The narrators – I have to be honest. I generally prefer one narrator over two. Both Philip Alces and Joel Leslie did such an excellent job, though, and I loved both of their narrations. In this book, the dual narration really worked for me.
The story – I didn’t really know what to expect when I started listening to this book. Books about crime bosses or other members of the mob can be a hit or miss. They have to be likable enough to overlook their crimes for the reader to root for their happy ending. I thought Davidson King did a great job of that. I definitely felt for Christopher Manos. He seemed not to relish the dirtier parts of his job but it was a job he inherited and he was just what he had to do.
Snow was a very interesting character. He’s homeless but very smart. It boggles the mind a little bit as to how he got there. When it was explained, I felt horrified on his behalf. He was someone who had been through a lot, but remained strong inside and more courageous than I would have been in his shoes.
This book is not exactly a short and sweet story. Both Christopher and Snow go through a lot. There is danger and intrigue. Seeing some of the violence did bother me, mostly because I saw those moments as senseless tragedy. But there are a few bright spots. I am a fan of Christopher’s nephew who brings the two of them together. He’s sweet and entertaining. There are a few good supporting characters I am definitely looking forward to seeing them get their own story too. Seeing Christopher and Snow feature as side characters will be a bonus.
This was an easy listen for me despite the tougher subject matter. I was drawn into the story while listening, and time flew by. I didn’t want to stop even though it was late. I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and can’t wait for more of this author’s stories to release on audio.