Book Review - The Vig by Amy Brook

This is a debut novel by Amy however it doesn't read like it at all. It is a crime drama set in Long Island in the 1980s. Our heroine, Angela,  is approaching her graduation from business school when through her boyfriend she meets a mob boss. He sees something in her and offers her a job helping with the books of his business. The business in question is loan sharking but it is the kind of job she wanted in terms of maintaining accounts etc and no body ever says no to her boss Dominic.

Slowly she is drawn more into the grimey side of the business witnessing the violence that ensures compliance in the customers. However her life changes completely when she breaks off with her boyfriend and she becomes the centre of unwanted attention. Will she survive in the mob world?

The portrayal of the gang members at work and not draws you in to feeling they're not all bad and there are twists and turns throughout which meant I was unable to predict the final climactic conclusion.

Really brilliant first novel.

Definitely a two thumbs up in the FITUBRS

* Furtheron International Thumbs Up Book Review Scale - 
lowest is both thumbs down with a frown
two thumbs down, 
one thumb horizontal,
two thumbs horizontal, 
one thumb up, 
two thumbs up 
two thumbs up with a grin - very rarely awarded

Comments

  1. Exile on Pain Street8 January 2016 at 12:01

    Does the author ever explain what the term "vig" means? It fits with your plot description.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8 January 2016 at 12:23

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21 February 2016 at 12:31

      Oh no! I hit delete instead of edit!! Ahh!! Well, I'll just say, um, yeah, I enjoyed the book too, Graham. Great review :)

      Delete
  3. Furtheron8 January 2016 at 13:08

    Elsie... Don't tell him! My answer was going to be... Read the book ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Exile on Pain Street11 January 2016 at 12:18

    Oh, I know exactly what the Vig is. I'm a craps player from way, way back and have been victimized by the Vig but have since learned to master it.

    ReplyDelete

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