only person chasing Scott down. Deputy U.S. Marshal Treat Tyler is on the case. Scott had been in Tyler’s custody when she escaped, and his reputation is on the line. Tyler used to work with Medina, back when she was a Marshal. They were rivals. Finding out that Medina is tracking the same fugitive? Game on. Again. And, of course, Tyler is hiding his own secrets about Big Wheel.
Can Medina get to Emily before Tyler? And before Big Wheel? And if she does...do they need to talk about that kiss?
“Compelling and unexpected with layered characters, crisp and clever dialogue, and inventive twists. Stringer has created a highly entertaining novel with an unforeseen sense of justice.” – Kendra Elliot.
"Reads like Elmore Leonard and Joe R. Lansdale got together to tell the worlds greatest road story. Packed full of wildly wonderful characters and dialogue that whips like hairpin turns from hilarious to heartbreaking." – Josh Stallings.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2022
38 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Jay Stringer
39 books118 followersJay Stringer was born in 1980, and he’s not dead yet.
He’s English by birth and Scottish by rumour; born in the Black Country, and claiming Glasgow as his hometown.
Jay is dyslexic, and came to the written word as a second language, via comic books, music, and comedy. He writes hard boiled crime stories, dark comedies, and social fiction.
His first three books, the Eoin Miller Trilogy explored the political and criminal landscape of the West Midlands.
He now writes books set in Glasgow and New York.
Jay won a gold medal in the Antwerp Olympics of 1920. He did not compete in the Helsinki Olympics of 1952, that was some other guy.
Jay is represented by Stacia Decker at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner.
He’s English by birth and Scottish by rumour; born in the Black Country, and claiming Glasgow as his hometown.
Jay is dyslexic, and came to the written word as a second language, via comic books, music, and comedy. He writes hard boiled crime stories, dark comedies, and social fiction.
His first three books, the Eoin Miller Trilogy explored the political and criminal landscape of the West Midlands.
He now writes books set in Glasgow and New York.
Jay won a gold medal in the Antwerp Olympics of 1920. He did not compete in the Helsinki Olympics of 1952, that was some other guy.
Jay is represented by Stacia Decker at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 11, 2022
Please forgive my friend. Jay Stringer writes crime novels. Good ones. So, it was with anticipation and excitement that I preordered a copy of his new book. When it arrived, however, doubt niggled at the edges of my thoughts. The title, “Roll With It,” was followed by the subtitle, “A Crime Novel.” So far, so good. That’s what I expect from Stringer. But the subtitle is followed with a sub-subtitle, “And Modern Western.”
Okay, so here’s the problem (the first one). My friend Jay is a Brit. Who lives in Glasgow. And I wondered what bona fides a Glaswegian has to write an American western. Frankly, I would no more attempt to write a Guy Ritchie-style crime novel set in Glasgow than base jump off the Space Needle. Turns out Stringer base jumps with an Evel Knievel, American flag-bedecked leather jumpsuit and red, white and blue streamers trailing from smoke bombs in his boots. In fact, the only tell that the author is a Brit, not a red-blooded American, is that couple of characters are “messed about” by bad guys instead of fucked up or fucked over.
Set on and off an Arizona Pueblo reservation with a cast of grifters, con men, crooked cops, all-American psychos, teens with and without anger issues, comedians, hot girls, sundry others, and, yes, cowboys (of a sort) mixed up with a missing $2 million in cash. “Roll With It” reads like the “Wild Mouse” at Riverview Park rides (look it up if you never rode it)—giving you chills, thrills and a little whiplash and leaving you screaming for another go-round.
But problem number-two is, as Stringer freely admits, that our intrepid author has dyslexia and can’t spell worth shit. This is where your forgiveness comes in. You’ll find a mistake on every other page, a “he” instead of “she,” a “the” instead of “them,” a “Case” instead of “Peters,” etc., etc. (Christ, Jay, hire a damn line editor and pay s/he good money). Ignore the typos and dyslexic mistakes. Please, I beg you. You’ll be well rewarded.
