Tony Lindsay

I really, really enjoyed this book from page one. It has that dark, film noir feel with that jazzy, sophisticated style similar to Walter Mosely or James Baldwin.

David Price owns his own security company in Chicago. He becomes bodyguard for a new client referred to him by Ricky, his friend for 30 years. The client's name is Sugar, an ex-crack addict who has cleaned up her life and is now married to Brother Jazz, leader of a cult called the New Day Brotherhood. Brother Jazz becomes "One Dead Preacher" and his wife is seen leaving the murder scene with a suitcase.

David realizes there is more to this new client and this job than he bargained for, but he can't resist the attraction they share. But don't dismiss this as your traditional mystery. The story also deals with issues in faith and how things done in the past can haunt a person years later. Be prepared for secrets and a good share of plot twists in this suspenseful, exciting story.… (mere)

More Boy Than Girl by Tony Lindsay is the story of a young woman who reaches out and takes what she wants — even if it isn’t hers. Dai Break Jones pushes her way into a man’s role and demands respect from those around her. It helps that she comes from a position of privilege as the daughter of a major crime figure, but she is tough and smart and fearless. Being a little less fearless might have done her some good.

This is a short book, only 130 pages,and Dai Break tells her own story. She has a maddening habit of talking about herself in the third person — this pimp, this thug. At first it was confusing; later it was a little annoying, but the language lends an air of authenticity to the book. It’s written in the grammar of the streets, which drives my inner copy editor crazy, but it makes sense in context.

Dai Break is a lesbian. She talks about being 10 years old and wanting to be a girl’s boyfriend. She dresses as a man (she wore Fruit of the Loom briefs to her first gynecological exam), she acts like a man and apparently her cohorts think of her as a man. She describes herself as a “stud broad,” a pretty interesting term, and she gets violent when she thinks she is being disrespected.

This is really the story of life as a gang banger, told from Dai Break’s very interesting perspective. I don’t know enough about the inner workings of a major gang to speak to its authenticity, but it seemed real enough to suspend my disbelief. It’s a hard, brutal world, but there is also friendship and loyalty in her life.

As you’d expect, there is plenty of violence and raw sex in the book, but I didn’t think it was over the top. It was a fairly engaging story, mostly because of Dai Break, which kept me reading. I found the ending a disappointment — a little too convenient — but all in all, not a bad read, but definitely not for every taste.… (mere)