Review: When revenge goes too far
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 10, 2012
The setup for "Bullets and Fire" couldn't be simpler at first: the newest member of a violent gang tells of his initiation and his rise through the ranks of the gang. Except it turns out there's more to this man than meets the eye...When "Bullets and Fire" is at its best, it's a reminder of how incredibly talented Lansdale can be at establishing characters, creating interesting dialogue and voices, and immersing you in a very different world. And the first, say, 3/4 of "Bullets and Fire" is Lansdale in top form. The ending, though, feels a little rushed, as though he knew the ending he wanted but ran out of room to set it up. It's not a dealbreaker, but it is the weakest point of the story. Still, it's solid work from Lansdale, who's rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. If you liked this one, go check outThe Steel Valentinefor a truly nasty little piece of work.