Official Review: Mac & Beth by Aaron D McClelland
Posted: 17 Mar 2021, 07:47
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mac & Beth" by Aaron D McClelland.]
Mac & Beth by Aaron D McClelland is a crime thriller set in the world of drug dealers near the borderline between the USA and Mexico. Duncan is the boss of a gang that is like a family for him. After a new deal with a Mexican cartel, Duncan expands his operation, bringing more types of drugs in the area. Things seem to get better, also thanks to the strong alliance with his cousin Duffy's gang. However, when Mac, his most ruthless man, falls in love with Duffy's step-daughter Beth and the Grim Sisters tell them about their future, things start going sideways. Banks, Duncan's confidant, sees the coming problems, but can he turn things around and prevent greed and hunger for power to destroy Duncan's gang?
If the novel's title and its characters reminded you of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, that's not accidental. The author draws a strong inspiration from that classic tragedy adapting the story to today's world of drug dealers. It's not a simple modern remake, but I can't tell you the differences, as they'd be spoilers. Recognizing the bits taken from Shakespeare and the bits Aaron D McClelland created on his own is part of the fun of reading this novel. You can enjoy it even if you don't know Macbeth.
The story is told in the first person by Banks, Duncan's accountant, which means that Banks takes care of the money laundering. He's definitely not your usual accountant, as he also takes part in shootouts when there's a clash between Duncan's gang and some rivals or people who crossed Duncan. Banks is also a father, and part of the novel is his personal story of how he's raising his son Flea. His complexity is shown with the moments Banks is spending with his son showing his love for Flea alternating with moments where Banks kills someone who crossed Duncan in cold blood.
Banks is not the only character with such complexity. The author fleshed out the characters' humanity with positive and negative elements. Negative also mean greed, as more money coming from a bigger business can become stronger than personal bonds. Such complexity is what I appreciated the most in this novel, as the characters felt real.
All of that made the novel engaging even when the pace is slow, in the parts where Banks reflects on some situation with the gang and when he's spending some time doing very normal things with his son. There's nothing I didn't like about this novel.
This novel is for adults only. There are firefights with people killed and explicit moments of sexual activity. The author doesn't go into detail telling those bits, but they can still be very violent and very erotic. The language includes wide use of profanity, but that's the least of concerns.
Unfortunately, the book includes several errors, more than 10. That's the only reason why I rate it only 3 out of 4 stars. Another round of proofreading would make it excellent. If you want to read a Shakespeare-style tragedy full of twists set today in the world of drug dealers, Mac & Beth is a must-read.
******
Mac & Beth
View: on Bookshelves
Mac & Beth by Aaron D McClelland is a crime thriller set in the world of drug dealers near the borderline between the USA and Mexico. Duncan is the boss of a gang that is like a family for him. After a new deal with a Mexican cartel, Duncan expands his operation, bringing more types of drugs in the area. Things seem to get better, also thanks to the strong alliance with his cousin Duffy's gang. However, when Mac, his most ruthless man, falls in love with Duffy's step-daughter Beth and the Grim Sisters tell them about their future, things start going sideways. Banks, Duncan's confidant, sees the coming problems, but can he turn things around and prevent greed and hunger for power to destroy Duncan's gang?
If the novel's title and its characters reminded you of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, that's not accidental. The author draws a strong inspiration from that classic tragedy adapting the story to today's world of drug dealers. It's not a simple modern remake, but I can't tell you the differences, as they'd be spoilers. Recognizing the bits taken from Shakespeare and the bits Aaron D McClelland created on his own is part of the fun of reading this novel. You can enjoy it even if you don't know Macbeth.
The story is told in the first person by Banks, Duncan's accountant, which means that Banks takes care of the money laundering. He's definitely not your usual accountant, as he also takes part in shootouts when there's a clash between Duncan's gang and some rivals or people who crossed Duncan. Banks is also a father, and part of the novel is his personal story of how he's raising his son Flea. His complexity is shown with the moments Banks is spending with his son showing his love for Flea alternating with moments where Banks kills someone who crossed Duncan in cold blood.
Banks is not the only character with such complexity. The author fleshed out the characters' humanity with positive and negative elements. Negative also mean greed, as more money coming from a bigger business can become stronger than personal bonds. Such complexity is what I appreciated the most in this novel, as the characters felt real.
All of that made the novel engaging even when the pace is slow, in the parts where Banks reflects on some situation with the gang and when he's spending some time doing very normal things with his son. There's nothing I didn't like about this novel.
This novel is for adults only. There are firefights with people killed and explicit moments of sexual activity. The author doesn't go into detail telling those bits, but they can still be very violent and very erotic. The language includes wide use of profanity, but that's the least of concerns.
Unfortunately, the book includes several errors, more than 10. That's the only reason why I rate it only 3 out of 4 stars. Another round of proofreading would make it excellent. If you want to read a Shakespeare-style tragedy full of twists set today in the world of drug dealers, Mac & Beth is a must-read.
******
Mac & Beth
View: on Bookshelves