Evie Rhodes, Out “A” Order

Out "A" Order

Evie Rhodes

Dafina, Jan 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 0758216661

He spent some time in prison, but now as freed as an ex-convict is allowed by American de jure and de facto rules, Shannon Davenport has vowed to be a great father and make a better life for his eight years old daughter Jasmine. However, unable to move them out of dangerous Newark's Central Ward, Shannon's second chance at life dies when an unknown sniper shoots and kills his daughter. Her last word "Daddy" will haunt him forever as Shannon vows to find and murder the assassin.

At Jazz's funeral a local gang chief has the hit man Spence Parkinson killed and tossed into the same grave site as the little girl as apparently the Davenport child was collateral damage in a turf war. Immediately afterward at their home, Shannon and Jazz's mother Tawney argue when bullets are fired through windows at them. All hell has broken loose in Central Ward with the police and law abiding citizens hoping to survive while Shannon continues his vigilance as he begins to believe that the devil's spawn is behind the dead zone where everyone seems Out "A" Order.

The deep look at Newark's Central Ward is gripping especially following the murder-funeral of a precocious preadolescent. When the storyline takes a sharp left into evil spirits it seems a bit Out "A" Order though entertaining. This is a fascinating tale especially the tour of Newark; but the two prime plots (vigilante justice and supernatural evil essences) seem to Criss Cross on separate roads with either able to hold the plot together, but neither fully does though Shannon's quest comes closest. Evie Rhodes is a talented author whose book would have been better served as two novellas using the same starting incident.

Harriet Klausner