Book Review: Blue, Upstate by John Painz

First and foremost, I really enjoyed this book. If you like Tarantino or Scorsese or Elmore Leonard, chances are you'll really like this book. Was it perfect? No. But that's the problem. Even though it wasn't perfect, I really enjoyed this book. I will read and review books to support the indie author community, and I have come across a few that, while well written, didn't completely grab me.

But this one grabbed me.

Maybe it's because I hail from Upstate New York. Maybe it's because I'm familiar with the roads that lead from Binghamton to Syracuse. The opening scene puts us in a small, barely on the map town where a bank heist is in progress. It's the only bank in town, probably the only bank for miles, and I'm thinking--damn! This could be the bank in my barely on the map upstate New York home town! So, maybe the story grabbed me because of the commonality.

But no, because the story takes a turn quickly. We go back in time and get to know the players who are instrumental to this flashforward beginning. They have lives in Pennsylvania, New York City, Texas...and as they grow up from young adulthood to old adulthood, we see how they become acquaintances and how they become associated with the mob.

Jumping back and forth in time to build a backstory for four major characters can easily lead to confusion. But Painz does a fantastic job of weaving this one without getting us lost. So, major points for going on tangents that draw us right back into why the opening bank job takes place.

The mob boss who ties these people together is Gino D'Escopio -- major stereotype of a character. Picture Paul Sorvino, and you've got Gino. At least that's who I pictured. Was the character original? Obviously not--I pictured Sorvino in a heartbeat. But I didn't care. Because I pictured the character so clearly, heard his words so organically that it worked. --I enjoyed the read--

Then you have Hal and John, two of the major characters. Think buddy cop movies, except they work for the mob. They're great. Again, enough stereotype thrown in to make them identifiable, but also enough depth to make them three dimensional. Then there's Carla, the put upon female lead of the piece whose significant other Alex has problems. To be honest, Alex IS her problem--he's got a gambling habit. Hence, their eventual connection to the mob.

I'm not going to go in depth and provide spoilers. Painz teases our interest with the opening heist, then builds in the lifetime of events that lead to it. And then, in the final 100 pages of a 500+ page book, he brings us back to that rinky dink little town where all hell breaks loose due to a long con gone wrong. Because it's never a good idea to try and outsmart a mob boss.

I did find moments--especially through that literal breakneck speed ending--that felt over the top or emotionally not-quite-true. But you know what? I was still entertained. Did I say I really enjoyed this book?

--I really enjoyed this book--

That's it. That's the review. Go read Blue, Upstate.