POOR BOY ROAD by James L. Weaver features Jake Caldwell, a leg breaker for a local mobster who’s looking to retire as his heart is no longer in his work, or rather his heart is going out to those who he’s assigned to strong-arm, or their families that would be affected.

Keats is Jake’s boss and a feared mobster, who agrees to let Jake walk off into the sunset, albeit with one caveat; Jake must kill one of Keat’s competitors entrenched in Jake’s old stomping grounds named Langston.

Jake returns home with a heavy load as he’s required to put Langston down with only a short time before a deadline, meaning Jake will be on a hit list if not successful within a few days.

Stony is Jake’s abusive father who is in the last stages, and his sister Janey has asked him to return to help her out with Stony’s care.

Nicky was Jake’s late younger brother who was an addict, and surely his abuse at the hands of their father had a hand in his downfall.

Bear is Jake’s best friend going back to his childhood, and played high school football with Jake before becoming the local sheriff.

Maggie is Jake’s high school sweetheart who’s working at the convalescent home that he’s considered putting Stony in to live out his final days receiving the care that’s required in his condition.

Will Jake be able to handle all that’s been thrown at him to deal with simultaneously? Should Jake take Bear into his confidence and expose his criminal occupation and assignment to hit Langston?
Can Jake find it within himself to forgive his dying father for a lifetime of horrible mental and physical abuse to both him and his brother? Should Jake give a reunion with Maggie a chance, or has the life he’s lived closed the doors to any possible chance for a life for himself, or is it more likely that danger is present for anyone close to him?

James L. Weaver writes in a style that makes this book work well, and although admittedly being a sucker for most things “hick-lit”, I found this to be a good book that succeeds in spite of the difficult and at times depressing themes involved in Jake’s life going back to his childhood, yet somehow still gives reason for hope without any assurance that things will end well for anyone involved in his life.

Several instances of what took place in this mirrored events from my life, and I’m sure this would resonate with others for similar reasons.

POOR BOY ROAD is a ‘Jake Caldwell Thriller’ according to the cover, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series Ares Road when it’s available.

Recommended to lovers of rough & gritty small-town/rural based novels, and those who like to pull for heroes that are at best flawed, but somehow manage to cling to a set of self imposed rules to live by.

4 stars.

I love mob books so I'm already slightly biased. This was fast moving and tense. You can really imagine the characters and scenes with such clarity. Excellent book