Review: BAD LUCK CITY by Matt Phillips

Bad Luck City is a family crime drama of sorts, soaked in whisky and noir that doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of criminal enterprise. 

Quasi PI, Sim Palmer, a journalist by trade with long links to life on the other side of the blue line courtesy of his father's less than lawful past (albeit from a bystander viewpoint), finds himself immersed in a world of bullets and beatings as he helps a stranger search for a missing young woman; one who could be tied to a people trafficking story Sim had written some time ago. 

The all too easy manner by which Sim goes about his business didn't work all that well for this reader. Killing reads as second nature for someone who, prior to this event, lived the relatively non-threatening life of a journalist; warring with words for a local rag over putting people in actual body bags (as a youth he'd witnessed his father taking a beating and toting a gun but Sim himself hadn't dabbled in violence until this event).

There's also the case of the bartender working for a Hotel tycoon wannabe in Gloria, who appears throughout the novella only to be forgotten in the latter stages. What happened to her? I think the action and blood letting took precedent to her plot angle in this instance.  

While not adding anything new to long term readers of the genre, Bad Luck City is a pacey read with a plot laced with a constant stream of action and enough character back-story to make the twists, ebbs and flows work. 

I was provided a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Hap and Leonard (short stories) by Joe R Lansdale

This collection of short stories is a great way to get introduced to Hap and Leonard, two colorful characters that jump off the page and hit you like a ax handle the chops (read the book, you'll appreciate the statement). They're the private detectives who aren't quite private detectives; rather a pair of daring and courageous hard men with a moral compass who moonlight for a PI firm when they're not undertaking menial day jobs. They care for one another, those close to them (Brett for instance - Hap's longtime girlfriend) and take extreme measures to keep loved ones from harm - they're not afraid to shed blood and ask questions later - Leonard in particular.    

Not being overly familiar with the series of books, having only read VANILLA RIDE, I wasn't sure what to expect. Lucky I was treated to a novella and short stories that each read like a longer form of fiction. Author Joe R. Lansdale managed to pack a hell of a punch in each story. Well executed plotting, character depth, and a pleasant mix of humor and serious violence to balance things out. 

I can't name a favorite which is a rare thing in a collection such as this but each story was equally enjoyable. My advice to fans of the Hap and Leonard books - this is one you've got to have in your collection, and for those readers who aren't familiar with the series, I strongly recommend checking this out as a great starting point. 

I was provided a e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Paper Girls Vol.1

Synopsis:
In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 2-yearold newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hit series about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood.

My thoughts:
First off I want to make mention of the perfectly suited art and colors which are match-made for the storytelling. The characters have a distinct early teenage look and the setting is eerily early morning bathed in few colors to create an atmosphere that truly heightens the reading experience.

The plot is one that evolves as the book progresses. Introducing the key players early on via a standard job for teens undertaking a paper-route followed by a standard boys v girls teenage face-off before turning towards the fantastical when a couple of strange and mysterious people covered in robes appear, while others, namely adults, disappear  without a trace. 

Snappy dialogue and a distinct teenage voice drives PAPER GIRLS towards the upper echelon of 'blended fiction' - one that comprises elements of teenage drama, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Never missing a beat, author Brian K Vaughan evolves his characters in-line with his clever plotting as the unbelievable becomes more prevalent. 

From beginning to end, I was hooked. I love it when books/graphic novels surprise me and PAPER GIRLS certainly did that. With the time travel aspect looking to play a large part in the next volume I can't wait to see how the story pans out.  

If you get a chance, go check this one out.

I was provided a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.