True Stories of Law and Order

The crimes,the suspects,the trials,-as they really went down.

I used to read true crime all the time. In recent years I have taken a break from that genre and branched out. That being said I am still a huge Law and Order watcher, and having had this book in my TBR for a while I decided to read it.

One nice thing that the book also has is the occasional sidebar of extra information. It takes the time to explain some of the cop and lawyer lingo and tells you just how much it is actually used in real work. Or as in the case of some actions is not legal to use at all. If you enjoy this kind of book and are looking for a riveting read go out and pick up this book.

Set in the slums of New Orleans, among clusters of crack houses and abandoned buildings, Dirty Little Angels is the story of 16-year-old Hailey Trosclair. When the Trosclair family suffers a string of financial hardships and a miscarriage, Hailey finds herself looking to God to save her family. When her prayers go unanswered, Hailey puts her faith in Moses Watkins, a failed preacher and ex-con. Fascinated by Moses’ lopsided view of religion, Hailey, and her brother Cyrus, begin spending time down at an abandoned bank that Moses plans to convert into a drive-through church. Gradually, though, Moses’ twisted religious beliefs become increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus soon find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.

My first thought about this book is that I am stunned into silence. My second thought is to tell my friends to head out and pick this one up. Chris Tusa drags you down into the world of muck and mire with the story of Dirty little Angels.

The way the prose is strung together, while not the usual writing I prefer is perfect for the story. You truly do feel like your reading this through a 16 year old girl’s point of view. The book is deep, gritty and violent. If you are easily turned away by violence this book wouldn’t be for you. But if you can handle it in doses that propel the story into a deeper understanding. You should not miss Dirty Little Angels. You will feel raw and maybe a little bit exposed when you finish this book. But it is a feeling well earned and may open your eyes to a few things.

On a perfect spring morning, Alexander catches a train into London, but never reaches work. Instead, he spends the day with Kate, a waitress he met the night before. Such a perfect day, Nell goes to the seaside, hoping that the sea air will blow away the doubts she has about her life. As Nell ponders why falling in love is so different from loving someone, Alexander allows himself to imagine leaving his old life behind and starting afresh. And by a strange turn of fate, there’s an opportunity to do just that.

Honestly I almost didn’t finish this one. I really was looking forward to reading this one, and the book let me down. The writer’s style is chopping and confusing. Right off you’re a bit lost as to what’s going on, and the book just does not grab you. To me the characters are just unlikable. And over all it’s just a dragging book. I will have to be forgiven for a short review but honestly there is not much to say. The book had a weak style and unlikable characters, it was not enjoyable.

ABOUT FACE is an introspective tale of love, hate, and the uncommon, spirited relationship that envelops the turbulent lives of Travis and Damion Face. Victims of their widowed father’s abuse, teenagers Travis and Damion meet, and vow to help, Lincoln Calloway, a young African American who suffers similar mistreatment. Unfortunately for the Face brothers, this is not an easy path, and the results are not what they had planned.

This book is well written and full of emotion. But over all it did not end up appealing much to me. It could have been my reading mood or perhaps I just didn’t click with the material. I do not hold the author at fault at all for my not liking the book. It is fast paced and very human. It has some very witty points as well. If you usually like this genre of book I would give it a read.