Customer Reviews

All the Lucky Ones Are Dead

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gangsta-rap superstar C.E. Digga Jones seems to have everything. His career appears at its apex and yet he seems to be rising even further into a mega-superstar. He is extremely wealthy and his personal life appears even more prosperous than his career. Yet at the pinnacle of personal and professional success, C.E. Digga commits suicide. Only the father of the popular rapper thinks someone murdered his son. He hires LA detectivre Aaron Gunner to elarn the truth.

As Aaron digs into the Digga case, he rejects serving as a bodyguard to Sparkle Johnson. Though he could use the cash, Aaron has ethics and the noted radio talk show host is hated by just about everyone, including the private sleuth. Sparkle rejects Aaron too until a car bomb makes both reconsider their mutual animosity. As he struggles to keep Sparkle safe, Aaron learns that Digga had several enemies and loved ones benefiting from the superstar's death. He begins to agree with his client that someone killed the rapper, which takes Aaron into the ugliest streets of Los Angeles in an effort to obtain the truth.

The sixth Aaron Gunner tale contains the elements that have made this an award winning series. Yet, author Gar Anthony Haywood imbues a freshness into the story line that makes ALL THE LUCKY ONES ARE DEAD feels like a debut tale. The dual story lines are both interesting though separate plots. The links are the mean streets of LA and Aaron. Mr. Haywood makes the novel work as his African-American detective brings the city to life in a way rarely seen in a novel including those well written previous tales starring Gunner.

Harriet Klausner

I waited a long time for the paperback edition of the novel to reach the bookstore and Gar Anthony Haywood's Aaron Gunner series are definitely still at the top of my list. I enjoyed this story of Aaron Gunner trying to solve the mystery of a rap star who "supposedly" committed suicide. Did rapper Digga Jones, an up and coming rap star, who had everything going for him, fame and fortune commit suicide or did one of his fellow rappers, his manager or his record label executives do the deed? All these questions are answered and when you find out the truth, you may be surprised. Check out this novel as Mr. Haywood is definitely the real deal.

This is the first Aaron Gunner mystery I've read, but I will read the others! This intricate mystery involving several different cases is wrapped up in far fewer pages than the norm these days, and it was appreciated by this reader! Excellent plotting, spare writing: I recommend it highly!

While there is a lot of information here on the gansta rap scene and its denizens, and while Mr. Haywood has considerable talent, there's a certain flatness to this book that leaves the reader feeling rather empty. The investigation of rapper C.E. Digga Jones's suicide by Haywood's series detective, Aaron Gunner, introduces us to some interesting, very well-developed characters. But the resolution of this story just doesn't have the chilling effect it should, perhaps because of Gunner's somewhat cool, distanced position on what he ultimately learns about the death. The writing is clean and crisp, but Gunner's understated emotions deprive the ending of its punch.

A writer with a different perspective falls into the same old plot devices. Too many cops willing to divulge information at the drop of a hat, a detective too willing to forgive a half naked woman who has just emptied a gun at him. Although witty,a story that carries little mystery or suspense, and too few believable situations.

This was a very good book. The author takes subject matter pulled from recent headlines and gives it a new twist. Aaron Gunner is a welcome mix of brains and brawn but flawed and vulnerable enough to be human.