Patrick Quinlan, Smoked

Smoked

Patrick Quinlan

St. Martin's, April 2006, $23.95

ISBN: 0312349343

New York mob king Big Vito and his competitive peers employ James "Smoke" Duggan, as his bomb maker of choice, because the guy is better than DOD with his precision so that only the target is dead. However, Smoke finds one objective holding 2.5 million dollars of Big Vito's loot, and decides that would make a nice down payment on a new life. He absconds with the money and relocates to Portland, Maine, knowing that Big Vito will send his toughest thugs after him if found.

Vito uses some sick sadistic SOB's, but for Smoke he sends his craziest. Denny "Murderous Eyes" Cruz, Stick and Moss are coming to kill Smoke after they remove his eyes, and otherwise torture and mutilate him. As a bonus they will also rape his girlfriend Lola in front of him before maiming her. However, Denny sees Smoke as a hero who escaped the literally dead end of their occupation for the good life of luxury with a sexy woman, and considers how he can get a piece of that instead of camaraderie with killing apes who will probably come for his killer eyes one at a time one day.

This action packed crime thriller starts off with plenty of Smoke that leads to a delightful abundance of fire until the climatic confrontation, but throughout contains a wonderful contrast between the residents and regular visitors to Portland and the thug invasion. Not surprisingly, readers will root for Smoke and Lola to win, but also want Denny to convert. Though graphically flowing in blood, fans of hard core tales will want to read this battle between criminals, as the outcome remains in doubt (with the Vito mob having the overwhelming edge) until the final twist.