The Last Straw

I love sequels, especially if I’ve enjoyed the prior book(s). There’s something very happy about going back to a world you think you know, with characters you’ve explored before. It’s nice. It’s comfortable. And such is The Last Straw, by Ed Duncan, the sequel to Pigeon-Blood Red.

The Last Straw (Pigeon-Blood Red Book 2)

Much like its predecessor, The Last Straw is a fine piece of noir set in Chicago. Killer-with-a-conscious, Rico, is still working and still at the top of his game. He gets first dibs on work, and if something doesn’t sit right with him then he passes it down to the a lesser-skilled guy who can’t stand being second fiddle. Rico has no problem doing the killing, but he doesn’t like the idea of hurting women or kids or people who generally haven’t done anything to deserve it.

Paul Elliott, the lawyer who indirectly – and unintentionally – saved Rico’s life in the first book is back, this time providing emotional and legal support to a neighbor of his. The neighbor’s daughter is the only witness to a carjacking that resulted in the homicide of the driver, and it’s her testimony that prosecutors believe will ensure conviction of a kid who has no prior record. Unfortunately for the daughter, the defendant has unknown (and, perhaps, unwanted) allies who are willing to do whatever is necessary for him to walk free.

Lucky for Paul and his friends, Rico has a conscience and a good memory: he won’t hurt the young girl, and he won’t hurt the guy who saved his ass.

This book, being the second in the series, gave a little more background on all the characters which I thought was nice. It explains some of their personalities, some of their dynamics, and made them all seem a little more realistic. And, because we didn’t need all the background, the book got straight to the story – there wasn’t much in the way of wasted space or mundane explanation.

I’m not sure if the author intended it or not, but this book made me think just a little more than the last one did. How would I react if someone I thought I knew had done something that was, to me, a betrayal of epic proportions? What lengths would I go to for my child? It was nice, though, to have those thoughts while reading and still enjoy reading. Much like school, sometimes the best learning happens when you don’t realize you’re learning at all.

And Paul seems to have no reservations about acting violently when provoked; bringing him closer to Rico’s sense of “deserved justice” that he doles out. Rico had a comment late in the book that I thought was very appropriate – I won’t quote it because I don’t want to spoil it entirely – but it was very much exactly what I was thinking. I’ll be curious to see how Paul and his “relationship” with Rico develops in the next book.

If you liked the first one, or if you like this type of noir, this book will not disappoint. I enjoyed seeing more of the characters, although – I’ll admit – I’d like to see a little more of Rico and a little less of Paul. This book, for me, was a little more predictable: I guessed early on what the connection was between the kid and the unknown [murdering] benefactor; I guessed how the final resolution would happen; and you kinda know all the good guys (and pseudo-good guys) will come out on top. But I like this style and I liked this book.

Overall: 8/10

*I received a copy of this book from the author and his publicist in exchange for my honest review.

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