Not quite what I expected. I had trouble getting through this book.

I thought this book was well written and characters were interesting and well
developed, but parts of it seemed odd - why didn't girl just walk away during tire scene? Why is mom hiding something in someone else's house? - among other odd things like that. So most of it was a good read and kept me coming back and turning pages, but the whole book was leading up to this grand finale - literally the entire book is about what will happen at the end. And then the end is over and done with in about a page. I dunno. Just this massive lead up and suddenly it's all done and over and resolved. Just left me feeling like something was missing. Like a couple of chapters! But all in all a good and entertaining read.

Opening sentence: “As inmates of Thurgood L. Crick prison funnel out of the library toward the dining hall for eleven-AM lunch, Danny Marsh stays back, hidden behind a rack of books, aware this could be the last hour of his life.”

Yes, that’s an opening sentence with a lot of intriguing information and it gives a nice indication of the pace set in this book. There are story threads and plot twists steadily revealed throughout, so I found myself completely engrossed and always intrigued about what could happen next. Essential ingredients for a great thriller.

Set over 24-hours, this story starts as Danny Marsh, Monty Montgomery and Phil Zorn escape from Crick prison, Texas and attempt to get to Mexico and start their new lives. Lead character, Danny, is interesting, as he is a criminal with a conscience and provides a moral backbone to the story. It would be hard to root for out-and-out criminals attempting to swerve justice, so he is a clever character in that he gives the book depth and makes you realise that not all prisoners are necessarily intentionally bad.

Danny is in prison for a crime he didn’t intend to commit, so struggles with not only with day-to-day prison life, but also with his guilt about why he is in prison. He is a good, strong contrast to Phil, who is older, insanely clever, a scientist by trade, mastermind of the men’s prison-break, and an all-round shadier character. Straddled between them is petty criminal Monty, who nicely rounds up the trio of prisoners. Galdi even manages to weave a suggestion of romance into his story, despite the unlikely setting, which, for me, added a little something extra to the tale.

We are also given the point-of-view of the police trying to catch the escaped criminals, and this is the only area I felt was a little lacking. They are following the thread and making progress, then their story is left unfinished, which did leave me with a few questions once I’d reached the last page of the book.

Overall though, this was a fast-paced, easy-to-whizz-through little thriller with just the right level of tension and an ending I wasn’t expecting – a very enjoyable read.

I got to read An American Cage this week and it was an intriguing page Turner that kept me interested to the last page. My first experience with author Ted Galdi, and I really enjoyed it.

Three prison inmates led by a professor who plans it all, escapes from Jail. They are pursued relentlessly by the police with their leader intent on achieving the fame and fortune that would result from their capture. There after follows a dramatic story where nothing is what it seems with unexpected events full of twists and turns involving murder and betrayal. A most exciting read with the reader hooked to discover how it will end.

This book launches directly into action, with the characters revealing themselves through actions and interactions. This allows for a number of years surprises along the way. The psychological adjustment of the main character from weak to strong is the crux of the story. The writing provides just enough description to frame the action without anything extraneous. The book is great on character development, with the good and bad slowly sorting out. However, good and bad in the context of this story is relative. The ending was not quite what I had expected, but tied up most of the loose ends.

I enjoyed this book. It has well-developed characters, descriptive action and more than one surprise.

Three men escape from a maximum security prison in Texas, one a black man who had stolen a car, another (our protagonist) an upper class young man who had, when intoxicated, been the perpetrator of a hit and run that caused the victim to lose a leg and the third, a Professor who claimed to be innocent of the charges for which he was sent up. They steal a truck after their escape and ultimately meet up with an Aryan Nation member who imprisons the first two in his basement, chaining them to chairs. The young man is released to leave with the Professor, however he has to convince his parents to pay a $250,000 bribe to the Aryan Nation member to insure the safety of their son. Going further into the story would lead to many spoilers so I won't do that, however it is an interesting study into what this kind of imprisonment will lead to. The ending was also very satisfactory.thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC for an honest review.

Danny Marsh, twenty four years old, was a farm boy serving time in Thurgood L. Crick Maximum Security Prison located in Texas. An error in judgement, one split second, a resultant prison stint. Deemed a "rich white boy" frightened by prison life, his panic attacks subsided when he was housed with new cellmate, soft spoken Professor Phil Zorn. Phil, forty-ish, a neuroscience researcher, offered Danny father-like support and encouragement. It is no surprise that when Phil planned a prison break, Danny, as well as penniless, ghetto raised Monty Montgomery supported Phil's escape plan.

