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Alonzo Crane is a talented bank robber who believes that a lot of preparation is required to do the job right. He also likes to base his robberies on movies, which earns him the nickname Motion Picture Bank Robber. This preparation is what has kept him from getting caught until one of his partners turns against him. Crane is in the middle of a 25-year sentence when he is offered the chance for freedom. If he will reclaim a trunk belonging to the Mexican Mafia, they will wipe his criminal record from the books. As Alonzo wants his freedom he agrees. He hooks up with Duffy, a drug dealer, and Duffy's drug addicted stripper girlfriend, Trixie. The three of them have to convince Crane's former partners to help out. No one but Crane knows the truth about his escape from jail or the intended target. Things turn deadly as this band of criminals begins to get greedy and the Mafia gets impatient. Crane must act quickly if he wants to make it out of the situation alive. DAMAGED GOODS is a dark and gritty novel. Even though Crane is the Motion Picture Bank Robber there is nothing light-hearted about this book. All of the characters have had hard lives -- usually due to their own actions. They are the damaged goods to which the title refers. This book is incredibly violent and bloody. Few of the characters are still alive at the end of the book. In fact, the characters are all depressing. Trixie wants something better for herself, yet she still does drugs, wears revealing clothing and strips. Duffy is a small type hustler and thinks this is the life. With the money he gets from this robbery, he will be able to be the King of the streets. This is Duffy's biggest goal. In addition to character flaws and failures, the characters are disrespectful of others and themselves. All of the characters bad-mouth each other and are almost paranoid in their suspicion of each other. The majority of them cannot stand each other and everyone is just in it for the money. DAMAGED GOODS is a strongly written noir thriller. There is little hope for any of the characters as the world is cruel, but there is the smallest chance that something might work out for the best. This possibility of hope is the one thing that will keep the reader interested.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, June 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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