Only the Good Die Young – Hope for the Wicked* by Edward Lorn

Larry and Mo Laughlin – yes, they have a dog named Curly – have changed professions from freelance assassins to private detectives. The new gig isn’t as lucrative as the old one was, so they agree to one last job for a two million dollar payday. Jacob and Bernice Trudeau’s teenage daughter, Amy, has been kidnapped and taken to Mexico, where her ransom is to be paid. All Larry and Mo have to do is take the ransom to the kidnappers and bring Amy home…well, almost all. With their skills a little rusty and Mo thinking with her heart more than with her head, things in Mexico quickly go from bad to worse.  

Hope for the Wicked is not a happily-ever-after book. The story and the characters are humorous and tragic at the same time. This is not a book for children, teens, the faint of heart, or the weak of stomach. The humor is often dark and the story hinges on revenge, deceit, graphic torture and murder scenes, and sexual abuse – often violent – of children and adults. Despite the dark nature of the story, a little bit of hope does shine through in the end.

The interaction between Larry and Mo, as a married couple and as business partners in an unusual line of work, is excellent. Lorn effectively conveys, through dialogue and action, the connection and tension that both those relationships would create in any couple. All his characters have a “real” feel to them. Most are sleazy enough that you’ll feel the need for a shower after being “in their presence” for a while. You’ll also experience all their emotions – love, lust, disgust, rage, fear, agony, and loss – as you follow them deeper into their wickedness.

Lorn’s writing is straightforward and flows in a way that makes the book hard to put down. The short length, the writing, and the near-constant action make this a good one-sitting read. For those who love dark, gritty thrillers, Hope for the Wicked is a must-read.

3.5 of 5 Stars

115 Pages

Thriller 

Published January 2013 by Red Adept Publishing

Edward Lorn's Website