I enjoyed the premise more than the actual story.
The first section introduces, Joe, the MC. It seemed rather disjointed, and maybe it was supposed to because part of the story involves his early dementia. Joe seemed to be a bumbling old man with a bad guy history. I kind of liked Joe, maybe because I felt sorry for him. The author made him a sympathetic character.
The story came together somewhat in the next section which focused on Paula.
They formed an unlikely partnership. There was a lot of criminal activity in this novel both in the characters' past and in the current storyline. I did not think all of it worked well together. I found myself wondering why they were doing something or involved in something. There were also several peripheral characters involved in the crimes.
This book was okay. To me it felt more like a draft than a finished product.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good book, in particular I enjoyed the aspect of dealing with dementia the main character has, he questions almost all he does, trying to remember what happened. Joe is a former bouncer (bouncer of the year with a magazine article about him as well), his boss let him go and refused to give him another easier job at a casino he plans to open. Joe ends up with a mobile food truck making hotdogs in the parking lot of a bar. One morning he's out and notices a boat that had been given to him is covered in blood, he doesn't know if he did something to cause it so he cleans it. Not long after he meets Paula, a down on her luck young lady, they become an unlikely pair. Paula is being pursued by some bad guys that her grandfather worked with trafficking young girls from another country, Paula had found out and they are worried she'll talk. Joe and Paula team up to take on the bad guys, they also decide to do the right thing for the guy that Joe's ex boss is trying to buy land from for his casino. All the strings tie together quite nicely and I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

An original story about a man determined to settle old scores with his boss while battling dementia on a daily basis. It is simply very difficult to not be charmed by Joe....

Smartly plotted, full of sparkling dialogues and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters, Fadeaway Joe is a delightful surprise, one of the feel good novels of 2023

A highly recommended read that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for this delicious literay treat

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the chance to read and review Joe Lessig's 'Fadeaway Joe.'

This is a highly enjoyable crime and buddy novel - the blurb suggests it's suitable for S.A. Cosby fans and I think that's a pretty accurate assessment. Although there are serious themes and violence in the novel I would say it's lighter in tone than Cosby's books but that's not a bad thing.

Joe is suffering from early-stage dementia and he encounters some situations that he doesn't know his role in the course of discovering what happened comes up against some characters he knows and some characters he's just met. The result is a rollicking read that flies along with great pace and great characters.

Joe, Paula (and Donna) - all of them with their own troubles and flaws - against the bad guys on several different fronts and it's all so well handled by the author.

Given Joe's dementia and the way the book is wrapped up I don't know if a sequel or series is possible but I'd read it for sure but even if it's not these characters I will most definitely be on the lookout for Hugh Lessig's future novels.

PS - this would make an excellent streaming/TV series.

Not my usual kind of read but enjoyable all the same. You can’t help but fall in love with Joe, wanting to get back at his old boss whilst tackling living with dementia. The relationship/bond he has with Paula is endearing. Together you feel that they could tackle anything that was thrown at them. Would be intrigued to try another book by this author as this was my first.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

A very entertaining story. I loved Joe. He was a great character. This story line was definitely engaging and look forward to more by this author.

Fadeaway Joe
A Novel
by Hugh Lessig
Sixty-four-year-old Joe has an early set of Alzheimer’s. For forty years, he’s worked as an enforcer for a loan shark and close friend Maxie Smith, Until he is fired. He begins to operate a food truck that keeps his mind working and he enjoys the work,
Then he meets twenty-two-year-old Paula Jessup, a wise-cracking amateur detective with a few scheming cards up her sleeve, who’s on the run from a trafficking ring she’s been investigating. The two form an unlikely bond: Paula needs some protection and Joe needs a purpose. They become more than friends..a family.
I loved how mean, tough old Joe was and how Paula teaches him scams. People are out to kill them both, and his old friend Maxie the one who fired him takes Paula . Joe becomes the old mean bouncer to get her back.

Wow! Fadeawy Joe is by far the most entertaining novel I have read in a loooong time. Completely original plot and story arc. Joe is a washed up bar fixer tough guy. Joe has a little fight with his boss and it sends him to the hospital where he gets diagnosed with early onset dementia. To settle scores Joe gets a food truck to keep him busy. The problem is Joe can't really remember most days and has a score to settle with the old boss.

Original, filled with sucker punches, and wishes for more Joe before he forgets to much. Great debut Hugh.