I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for books that feature characters who were mere secondary characters in the previous books, especially when there was just that spark of something that had me wondering what went on with them when you don’t see them on the page. A.J. Lape has taken what was a smaller appearance in to the Darcy Walker series by mob boss Alejandro Gutierrez and show us how much depth, feeling, and emotions this fierce man has. But cross him and you’ll be dealing with the cold-blooded hitman, and you don’t want to see that side of him.
Detective Ruby Rivera has gone undercover so many times she can slip into each of her underworld characters flawlessly. When she sets her sights on a drug dealer named Mookie Spinks (who is no stranger to the reader from the Darcy books), she thinks she can just slink in and get the take down easy peasy. But things go from bad to worse and she must turn to the only person she knows who can get her into the inner circle of these crooks, and Gutierrez is there to be by her side every step of the dangerous way.
So much more is revealed in this novella about Ruby and Gutierrez, especially since you get both of their points of view to get an intimate look. Ruby’s upbringing and events in her life–both personal and professional–have made her the tough, closed off individual that she is, but she’s having doubts about the status of her personal relationships. Gutierrez has a rat in his organization-both figuratively and literally–so there’s some tough decisions to be made and actions to take. I really enjoyed seeing him by himself with his people since we never get a peak behind the curtain like this in the Darcy books.
I give Vice Versa a five out of five. I really want to spend more time in this world, and these novellas never seem long enough to satisfy me. The danger is amped up in this one, and the amount of shooting happening makes for one suspenseful read. As usual, the writing is so great and I can just step into their world and feel right at home from page one. I love that there are comedic sides to lighten up all the danger and darkness. With Ruby and Gutierrez questioning everything in their lives, what can happen next? I’m eager to find out.
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About A.J. Lape
A. J. Lape is the author of the top-rated Darcy Walker Series, Detective Ruby Rivera Novella Series, and 15 Saddles Motor Cycle Club novellas. She lives in the unpredictable and chaotic weather of Cincinnati with her husband, two daughters, a dog, and hamster.
Graduating from the hills of Morehead State University with a Master’s degree in Communications, she double-majored in English and journalism but basically went to grad school because she wasn’t ready to grow up. A PI wannabe, she stops crime daily through her characters while adding a dose of hope, humor, faith, and edge-of-your seat thrills. If the FBI ever checks her computer, she may be wearing prison-orange due to the “wiki” articles she researches—all, of course, in the name of career research, insomnia, and straight-up boredom.
A perfect day for A. J. consists of writing in her favorite recliner, feeding her addiction to Coca-Cola, then lounging in her pajamas by 8PM. And sometimes a late night walk with her husband where she stares at the sky and contemplates the mysteries of the universe. She swears by two things: God is real, and so are aliens—and she hopes to one day be beamed up.
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