Frank Wheeler Jr.

Frank Wheeler Jr, in the space of just two novels, has become one of my favourite authors. Here he delivers another vicious and vivid slice of American noir, exposing hard-faced truths which hide behind the acceptable apple-pie façade.

Wheeler creates an authentic, bitter and gritty reality as he explores corruption and the narcotics industry in small town America. In a taut, twisted, no-holds-barred narrative he debates the hard choices made by those entrusted with keeping a lid on show more civilised society, and the appalling acts that this responsibility leads them to commit. He delivers memorable, three-dimensional characters who leap off the page and stay with you for weeks afterwards.

The Good Life is populated by men of extreme violence and bluntly brutal straightforward methods, who would die to defend family ties but will go to ultimate extremes if betrayed in love or loyalty. Women who ruthlessly exploit the weakness of the men who desire them.

It’s spell-binding stuff, told with some flashbacks which tightens the already fast-paced plot. There are some genuine shocks and many violent interludes as the story unfolds, and no certainty at all that Earl, the compelling central character, will make it through to the final pages intact.

There's more detail about the plot and characters over at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/the-good-life-hard-boiled-m...

Hard-hitting, sharp-edged; inventive and delivered with the stunning impact of a sucker punch. Can’t wait for Wheeler’s next effort.
9/10 show less

I admit it, the blurbs for the book sucked me in: “One part Dexter, one part Southern gothic, with a dash of psychosis for good measure...” and “darkly comic debut.” That sounds like something I'd like. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. The narrator, a psychopath working for a corrupt sheriff, just didn't interest me much. He was extremely violent but it seemed it was violence for shock value, not really adding much to the story. Ho-hum, how many people are going to show more meet ghastly ends this time?

The Southern hillbilly dialect was overdone. The dark comedy, well, no, there wasn't much of it. I did find the book mildly entertaining, and I was interested in Jerry's relationship with his little dog and his sometimes girlfriend. But that didn't make up for a weak plot and fairly mundane writing.

I was given a copy of this book for review. show less