(Reviewed by JD Jung)
Joe Brody endured a rough childhood, was kicked out of Harvard and then enlisted in the U.S. military in Special Forces training. Unfortunately, opiates got the bet of him, so he was sent back to the States. That’s how he wound up as “Joe the Bouncer” working at a strip club owned by Gio Caprisi, a childhood friend and Italian mobster.
Unbeknownst to Gio (or maybe he turned a blind eye), Joe also worked heists on his own with a group of “acquaintances”. Some jobs were successful, some weren’t. Ultimately, he picked the worst one. Not only was he double-crossed by his own people, but what they thought they were stealing wound up being something a lot more lethal.
Throughout all of this he is chased by the Chinese mafia and, learns a personal secret about his boss.
He also manages to constantly run into Donna Zamora, a divorced FBI Agent who just can’t seem to get ahead in the agency or in her personal life, for that matter. So why does she find Joe, a veteran suffering from PTSD and living with his grandmother, a person of interest? On any event, what Joe lacks in judgement, he makes up by thinking quick on his feet. Joe seems to be one step ahead of everyone. Will his luck change?
The Bouncer takes us on a wild ride through New York with twists and turns at every corner. It has everything: murder, organized crime, bio-terrorism, quirky characters and dark comic relief strategically embedded throughout the book. It’s stylish and provocative, with characters as well-developed as the plot.
Yes, It may be far fetched, with so many forces fighting each other (including logic), but with all the gravity of today, it’s a welcome diversion. So just sit back and enjoy this fun, enjoyable, well-written read.
