(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“Most favelados are treated like renegades. In reality they are pawns in a much bigger game.”
Rio de Janeiro, 2008 – Sixteen-year-old Lucas Rocha is suddenly faced with the responsibility of caring for his two younger sisters. His mother died of AIDS and his older brother was recently murdered. To make ends meet, Lucas joins a gang as a drug runner.
Daniel Burke, an American cop placed on administrative leave, travels to Rio to find his roots and attend Carnival. He is robbed by Lucas and is determined to get his wallet back. Not all is lost as he finds love along the way.
Renegade Pawn takes a poignant yet graphic look at poverty, crime, class differences and political corruption in Rio de Janeiro, and how they all intertwine. So many lost their homes when Rio was awarded the 2007 Pan American Games. Hundreds of homes in the favela were demolished to create additional parking for the stadium. More residents were relocated before the Summer Olympics of 2008 to make room for the Olympic Village and stadiums. The future of the poor seems hopeless.
Author Craig S. Wilson colorfully describes the Carnival celebrations amidst all the poverty and pain. This contrast worked for me, though Daniel’s relationship didn’t. I have to admit that it’s probably a personal preference as I like my crime novels to stay dark and gritty without romance.
At only 166 pages, Renegade Pawn surprisingly digs deep into its characters with a complete plot and sociological study. This story will keep the reader engaged and leaves an opening for future books in the series.
