Hitman With A Heart Of Gold

Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell

Now this is an awesome book! It's cool, clever, and absurd. A great first novel, bravo Mr. Bazell. Not too long or wordy, yet there is some meat on the bones. And the meat is succulent! A perfect pace with an abundance of action spiked with humor. Knowledge is exuded subtly and efficiently, never weighing down the plot.


Peter Brown is a Doctor at  such and such Catholic Hospital in New York.  He also happens to be in the witness protection program. One day making his routine rounds, he stumbles onto a patient who happens to have mob ties and recognizes Peter as "Bearclaw". The patient promises to not squeal if Peter spares his life, the only problem is that the patient maybe terminally ill.  In a race to save himself, and some other patients while he's at it, the reader learns about Peter's past through a series of flashbacks. The reader learns of his origins as a hitman for the mob, his escapedes with his best friend and wannabe mobster "Skinflick", the truth about his Auschwitz surviving grandparents, and his true love.

Right from the get go the novel is in your face outrageous and hilarious.  It's charming and unique. It is definitely not for everyone, it's quite abrasive at times, and the climax is right over the top. Not realistic by any stretch of the imagination, but amazing none the less.  A shallow but fun book. A fresh read, I whipped right through it and it felt good. Not for everyone but just right for the Palahniuk or Tarrantino crowd.

Next is The Portrait Of  The Artist As A Young Man by James Joyce