Introduction
Quick Fix is an exciting, blood-pumping heist novel with a variety of twists and turns, and I happily absorbed every page. Author J. Gregory Smith displays his thrilling creativity and his knack for spinning a story in the first novel of the "The Reluctant Hustler" series. When I received Quick Fix as a free .mobi file in exchange for an honest review, I was pleased to discover that I couldn't keep my eyes off of it!
My Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: "Military contractor Kyle Logan's luck has gone from bad to worse ever since he returned home to Philadelphia following an injury by an IED in Iraq. First, his marriage crumbles, then his career after he's pushed to the brink and assaults his wife's lover, who is also her divorce attorney.
When Kyle's shady best friend turns up and offers him a "once in a lifetime chance" to regain his job and life, all for just a couple night's work, Kyle figures he's got nothing to lose. The police, Philly Irish Mob and a couple of drug cartels all think otherwise.
Now forced to fight for his life, and those around him, Kyle must turn to allies from his old neighborhood in a desperate effort to stay alive and out of prison.
Quick Fix is one man's fall into a world of unintended consequences that seeks to tread the razor-thin lines between right and wrong, loyalty and treachery." (via Goodreads)
Thoughts and Comments
Pros
- The humor was refreshing and well-done, and it didn't ever let up completely, even amidst the more serious parts of the book. The comic relief became a welcome friend in tense situations.
- The story was catching from the beginning and had a good hook that kept the reader entertained throughout the entire novel. I never once felt myself getting bored or feeling as though reading the novel was becoming a chore.
- The main character, Kyle, is likable and relatable, and functions as a trustworthy first-person narrator.
- Every description is detailed and impressive, from the scenery to the character quirks to the emotion shown through the narrative.
- The action scenes, though many, were all engaging and well-written, which I personally believe is difficult to do in an action novel--too many fight scenes can start to seem repetitive, but this was pleasantly not the case in Quick Fix.
- Mr. Smith's use and display of secondary characters was excellent--the reader feels compelled to care about every one of them instead of just the well-being of the main character.
Cons
- There were some noticeably simple grammatical errors, but not enough to distract from the story.
- The story jumps into the main plot line a bit too quickly for comfort, but not so quick as to make the reader feel that he or she started in the middle of the book.
- The pacing is just a bit too fast throughout, and it seems as though there were a few little moments that could have just posed as fluff or filler content.
- Some of the plot seems to be overdone and cliché, but it's also plausible that these clichés could prove to hold as a steadfast comfort to fans of the genre.
Conclusion
It's been a while since Bitty Book Nook has featured a five-star review, and I am so happy that Quick Fix took the cake! It will be interesting to see how the sequel to this novel plays out, as the setup for a sequel was subtle but not nonexistent. Mr. Smith, thank you so much for the opportunity to review your work. I certainly look forward to seeing more from you in the future!
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