Jackie’s Reading Corner

SYNOPSIS

London’s as rough and tumble as they come. But it doesn’t come easy for this rowdy wise guy. Not at all. In this collection of short stories, including the eponymous ‘Mean Business’, London blasts and belts his way through a motley mix of backwoods pushers, Uzi-toting adolescents,self-proclaimed messiahs,paedophiles, pornographers, and a travelling family of obese assassins, who deal with death from the back of their minivan. There are backstabs and double crosses at every turn. A gallery of quirky co-stars to flesh out London’s adventures. Elder mobster, Leon ‘Pop’ Brown, plays as London’s father figure while Cuban crime boss, Peter Choaladi, delivers London’s marching orders.

MY REVIEW

I didn’t have a clue what this collection of short stories was about when I was asked if I would give a review. I sort of thought why not. It’s not what I would call my usual read, but it was something different. I actually liked that these were written in sort of short stories all linked of course with Barry London and boss Peter Choaldi. In the first adventure Barry is sent by boss Choaldi to find old rival Haze Delegaura, he begins search with ex girlfriend May Stone. But finds Mya in her bathroom sticky with blood with the dead body of cult leader Enigma in her bathtub, so the action ramps up as now he has not only to find Haze but has to dispose of a body! Up crop more complications, the action is so fast paced you find yourself whizzing through the story and a fair few characters. Lots of dead bodies. Sex with Mya in between the action. These reads more like the old London mobsters. I did find some of this quite amusing although that may not be what the author was looking for. But I have to say the whole book is well written.

In the second adventureMean Business we find London caught in a feud between a couple of hillbilly families. At the behest of Choaldi the Havers family has asked for help to rescue a kidnapped son. This involves a nice bar fight between London and men he is fighting. With a description of phlegm ending up wrapped around a stripper pole!

The rest of the stories go along the same vein, if you are into the old mobster type reads, women are objects for sex, and seem quite happy to be used for this, although as a woman I find it a little old fashioned and degrading for he women. I mean why can’t they join in the fights a little more. Bring it a bit more up to date.

All the stories are fast paced, and they work if it’s your type of read, as I am sure there are a few out there that like this type of read. At times it’s fun. It seems Barry London can’t seem to win at times. Just one thing leads to another.

I rate this as ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I would like to thank Henry at close to the bone for an ecopy of this in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.