Sunday, December 4, 2011

Talking without thinking is like shooting without taking aim. Proverb

GIVEAWAY:



Chicago has been chosen as the Olympic city of 2016. The action begins in the gang dominated neighborhood known as Four Corners. Two brothers, Ruben and Bobby Vargas grew up there and enter the police department.

Coleen Brennan was an Irish girl who befriended Bobby Vargas, who was Spanish. By the sixth grade they were boyfriend and girlfriend. His worst day was when Coleen was murdered when she was thirteen. Coleen was white and Bobby wasn't and their friendship was a dangerous thing in the race rules of Four Corners.

One day, the "Chicago Herald" runs an expose where they imply that in days to come, it would prove that Bobby and Ruben were the two boys who killed Coleen.

The story moves quickly with an interesting literary style with chapter's beginning with portions of the newspaper expose and then describing the actions of the current day. Coleen's murder is said to be a reprisal for racist policing but there is a question if she was raped to death as part of a gang initation.

Anton Dupree was arrested, found guilty of the murder and executed. His family is suing the city for wrongful execution claiming that Anton was of low intelligence and manipulated into confessing.

With the existing political climate, Bobby fears that the city will settle the suit and that he and his brother will be fired and face civil action.

There are a number of levels to the story which is told in a darkly realistic manner that has a momentum of its own. We learn that there was certain activity in Japan during WWII and that some of these actions should have resulted in criminal prosecution. Currently, representatives associated with that criminal activity is influential in financing the Olympics. Coleen's twin sister, Arleen, returns to the city and she and Bobby become romantically involved. However, Bobby is accused of certain things and the reader wonders how he will prove his innocence.

The talented author, Charlie Newton, who has been nominated for literary awards, provides the reader with a look at a section of the city life filled with gangs and drugs described so realistically that it causes the reader to gasp.

There is excellent dialogue and the writing moves across the pages effortlessly. Bobby Vargas is that type of protagonist that we enjoy reading about, he's brave, fearless and honorable and the center of an excellent novel.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R32KFA72YJHW9L/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0385534698&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

Giveaway rules:
A: Be a follower of the blog
B: Use above link, read Amazon review and indicate "YES" helpful
C: Leave email address and indicate steps A and B were completed
D: Follow on Safari, if possible
E: U.S. and Canada only
F: Giveaway through Dec 20th.
G: Have fun.

24 comments:

Jonathan Wilhoit said...

Quite an intriguing book. Your review does it great justice. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Tea said...

This is a wonderful review.

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I am a follower and I do love a great mystery.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I left a comment on amazon.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

misskallie2000 said...

I love mystery and suspense and would love to read this book.

I am GFC follower

I read Amazon review and clicked Yes

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Holly said...

I would love to be included in this giveaway!

I follow you.

Indicated yes on your review.

fullmoonbites[at]gmail[dot]com

ann said...

I am a follower-amhengst
and email subscriber
amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

I did click on yes on Amazon and read your review .
amhengst at verizon dot net

Historical Writer/Editor said...

Hello, I sent to Amazon. :)

Krystal Larson said...

Love the review, did the first two steps :) edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

As a reader who started off with Nancy Drews, mysteries have a special place in my heart.
GFC (Lisa Richards)& email subscriber
Liked your Amazon review
Follow on Shelfari

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

bettycd said...

following blog GFC
bettycd

bettycd said...

clicked that review was helpful

and it was great! thanks

bettycd said...

My profile includes email address which is a safer way to leave it. tjandbcd at optonline.net
Not sure if that is acceptable for entry in your drawing though

Sharon said...

Hi Mike! I'm finally remembering to enter a giveaway!

I've completed steps A & B.

My email is sharn3960 @ comcast (.) net

skkorman said...

I'm a GFC follower (skkorman)!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

skkorman said...

I clicked "yes" on your amazon.com review (thanks for the review!)!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

skkorman said...

I completed steps A & B!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

mamabunny13 said...

Please enter me in the giveaway.
Yes on Amazon
Follow via gfc & email.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Gena Robertson said...

Wow, that really is a great review on Amazon! I did answer "Yes" as the review was very helpful to me - and I am a follower of your blog and an email subscriber.

I thank you for the giveaway op, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Gena Robertson
robertsongena@hotmail.com

Darlene said...

Following you on GFC and Shelfari.

I also "liked" your review on Amazon and left a comment there.

Thanks for the giveaway!

GFC Darlene
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Best wishes to the winners of "Start Shooting" and to the participants for entering the giveaway.
Also I want to thank everyone who participated in my giveaways during the year.
2012 promises to be an excellent year with the official release of my novel, "Splattered Blood" on January 28th.

Bradley Hickman said...

I did click on yes on Amazon and read your review . amhengst at verizon dot net

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