Review: THE FIGHTER by Michael Farris Smith

Publisher No Exit Press
Length 223 pages
Format softcover
Published 2018
Series standalone
My Copy provided by the publisher

Jack is a renowned cage fighter who has spent his adult life making a living off a sport which nearly kills him. Through bad choices he’s acquired a cash flow problem with some unsavory characters. Well past his prime he finds himself once again thrust into the violent world of underground fighting in order to pay off his debt and keep the beloved home of the person who raised him when no one else would.

The Fighter is a character driven story which emphasises the emotional connection the young and impressionable/pliable have with those in positions of power and influence; that unmistakable bond between child/young person and carer which carries and strengthens through a lifetime.

Rich and compelling, this is a story of full of heart and heartache, strength, determination, and bloody means to an end. The Fighter is very much on the knife edge of noir but has a literary quality too which makes it so good to read.

Punch-drunk Jack, and tattooed enigma Annette, coupled with the homely Maryann, the mother-figure in Jack’s life are characters with great depth and complimentary narratives.

My rating: 5/5. Think Donald Ray Pollock mixed with a little Daniel Woodrell and you’ll gain an appreciation for what The Fighter brings to the table. 

You can read my review of Desperation Road by clicking the link below:

Review: DESPERATION ROAD by Michael Farris Smith

Midyear Best of Crime Fiction [Published 2017]

2017 has already provided some memorable crime fiction reads. This year, more than others, I've been reading a lot of the newer books (this despite my TBR continuing to overflow) which feels refreshing; I can talk about the hot new book just on or about to be on the shelves with fellow readers rather than playing catch-up (though there's a fair amount of this going on still - such is the life of an avid reader). In no particular order below is my list of the best of a very good bunch with some honorable mentions thrown in:

Little Deaths by Emma Flint (published January) - review HERE

The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea (published April) - review HERE

Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love (published March) - review HERE

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox (published January) - review HERE

Marlborough Man by Alan Carter (published June) - review HERE

The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham (to be published in July)  - review HERE

Honorable mentions:

Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith (published Feb) - review HERE

The Girl in Kellers Way by Megan Goldin (published May) - review HERE

Something For Nothing by Andy Muir (published Feb) - review HERE

Review: DESPERATION ROAD by Michael Farris Smith

Publisher No Exit Press
Length 285 pages
Format softcover
Published 2017
Series standalone
My Copy provided by the publisher

My Review

A character study set among a backdrop of rural noir well worthy of comparisons to renowned genre writer Daniel Woodrell. A cruel twist of fate unites two wayward souls long gone their separate ways; Russell fresh out of prison for murder, and Maben, a homeless and downtrodden woman with a young child walking a path to nowhere. The two meet at gunpoint, and strangely enough, things get better for the both of them. 

Desperation Road has an impressive amount of character depth which could've easily eclipsed the need for a plot, yet author Michael Farris Smith manages to juggle the core plot and side threads perfectly, making each end loop with the next to form a cohesive narrative that reads so well you'll think you're part of the story. 

The shocking murder of a police officer on a lonesome dirt road in the middle of nowhere is the catalyst which brings the characters together, Maben, trying to escape a threat worse than death, and Russell, out driving enjoying the freedom that being a civilian rewards. The ways these two gel is a pleasure to read as is the twist linking their fates.

Moody and thought provoking, Desperation Road is a must read for fans of the rural noir. 

4 / 5 stars.