The provocative title of this book is meaningful
from beginning to end. The messenger in this case is one of
those daredevil bikers seen speeding and weaving in and out
of traffic in cities like New York and Los Angeles. One of the
messengers, J.C. Damon, or Jace to his friends, is given a late,
last minute delivery. He picks it up at a lawyer's office and
when he gets to the drop-off address, he finds that it's an
empty lot. Puzzled, he looks around and sees a car speeding
right at him. He luckily escapes, but the killer seeks him out
throughout the book. To make Jace's life even more hazardous,
the police want him for the murder of the lawyer who was killed
after his pickup assignment.
Jace is a likable 19-year-old orphan who is trying
to provide for his 10-year-old brother Tyler. Both are hiding
from the social services workers who want to split them up
and send Tyler to a foster home. The boys are befriended by
Madam Chen, the matriarch of a large family who owns a fish
market in Chinatown.
Tami Hoag has created a suspenseful, gripping
tale of life literally on the streets of L.A. The story is
peopled by diverse and intriguing characters. There's Tyler
with a 168 IQ and the ability to speak fluent Chinese, Kev
Parker, the detective who leads the murder investigation,
and Abby, the daughter of the murdered lawyer. Erik Davies
skillfully narrates the book, creating tension and suspense
in his reading of the crisp, sharp dialogue.
The story never has a dull moment, and I can
recommend it, knowing that you will enjoy the main story line
as well as the subplots that will pique your interest and
keep you guessing throughout. It will be hard to see a bike
deliveryman on the roadway and not be reminded of Jace's ordeal
as the hapless messenger.
,
by Tami Hoag & Erik Davies (Narrator)
