Screwed: A Novel
Dan McEvoy, bouncer hero of Plugged (2011), finally has a shot at ending his simmering feud with local gangster Mike Madden when he’s asked (at gunpoint) to deliver a mysterious package to Madden’s new boss. McEvoy, a street-savvy Irish expat, knows there is a catch, so he’s not at all surprised to find that Madden has offered his head to the rival crew, hedging his bets that McEvoy will be killed or will find a way to off Madden’s enemy. Slippery as ever, McEvoy wriggles out of that trap but is quickly wrapped up in complications, with two crooked cops hunting him to obtain a mysterious “package” and with the need to rescue his tragically alcohol-addled aunt. McEvoy’s nicely evoked mix of Irish fatalism, resigned violence, and hilarity would make any story a winner; the cast of witty, quirky supporting characters and the pleasingly twisted story line are a bonus. Recommended for readers who enjoy the gritty crime and humor of Elmore Leonard and Michael Van Rooy. --Christine Tran