(Reviewed by Heidi A. Swan)
“Without further thought, I removed the huge Rambo knife from my waistline and slit his throat from ear to ear…Meanwhile, Felicia was switching hotels faster than a fugitive on the run. It was rare to find a female selling crack especially as young as she was. “
This story of the 1980’s Crips gang was fascinating for me to read. It was the era of AIDS, pagers and crack cocaine. I liked getting inside the head of a young man, “Pretty Boy” who was rising through the ranks of this underworld. It was interesting to hear about the gangster intrigue: who needed to be eliminated and why. Violence was the only method of communication which was taken seriously, and Pretty Boy moved on his prey without hesitation while knowing he could die in the process.
Admittedly, I know little to nothing about the Crips, but the story felt quite authentic to me. If the author D. Henderson, did not have any previous gangster affiliation, it seemed like he had access to people who were members of the Crips. That’s how specifically he chronicled this way of life.
The best part of the book is where the story goes. I was surprised by his journey and choices and wanted to know what was going to happen next. At least once I gasped aloud as Pretty Boy crossed and double-crossed to move ahead and survive. Career Criminal covers six years in this young man’s life which includes his time served at San Quentin. I can see it as a six part TV series—a sweeping tale of a demographic which is underrepresented in Hollywood.
I paused often to think about all the kids who are raised in the drug and gang culture. Pretty Boy’s intelligence and savvy could have made him an excellent businessman or military officer. I was overwhelmed by our country’s wasted potential in gangs and in prison.
As much as I enjoyed reading the book, there are things that could have been better. There are basic manuscript errors, mistakes, and misspellings. Characters could be fleshed out more, especially the female characters. I understand if the character sees the vast majority of women as only sexual or romantic creatures, but the author would do well to flesh them out as complex human beings.
The ending was violent, sad and satisfying. It served as a springboard into the next book in his series, and I want to know what’s going to happen.
