Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Shovel Ready by Adam Sternbergh


This is an odd story.  It's set in the future when a dirty bomb has hit Times Square, a lot of people have died and most of the rest have moved into a virtual world.  It's about a garbage man who has become a hitman.  He has a few standards:  he won't hit kids and he doesn't want to know anything about why.  Just pay him what he asks and then leave him alone...

Crown Books and Edelweiss allowed me to download an ebook of this story for review (thank you).  It has already been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Another thing that makes this book different is that it's all written in first person.  You get all of Spademan's thoughts and impressions up close and personal.  His mind is not the most pleasant place to visit.

What kept me reading was his current job:  He's hired to kill the daughter of a TV Evangelist.  She's over 18, so he's willing to do it.  But he has to find her first.  As he searches for her and learns more about the situation, he's not sure he wants to kill her.  The only problem is that his conclusions are wrong...

This is a tough, gritty read where life has no value to anyone except those trying to stay alive.  Not many succeed, but it's an interesting read.

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