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Last Call Lounge
Stuart Spears, author
Little John is struggling to fill his late father's shoes. He has inherited his Dad's bar, but not his common sense. When he catches a cocaine dealer operating out of his men's room, Little John tries to compromise with him to avoid trouble. Now he's hiding $42,000 and a gun for his friend (and dealer). A massive hurricane is bearing down on the Gulf Coast. He’s failing as a father and constantly disappointing his ex-wife. And the love of his life just walked back in. It's shaping up to be a hell of a weekend.
Plot/Idea: 6 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10
Assessment:
Spears channels Raymond Chandler in his tale of a Houston bar owner in over his head. A hurricane is approaching Houston, and protagonist Little John gets unexpectedly caught up in the city's violent drug underworld. The engaging narrative and the moral ambiguity of Little John's inner life are buoyed by a cast of complex and often quirky characters. The quickfire prose, taut narrative, and convincing characters make this a winning read.
Date Submitted: July 13, 2016