Danny, Phil and Monty hid in the library while fellow inmates filed out to eat lunch. The trio had approximately forty minutes, thirty for lunch and a ten minute head count, to use the supplies amassed to reach the safety of the woods. Supplies included a smuggled in reciprocating saw to cut through the ventilation duct and duct tape to wrap around their hands and atlases secured to their chests to guard against the razor wire fence. Monty caught his leg on the barbed wire and Danny's spirits dampened while Phil, who had memorized the path through the woods from a Google Earth photo smuggled into prison, brainstormed an adjustment.

One stolen truck later, the trio pulled into "Splash Paradise", an abandoned water park. This rendezvous spot was designated for Phil's outside contact to meet up with them, drive them to a ready apartment in Mexico and help them obtain fake ID's and papers. Phil and contact Wade Lorendinski indicated that the escape plan had an extra step Danny and Monty might not have agreed on, but, getting to Mexico was not free. Phil told Danny that his parents must provide $250,000 in cash or else. Danny now realized the cruelty of hardened criminals. Danny would not bury his head in the sand. While his consideration of others increased, Phil's harrowing true intent manifested itself.

"An American Cage" by Ted Galdi is a riveting tome about a jailbreak replete with many twists and turns experienced by the culprits. There are continuous obstacles in their path. One such obstacle is Lt. John Ramos. If he can apprehend the criminals, his police department would get national recognition. Perhaps upon retirement, he could enter politics. The character development of the principals made me "cheer" as well as 'jeer". Galdi's sophomore novel was an excellent read that I highly recommend.

Thank you Ted Galdi, Precipice Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "An American Cage".

“An American Cage” is Ted Galdi’s look at a prison break and its aftermath. One can only guess at how many books have been written about people on the run, but this one is a good one. Galdi’s breathless prose places it high on my favorites list.

Danny, Phil, and Monty are three jail birds who break out of a Texas prison and their story only takes a couple of days, but the author fills the time with great characterizations, relentless action, and seemingly endless jogs in the road. At first I thought this was a dumb and dumber story. But Galdi is clever as he follows each character through their ordeals. Phil, the planner of the escape, appears to be weak and frail but his character is soon developed into a madman whose intentions become evident. He has specific uses in mind for the other two, none of which are particularly benevolent.

I say that Galdi’s prose has a breathless quality and that’s because the atmosphere is frothy with elements of disaster around every corner, but each situation seems to work out but leads to more tension when others develop. The author has an aversion to clichés and does well at keeping them at bay.

I think you will like this story and its twists that will intrigue you. It’s a good read for a summer day with shadowy overtones in the Texas heat.

Danny, Monty, and Phil have led very different lives, though circumstances have brought them together. Currently, they are all inmates at the Crick prison in Texas. They join forces planning and executing a daring prison escape with the goal of reaching Mexico and the chance for a brand new life. Phil is much older than Danny and Monty and as the story unfolds is definitely the "brains" behind this risky plan.
Actually escaping from prison would seem to me to be the hardest part, but as the plot is revealed, the most gripping part of the story develops after their escape. Phil once again takes control and shows how far some people will go to get what they want, no matter the cost. Ultimately, this is Danny's story and one of how one bad decision can change everything. The chance to do the right thing and eventually maybe even find redemption always still exists though, no matter what occurred in the past.
I enjoyed Ted Galdi's writing and was eager to discover what would happen to these three fugitives. If you like a book with a great plot, well-developed characters, and constant uncertainty about what will transpire next, this one is for you. Thanks to Ted Galdi, Precipice Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An American Cage, the sophomore release by Ted Galdi, sizzles off the page in the Texas heat. You will be caught immediately in the most theatrical prison escape yet conceived or attempted. Don't discount Danny Marsh and Monty Montgomery, both twenty-somethings to Phil Zorn's forty-something. The first two are young and stupid strapping men, neither of whom landed in prison for something heinous--perhaps more on the error of judgment side--rather than terribly criminal. Phil, as he adamantly proclaims was framed. But he has the smarts. Extreme smarts.

The plan took many long months and gathering all the materials required some smuggling. When the day comes the men move through the air duct and eventually, ever so slowly and carefully, over the concertina wire. You can't continue to hold your breath forever--but something has gone wrong. Monty has a problem which will alter their original plan.

Phil, a master manipulator has chosen Danny very carefully, using keen, insightful psychology as he pairs Danny with Monty--genius. One will insure success of the ultimate plan because of the other. The two are told they'll all go to Mexico with the documents, goods, and ID's from Phil's contact on the outside. Unfortunately, the contact demands $250k to cover their expenses. Danny comes from an upper-middle-class family, but even his parents wouldn't be able to get that kind of money on a weekend.

