Review of Money Faucet
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Jaco Van der Walt
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- Latest Review: Money Faucet by Joe Calderwood
Review of Money Faucet
[Following is a volunteer review of "Money Faucet" by Joe Calderwood.]
In the second instalment of his Clint Kennedy Crime Series, Joe Calderwood comes close to writing the perfect mainstream novel. Money Faucet is interesting enough to be enjoyable regardless of one’s genre preferences. It is smart enough to encourage the occasional stop-and-think moment without ever feeling laborious. No prior experience with the series is required and, most importantly, it is just long enough to fill a weekend.
The story explores the seemingly endless grey space between right and wrong. Clint Kennedy – banker, real estate developer, philanthropist, and self-confessed criminal – returns as the protagonist, this time dealing with the fallout of the cartel wars in which his drug-kingpin employer is embroiled. An array of engaging support characters rounds out the cast, each representing a particular shade of grey. From the devout Catholic drug lords to the hooker with a heart of gold, the crooked judge to the secretary with a penchant for petty theft. The characters are well-written and authentic. With the author sharing the protagonist’s entrepreneurial interests and Florida upbringing one would be forgiven for thinking this might be a story inspired by Calderwood’s own experiences.
Overall, there is a lot to like about Money Faucet. If you’re after a joyride, you could fly through it – enjoying the twists and turns. If you’re in a more contemplative mood, you could meander through it more slowly and savour the well-constructed concepts playing out. Calderwood does a great job of highlighting the plot’s main themes through some strategic quotes but ultimately leaves it up to the reader to decide how deep they want to dig. His descriptive writing style is creative and witty – Kennedy describing himself as a “perpetually annoyed older brother” rather than a mentor, for instance.
The novel is not without its faults, but they are minor. The style can feel slightly indulgent at times, as Calderwood often employs lengthy sentences laden with adjectives. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as fans of Cormac McCarthy and Tim O’Brien will tell you, but it can take some getting used to. The storyline also doesn’t turn up the tension as much as one might suspect. Again, this is not a serious concern as there is more than enough to enjoy from the clever way the conclusion ties up all the main themes. But if you are seeking the build-up and release of a true thriller, know that you are unlikely to find it here.
As mentioned, these are minor flaws and I give Money Faucet 4 out of 4 stars. The novel is finely constructed and rich enough to suggest an enjoyable re-read even.
It would be easy to simply recommend Money Faucet to fans of crime fiction or readers who enjoy Lee Child or Don Winslow, but it would be doing Calderwood a disservice. The book deserves to be enjoyed by a wider audience. Perhaps then it would be better to suggest it to anyone who has ever wondered whether they’re the good guy in their own story.
******
Money Faucet
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In the second instalment of his Clint Kennedy Crime Series, Joe Calderwood comes close to writing the perfect mainstream novel. Money Faucet is interesting enough to be enjoyable regardless of one’s genre preferences. It is smart enough to encourage the occasional stop-and-think moment without ever feeling laborious. No prior experience with the series is required and, most importantly, it is just long enough to fill a weekend.
The story explores the seemingly endless grey space between right and wrong. Clint Kennedy – banker, real estate developer, philanthropist, and self-confessed criminal – returns as the protagonist, this time dealing with the fallout of the cartel wars in which his drug-kingpin employer is embroiled. An array of engaging support characters rounds out the cast, each representing a particular shade of grey. From the devout Catholic drug lords to the hooker with a heart of gold, the crooked judge to the secretary with a penchant for petty theft. The characters are well-written and authentic. With the author sharing the protagonist’s entrepreneurial interests and Florida upbringing one would be forgiven for thinking this might be a story inspired by Calderwood’s own experiences.
Overall, there is a lot to like about Money Faucet. If you’re after a joyride, you could fly through it – enjoying the twists and turns. If you’re in a more contemplative mood, you could meander through it more slowly and savour the well-constructed concepts playing out. Calderwood does a great job of highlighting the plot’s main themes through some strategic quotes but ultimately leaves it up to the reader to decide how deep they want to dig. His descriptive writing style is creative and witty – Kennedy describing himself as a “perpetually annoyed older brother” rather than a mentor, for instance.
The novel is not without its faults, but they are minor. The style can feel slightly indulgent at times, as Calderwood often employs lengthy sentences laden with adjectives. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as fans of Cormac McCarthy and Tim O’Brien will tell you, but it can take some getting used to. The storyline also doesn’t turn up the tension as much as one might suspect. Again, this is not a serious concern as there is more than enough to enjoy from the clever way the conclusion ties up all the main themes. But if you are seeking the build-up and release of a true thriller, know that you are unlikely to find it here.
As mentioned, these are minor flaws and I give Money Faucet 4 out of 4 stars. The novel is finely constructed and rich enough to suggest an enjoyable re-read even.
It would be easy to simply recommend Money Faucet to fans of crime fiction or readers who enjoy Lee Child or Don Winslow, but it would be doing Calderwood a disservice. The book deserves to be enjoyed by a wider audience. Perhaps then it would be better to suggest it to anyone who has ever wondered whether they’re the good guy in their own story.
******
Money Faucet
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Money Faucet by Joe Calderwood
