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THE DEVIL'S REDHEAD
by David Corbett
Ballantine Books, June 2003
416 pages
$6.99
ISBN: 0449007162


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

THE DEVIL'S REDHEAD opens in Las Vegas where Danny Abatangelo, smuggler and photographer, comes to relax after a big delivery goes off without a hitch. In one of the casinos, he meets Shel Beaudry, a dealer, and off they go. Throughout the first half of the book, their relationship grows, and Danny and Shel thrive in the smuggling business, living off their wits and street smarts. Then one delivery goes bad; Danny takes the fall for the whole gang, and gets to sit in prison for ten years.

Then right before his release, Danny receives a letter from Shel, telling him not to look for her, that everything is all right. However, for Shel, life has thrown her a bad curve. Living with Frank Maas, a small-time hood, and perennial crank user, Shel soon comes to realize that her life is up for grabs with some real bad gangsters. It seems Frank has stolen goods from Felix Randall and sold them to a Mexican gang.

But who has the upper hand? Is Frank working for the Mexicans or Felix? Frank has to set up a meeting between the two gangs to make things good. But the meet turns into a shootout, in which no one but Frank comes out alive. Meanwhile, Danny is photographing the meet, only to learn that the Mexicans have been out to Frank's hiding place, and killed three people, including a child. Danny is still trying to protect Shel from Frank, after seeing all this go down.

David Corbett writes with a strong voice, peopling his characters with emotions that run deep. THE DEVIL'S REDHEAD is a gripping, emotional roller coaster of a ride. Even the secondary characters are real. The climax comes with a bang, and only the strong people survive the all encompassing drug gang war. This is not a novel for the weak of heart, but there is heart and feeling in all these characters.

Reviewed by Steven Sill, May 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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