Review of Diego's Brooklyn

[Mutai Marshal]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Diego's Brooklyn" by Adrian Del Valle.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Children are remarkable gifts to their parents. It is amazing how kids–even in their teenage years–dare to leave their cocoons of comfort to provide for their less privileged families. Diego is the epitome of this.

Diego’s mum had a hip problem that restrained her productivity. This forced the kid to juggle between school and meeting some needs of the family. He was such a hardworking student who performed so well at school. An envious and naughty classmate of Diego set him up. Will accused him of throwing darts at the wrong place. It led to Diego being suspended from school.

At home, Diego made an acquaintance with Mr. Bill. They would roam the street and engage in menial jobs to get a few bucks. Things got spicy and disarrayed when Diego found a treasure in a chimney. But is it really a treasure? The treasure–the hidden money of a gang–is being sought by the owners. Those who have stood in their way have suffered severe consequences. Death is part of this farcical adventure. The police are also entangled. Scanlon, one of their own, is involved. What a disconcerting way for an officer to die!

The author’s writing style is engaging. Since most of the action is ghetto-based, the author deployed a replete of slang. It imbues an ambiance of street life and crime. Diego is by far my favorite character. His resolve to stay out of crime is evident. All he wants is for his mother, Anne, to be happy. Getting her a church outfit seems to be on top of his price list. While street life is rough and meant for the tough, it is clear that wits and honesty can get you out of trouble on many occasions.

Anne is a great role model. She provided solace for her son when he needed it most. While I questioned her decision not to involve the authorities in the fiasco, I couldn’t resist the urge to believe that she was looking out for the interests of her family.

Diego's Brooklyn by Adrian Del Valle reminded me that even the toughest and most rogue criminals sometimes pose and think about their actions. It was quite a relief to note that the streets valued the safety of women and children. Is it because they are classified as vulnerable in society? The consequence of greed was envisaged in one of the most unlikely ways. It reminded me of the rot in the police force: corruption. To be fair, I didn’t find any dislikes in the book. The grammatical errors are minor and do not affect the flow of the plot.

I gladly award this book five out of five stars. Due to the gore and mature language in the novel, I encourage the young and sensitive audience to steer away from this book. Anyone who loves ghetto-based reads will find it enthralling. Lovers of crime thrillers can also hitch a ride.

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Diego's Brooklyn
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[Nwoko E]

The author's writing style is engaging. Since most of the action is ghetto-based, the author deployed a replete of slang. Great work.

[NetMassimo]

I'm not familiar with ghetto-based stories but the crime thriller part seems interesting and some important issues are addressed in this novel. Thank you for your great review!

[patricia MGBEMENA]

Diego was really a hardworking child and his availability both at school and at home is a very nice quality. I believe young readers should learn to emulate these qualities.