Bad Men and Wicked Women

April 2, 2018
Dickey (Finding Gideon) infuses his slapdash but exciting erotic action novel with social commentary and cultural references, somewhat to its detriment. L.A. enforcer Ken Swift, a muscle guy for the shadowy gangster San Bernardino, is surprised to hear from his estranged adult daughter, Margaux, and even more shocked when she demands $50,000 without explaining why. Ken and his Ghanaian partner, Jake Ellis, try to investigate Margaux’s situation, but they pause to make a house call on the incredibly wealthy, laughably odious Garrett, who owes money to San Bernardino. A battle royale breaks out at Garrett’s mansion, showcasing Ken and Jake’s superhuman endurance. Dickey pads his scant story with Jake’s lengthy rants on Afrocentrism, an exceptionally prolonged sex scene between Ken and his unhappy girlfriend, and constant rehashing of Ken’s failed relationships. The story provides plenty of thrilling moments, and contemporary references—including kneeling NFL players, Rihanna’s cosmetics line, and President Trump’s tweets—make the work feel fresh, but the frequent insertion of familiar names eventually grates. The book’s clear expiration date and aggressive messaging make it hard for the reader to stay focused on the action. Agent: Sara Camilli, Sara Camilli Agency.

March 15, 2018
The worst day in Mob enforcer Ken Swift's life begins with a confrontation with the daughter he hasn't seen since her childhood. She demands $50,000 as blackmail for a crime she knows he committed. Ken and his partner, Jake Ellis, get a payment from a wealthy racist crook, which leads to a violent retaliation. Ken's girlfriend is upset that he forgot her birthday, his ex-wife tells him she never really loved him, and Ken must fight to survive so he can reset his life. Despite a slow beginning and long passages of historical commentary, best-selling Dickey (Finding Gideon, 2017) sets in motion a fascinating cast of characters and creates compelling arcs for their stories. Small moments add vivid delight in contrast to all the violence and trouble. Ken's girlfriend sings the entire national anthem at a ball game, including the verse about slaves. Ken and Jake help the abused wife of the rich, cruel criminal. Ken's daughter's problem is unexpectedly solved. Readers will be cheering for the kindhearted Ken and his family in this dark yet ultimately hopeful novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

April 15, 2018

Ken Swift, the central bad man in Dickey's latest novel (Finding Gideon; Naughtier Than Nice), is vexed by his estranged daughter Margaux. Swift's job is to hurt people for money, but he is disturbed that his daughter has bleached her skin and now passes as a bitter white goth woman. Margaux also demands $50,000, hotly calling him a deadbeat dad. Swift senses someone is blackmailing her but puts all that aside and moves on to the next contract with scene-stealer Ghanaian Jake Ellis. The pair of hired enforcers target Dick and Elaine Garrett, who refuse to pay big money to mysterious boss San Bernardino, but that's just another tally to Swift's troubles, which all seem connected. Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction comes to mind as Swift and Ellis cruise through Los Angeles's wealthy neighborhoods debating issues of racism, inner-city poverty, and the lingering effects of slavery, only to shift from intellectual curiosity to explosive violence. VERDICT Readers unfamiliar with Dickey's style may be confused by multiple pages of dialog lacking identifiers as to who is speaking, plus political editorials about government oppression. That said, suspense builds with an action-packed finale, and Dickey's many fans will eagerly consume this. [See Prepub Alert, 10/22/17.]--Rollie Welch, Lehigh Acres, FL

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2018

Ken Swift has more to worry about than his job as a low-level enforcer in Los Angeles. He's divorced from one woman, in love with another, and itching to get acquainted with a third, and now daughter Margaux shows up to demand $50,000 for her shotgun wedding. From the New York Times best-selling author.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.