I received this audiobook in exchange for an HONEST review.

The story is about an ex-con who loses his “lawn jobs” and tries for a big score. Nothing new along the lines of originality here…

The story was very simplistic and straight forward. I can see where the author tried to make plot twists but most of them did not work for me.

As for the narrator……very monotone and he seemed very uninterested in what he was reading.

The recording quality was also lacking which really stands out when wearing headphones. They say the narrator can make a bad book good or a good book bad...

Story: 1.5 stars
Narration: 1/2 star
Total: 2 stars ( )

I completed this book but it was far from a favorite. I felt the writing and story were choppy and somewhat unbelievable. It was also a bit rough for my taste. I like mysteries, some thriller novels, historical fiction, and literary fiction but this did not seem to fit into a niche for me. it was labeled a thriller but didn't quite measure up to that classification. I gave it 2.5 stars. ( )

Ex-con Craig Collins isn’t the sharpest pencil in the pack but he thinks he is. He’s ticked off for losing his lawn job with several clients so he hatches this plan with his stripper girlfriend Juana that he hopes will give him a big payday. The plot was pretty straight forward though I did hope Alfonso’s guns for drugs stuff would complicate matters and make things interesting. Alas, that didn’t lead to much but it did give Alfonso a bit of personality.

Initially, I was rooting for Juana. She had the most depth out of all the characters. While it’s never made clear if she’s transgender or a hermaphrodite, she does use her assets to the best of their ability. I liked that Collins found her sexy in many ways but he was also a bit of jerk for thinking of her as a freak. Juana was great for pushing back for more in a relationship and for a little while there I hoped that things between her and Gino would turn out well.

But then one betrayal after another happens and I stopped rooting for any of the characters. The mystery still held a little interest for me. I wanted to know which character would win this little drama. I was pleased to see it wasn’t Craig. 3.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Joe Formichella narrated in a monotone voice for most of the story. He did give Craig’s two ex-con friends distinct voices. However, his Spanish accent for Alfonso was pretty rough. His female voices were lacking femininity. His pacing was good. There were technical issues with the recording. 3/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book. ( )

This is the story of ex-con Craig Collins who thinks the world owes him something. After losing his job as the lawn guy for a rich restaurateur, he decides to get even by blackmailing him. With his transgender cohort, they devise a plan that quite doesn’t go the way Craig expects. Soon another plan is hatched and this guy just doesn’t get a break. Meanwhile, a couple of prison pals have other things going on which keeps Craig busy. It’s life in Portland for a bunch of losers.

The story moves quickly, with some action, a lot of sex and very few laughs. You can kind of figure out how the story unfolds. I felt sorry for Craig. An enjoyable read, but soon to be forgotten. ( )

I used to watch "World's Dumbest Criminals" back in the day, and I never understood how a human could be so blind to consequences. Collins is a landscaper who takes care of a rich pizza tycoon's lawn. His wife likes to lust over Collins, and a mistake soon costs him his job. Collins wants to get revenge, and tells his trans friend that she should set up the tycoon. Well surprise surprise, everyone is in it for themselves, stuff goes awry, and the ending is obvious. I didn't see much "humor" in this book at all, not even "black comedy." Just a dumb guy and treacherous women. ( )