The author has an amazing way of creating sympathy for Danny and Monty--these two guys just shouldn't be here. Along the way to El Paso, they've picked up a young female hitchhiker and the situation turns even more desperate. We get to know each of the men and the girl and it doesn't look like there is any good way out of this.

Dialogue can lapse into using some four-letter words--perhaps not unrealistic if you understand with whom you are dealing. In this plot, an empathetic protagonist flips and the narrative quickly moves from suspenseful to nail-biting psychological thriller.

Ted Galdi does an amazing job of wrapping up his story in a thoroughly satisfying ending. I received this request from the author and downloaded from NetGalley for a read and review. The pleasure was all mine. This should be a series on TV. Something different, exciting, and heartily recommended.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but I must admit that I was hooked from the very first page. The writing allowed me to "see" in my mind every detail of what was happening.

The story starts off with the months of planning coming to a head as three inmates of Thurgood L. Crick prison make their escape. As each step unfolded, I found myself holding my breath. Whew! Was I actually cheering for these bad guys to get away? Huh. As I got to know them, I actually felt sorry for them and thought they must have all been wronged with these prison sentences.

The escape doesn't go exactly as planned and they must quickly come up with new alternate plans, plans that involved other people. Phil Zorn, a former professor and the brains behind the escape plan, sets the group on a new path... a path neither Danny or Monty expected. Page by page we learn more and more about each of these three escapees and how they react to the world around them... and just how fine that line is between good and evil... or how evil a person can truly become.

Ted Galdi was masterful in plotting the twists and turns in this nail-biting adventure that digs deep into the psychological thriller it rapidly becomes.

Read this book in a day. Wish it was longer. Loved the characters and love the plot

Ted Galdi's narrative spilled off the pages with flair. I sat riveted from page one. Just the way I like it. As the dramatic scenes unfolded, I was privy to a Machiavellian escape plan, when set in motion, actually seemed plausible. Essentially, I felt the anxiety of a daring prison break. Now that's a change-of-pace! The storyline hustled along culminating with an exciting ending that I never saw coming. Touche.

Three inmates made a daring escape from a maximum-security prison in Texas. Who said it couldn't be done? The trio consisted of Phil, the middle-aged ringleader, Danny and Monty, both in their mid-twenties. The mastermind behind this orchestrated jailbreak fell to Phil. He concocted the nefarious scheme down to the letter over several long awaited months. The moment of truth was now approaching.

On the day of the breakout, they had hidden themselves in the prison library and waited till lunch got underway. No one would notice they were missing. Head counts were not taken. For an hour anyway. Working fast, they cut their way through an air duct with a power saw that Phil had smuggled into prison. It's not what you know... The air duct eventually led them to the outside wall of the building. From their perch high above, they had gathered ten prison uniforms securely tied together for a three-story descent. They had duct taped their hands and items to their bodies that would protect them for a climb over razor sharp concertina wire nestled atop the perimeter fence. That is, if they got that far. From there on it was a two and a half mile run through the woods to meet up with a waiting accomplice, Wade, with a ride. Miraculously, they made it!

The ultimate plan was to head in the direction of our neighbor to the south - Mexico. But getting there came with a high price tag. Nothing's free. What is the cost of freedom worth? In this daring endeavor, Wade demanded $250,000. It would cover transporting them down to Mexico, new IDs and a safe haven to live. Phil proposed that Danny's parents were wealthy enough to put together that much cash in a hurry. So he hoped. This was a cash-only transaction. Danny had been blindsided by this sudden turn of events. Who keeps that kind of cash laying around the house? It was also Saturday. Banks were closed for the weekend. Without the money, though, they're dead in the water. America can no longer be called home. The clock slowly ticked as the walls were closing in from all sides. A statewide manhunt was well underway. How much longer could they remain on the run? Desperate measures were now called for. Freedom at any price. Whatever it takes.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
This is the story of Danny Marsh who escapes prison with two other inmates. Trying to get to Mexico across Texas with the Texas marshalls chasing them and then finding that who he thought was a friend and was helping him out of a bind was not really such a good friend.
This shows the struggles they went through on the run and what their final decision was at the end.
For a you kid, trying to stay alive in a prison where they would just shank you for just looking at you, he has had to survive and you see that he has matured on his journey and making the decision of his life.
This was a really good story of men on the rund from escaping prison and how they dealt with their lives outside.