Friday 24 June 2016

J. FRANK JAMES - LOU MALLOY: THE RUN BEGINS (2013)


Synopsis/blurb……

Lou Malloy is 18 years old and ready for the world, but is the world ready for him. His brother Sam has left and his sister wants to move to Florida with the family. Malloy is having none of it and on a wild moment decides to hop in a boxcar going he knows not where. The important thing is that it’s not in Kansas. He has a problem and that problem is money. He doesn’t have any until Henry Lowe, who is in the same boxcar, offers Malloy the deal of a lifetime. All he has to do is help Lowe rob a casino in Georgia. With the promise of a big payday, Malloy throws in with the scheme and seal his fate forever…. AND THE RUN BEGINS

A quick read here with a 50-odd page long introduction to the author’s series character Lou Malloy. Best read ever? No, but an entertaining hour spent in the company of a young man starting out.

Lou Malloy is 18 and has itchy feet. He’s living in a small Kansas town, somewhere he’s outgrown.

Beating up on the sheriff’s son, after he was perving on Lou’s sister after she went swimming in the river in her undies probably wasn’t his best idea.  Dissatisfied with life at home, conflict with his police officer father and his older brother departing for California; sees Lou jumping on the back of a goods train heading away from Kentville.

Another fistfight ensues with a gang of three fellow railroad riders, Lou backing up his smart mouth with his fists rather effectively. Stealing his main victim’s bankroll and weapon before evicting them from the box car has Lou contemplating a life lived outside the law.

Falling in with Henry Lowe, a career criminal and a man we encountered earlier in our story - sees the pair of them headed to Atlanta and a hook-up with Lowe’s partner. A plan to relieve some $15 million from some mob-backed, casino running Timucuan Indians is underfoot……
Short, fast-paced, funny, fisticuffs and an interesting main character hurtling along a slippery slope towards a life of crime what’s not to like?

4 from 5


I’m looking forward to Dead Money Run when Lou’s story continues.

J. Frank James has his website here. Catch him on Facebook here.

I was lucky enough to receive this and Dead Money Run from the author, via Kelsey McBride at Book Publicity Services. 

Read in June 2016

14 comments:

  1. This does sound entertaining, Col. Those 'off on an adventure' novels can be good stories, and they can go in all sorts of directions. Glad you though this was a decent read.

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  2. Margot cheers. I had fun reading it and I quickly came to enjoy the main character. Can't ask for much more than that really..

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  3. Sounds like fun. I look forward to your review of Dead Money Run.

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    1. I'm quite looking forward to Dead Money Run, maybe I'll get to it in a month or so.

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  4. Sounds fun. Odd wording on the cover, though.

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    1. It is a bit odd TBH - the contents were enjoyable though.

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  5. Col, I like a good introduction to a good character. I think this scores on both counts.

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    1. Prashant, I think you would enjoy this one mate.

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  6. Must agree on the odd title but it's whats between the pages that count.

    And yes, I can comment again. Thanks. - K.

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    1. Glad to hear it Keishon! Yes, a bit of a typo which is strange. I liked the story though.

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  7. Definite possible - look forward to hearing what you think of the next installment.

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    1. Moira cheers. I thought I had two copies of the second book, so gave one away and haven't found my other copy yet! Oops...

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