Review by TrudiNZ -- The Juicy Fruit Man by LaMar Going
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TrudiNZ
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Review by TrudiNZ -- The Juicy Fruit Man by LaMar Going
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Juicy Fruit Man" by LaMar Going.]
Reading The Juicy Fruit Man by Lamar Going, is like taking a small step back in time, as well as being a masterly written crime thriller. The story takes place in the late seventies, and follows Declan Noakes, a returned Vietnam vet. While in Vietnam he transported over a tonne of Thai marijuana to his home in the US, and now is selling it off slowly to fund his life travelling around the railways of America. Because of the head wound he received in Vietnam, and PTSD from fighting in the war, he struggles with nightmares and flashbacks. His way of coping is to ride the trains and sell his Juicy Fruit marijuana sticks, and avoiding settling down, as a way of dealing with what he calls "his monsters".
Declan keeps the bulk of his stash with his cousin, Rachel, who he was close to growing up, on a farm near Chicago. He drops in to visit her, and her children, every few months to restock and catch up. After a week or so he then heads off again on his lonely journey. He is about to make one of his stops to visit the farm when unusual incidents make him aware that someone knows about his stash, and they are possibly making plans to take it. He makes his way back to Rachel's farm to move the stash to safety. However, when he realises who he is dealing with, he knows that Rachel and her family will never be safe, even if the stash is no longer at the farm.
This is a great story that kept me engaged the whole way through. The flashbacks to Declan in the Vietnam war were very well described, giving you a picture of the horror, without being overly gory. I also liked the way it was set in a time when people did not have mobile phones, and had to hand mail letters. It made a great contrast, showing the peaceful world Declan desired, against the violence of the men who wanted to steal from him.
I thought the way the story ended was excellent as well. It really gave a sense of being complete, with no loose ends left floating around. As the story advanced and became more complex I kept wondering if it would end satisfactorily, and I was not disappointed. Everything tied together and had a nice finality. I would say more but I do not want to deprive future readers of the pleasure of discovering how it all turns out for themselves. I am sure they will not be disappointed either.
Overall, I gave The Juicy Fruit Man by Lamar Going, a 4 out of 4 rating. The book was well edited with only a couple of minor errors. This book would suit people who enjoy a good crime thriller and an entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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The Juicy Fruit Man
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Reading The Juicy Fruit Man by Lamar Going, is like taking a small step back in time, as well as being a masterly written crime thriller. The story takes place in the late seventies, and follows Declan Noakes, a returned Vietnam vet. While in Vietnam he transported over a tonne of Thai marijuana to his home in the US, and now is selling it off slowly to fund his life travelling around the railways of America. Because of the head wound he received in Vietnam, and PTSD from fighting in the war, he struggles with nightmares and flashbacks. His way of coping is to ride the trains and sell his Juicy Fruit marijuana sticks, and avoiding settling down, as a way of dealing with what he calls "his monsters".
Declan keeps the bulk of his stash with his cousin, Rachel, who he was close to growing up, on a farm near Chicago. He drops in to visit her, and her children, every few months to restock and catch up. After a week or so he then heads off again on his lonely journey. He is about to make one of his stops to visit the farm when unusual incidents make him aware that someone knows about his stash, and they are possibly making plans to take it. He makes his way back to Rachel's farm to move the stash to safety. However, when he realises who he is dealing with, he knows that Rachel and her family will never be safe, even if the stash is no longer at the farm.
This is a great story that kept me engaged the whole way through. The flashbacks to Declan in the Vietnam war were very well described, giving you a picture of the horror, without being overly gory. I also liked the way it was set in a time when people did not have mobile phones, and had to hand mail letters. It made a great contrast, showing the peaceful world Declan desired, against the violence of the men who wanted to steal from him.
I thought the way the story ended was excellent as well. It really gave a sense of being complete, with no loose ends left floating around. As the story advanced and became more complex I kept wondering if it would end satisfactorily, and I was not disappointed. Everything tied together and had a nice finality. I would say more but I do not want to deprive future readers of the pleasure of discovering how it all turns out for themselves. I am sure they will not be disappointed either.
Overall, I gave The Juicy Fruit Man by Lamar Going, a 4 out of 4 rating. The book was well edited with only a couple of minor errors. This book would suit people who enjoy a good crime thriller and an entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
******
The Juicy Fruit Man
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