“Roll With It,” for my money, is the best novel I’ve read all year, and until I read Gary Phillips’s “One-Shot Harry” maybe the best crime novel period.
Okay, so here’s the problem (the first one). My friend Jay is a Brit. Who lives in Glasgow. And I wondered what bona fides a Glaswegian has to write an American western. Frankly, I would no more attempt to write a Guy Ritchie-style crime novel set in Glasgow than base jump off the Space Needle. Turns out Stringer base jumps with an Evel Knievel, American flag-bedecked leather jumpsuit and red, white and blue streamers trailing from smoke bombs in his boots. In fact, the only tell that the author is a Brit, not a red-blooded American, is that couple of characters are “messed about” by bad guys instead of fucked up or fucked over.
Set on and off an Arizona Pueblo reservation with a cast of grifters, con men, crooked cops, all-American psychos, teens with and without anger issues, comedians, hot girls, sundry others, and, yes, cowboys (of a sort) mixed up with a missing $2 million in cash. “Roll With It” reads like the “Wild Mouse” at Riverview Park rides (look it up if you never rode it)—giving you chills, thrills and a little whiplash and leaving you screaming for another go-round.
But problem number-two is, as Stringer freely admits, that our intrepid author has dyslexia and can’t spell worth shit. This is where your forgiveness comes in. You’ll find a mistake on every other page, a “he” instead of “she,” a “the” instead of “them,” a “Case” instead of “Peters,” etc., etc. (Christ, Jay, hire a damn line editor and pay s/he good money). Ignore the typos and dyslexic mistakes. Please, I beg you. You’ll be well rewarded.
“Roll With It,” for my money, is the best novel I’ve read all year, and until I read Gary Phillips’s “One-Shot Harry” maybe the best crime novel period.
August 29, 2022
4*
Whilst reading this, i was reminded of another fictional, female bail bondsman, who was equally badass, but can't for the life of me, remember the name of the author. I've even read and enjoyed them. Contemporary, male and American is about all i can recall about the author. Frustrating!
At the back of my Kindle copy, is a short story which originally appeared in: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Worth reading this for that alone.
Whilst reading this, i was reminded of another fictional, female bail bondsman, who was equally badass, but can't for the life of me, remember the name of the author. I've even read and enjoyed them. Contemporary, male and American is about all i can recall about the author. Frustrating!
At the back of my Kindle copy, is a short story which originally appeared in: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Worth reading this for that alone.
June 21, 2022
Loved the narration of Jennifer Pickens, she brings out the characters, plot and makes this a great listen
This is a very enjoyable listen. Its got action, pace and twists. We have a bank robbery, a bag full of cash. A female bounty hunter, chasing her first kiss. Also a Deputy U.S. Marshal .
This is a very enjoyable listen. Its got action, pace and twists. We have a bank robbery, a bag full of cash. A female bounty hunter, chasing her first kiss. Also a Deputy U.S. Marshal .
January 22, 2023
Smart, fast and entertaining.
This is my first book by this author and I'm so happy to have found him. Well fleshed out characters with tandem story ok ex that come together beautifully. Well done and think you!
This is my first book by this author and I'm so happy to have found him. Well fleshed out characters with tandem story ok ex that come together beautifully. Well done and think you!
June 1, 2025
Modern Day Western
Very readable Tarantinoesque western with significant nod to Elmore Leonard. Larger than life characters, often morally ambivalent, musing on largely regretted Sliding Doors decisions.
Very readable Tarantinoesque western with significant nod to Elmore Leonard. Larger than life characters, often morally ambivalent, musing on largely regretted Sliding Doors decisions.
October 14, 2022
Great! The more I read of Jay Stringer's work, the more I love this guy.
Very creative and lots of humor, too.
Very creative and lots of humor, too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews