This Wicked World: a review

This Wicked Worldis the first novel from award-winning short story writer Richard Lange. For me, the story is about good intentions bringing about bad consequ4ences. Ex-Marine Jimmy Boone is trying to make a new life for himself, tending bar on Hollywood Boulevard. He's keeping his chin down and his nose clean, having only been out of prison for six months. A loner with no family, Jimmy is friendly with his co-worker Robo, and has recently met a new neighbor, Amy, but he has yet to reconnect with his former partner Carl, whose once successful busines and reputations have gone way down hill after the well-intentioned but hugely out of control incident that put Jimmy in jail.

Doing a favor for Robo, Jimmy goes to a meeting and drives his friend to find some answers about an undocumented immigrant who mysteriously died while riding a city bus. Oscar's story intrigues Boone, who soon begins investigating the cicumstances of his death, which draws him into the underworld of drug dealing, illegal immigration, and dog fights. Once again his good intentions could get him, and his friends, in a whole bunch of trouble.
I definitely enjoyed This Wicked World. The writing was spare, without big descriptions or many in-depth metaphors. It felt like that was the right style for a story about Jimmy Boone, who is living a bare-bones life.The story moves along well, and I felt a connection to Jimmy, who just wants to live his life, but gets caught up in a big mess which endangers all of his friends, Amy, Robo, and Carl. I like that the characters were good people who sometimes did bad or foolish things, and that ultimately, in the case of Robo and Carl, they were supporting and protecting their wives and children. This Wicked Worldisn't a mystery, it's a thriller, procedural story, without the police or private detectives. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it, and will be passing it along to my nephews, who I think will love it.