Friday, July 4, 2014

Terminal Life: A Suited Hero-Richard Torregrossa

Terminal Life: A Suited Hero
Richard Torregrossa
Oceanview, Jul 1 2014, $26.95
ISBN 9781608091201

SEAL Luke Stark was in Afghanistan on his second tour when he learned that his wife Crissy was shot in the face during a robbery and their young son Jack is missing.  He suffered a breakdown and given a medical discharge while treated as an inpatient at a VA hospital.  As Luke begins to regain his senses, he leaves the facility with plans to visit Uncle Paulie in Brooklyn to learn who killed his spouse and find Jack.  However, Luke is running out of time as he also suffers from Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Dissed by a receptionist, he slices her throat with a MetroCard and as he leaves two crippled security guards.  He has begun his quest to avenge his family.  Thinking he can get rid of one of this family punk annoying him, Uncle Paulie promises Luke answers and cash if he takes out the invincible chemist Mark Fister.  Dressed in sartorial splendor, “:The Suited Hero” enlists his Naval pal Suggs to join him and they leave behind a path of destruction as even gangbangers learn the hard way, anyone in Luke’s way, innocent or not, suffers or dies.

Not for everyone, Terminal Life is a gory violent urban thriller starring a fascinatingly macabre protagonist who refuses to accept sh*t from anyone in his search for his son.  Part of the fun comes from iconic pop names and references like Uncle Paulie, Luke and Laura, and Bond trivia, etc. sprinkled throughout the engaging storyline.

Harriet Klausner

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