Customer Reviews

Bully

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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In the mid 1970's, Danny Hernandez and Jerry Valdez were suburban teenagers spending their summer vacation skateboarding, going to the beach, movies, etc. Like many kids, they are faced with the threat of a bully in the neighborhood. In this case, the bully is eleven year old Raul Valesquez, who comes from an extremely dysfunctional home. Raul is the kind of kid you love to hate, he's that nasty. He also may or may not be responsible for the murders of several younger kids in the neighborhood, murders that have so far gone unsolved.

When Raul is found murdered himself miles away from home it touches off an investigation that eventually leads to the arrest and conviction of a young man in his twenties. Danny and Jerry eventually grow up and grow apart...but what they witnessed and experienced forever scar them.

The novel actually opens up in the present, when Danny and Jerry are adults. Both men are obviously affected by what they went through, and what brings them together again is the re-opening of Raul's murder. The man who was convicted had his conviction overturned. Now there is a new investigation, and Danny is nervous. But nervous about what?

I won't say more because I don't want to spoil this, but Bully is a fantastic read that tackles the theme of friendship, loyalty, revenge, and it offers a unique glimpse into life in the 1970's as a teenager (of which I was one). Like a previous novel, Survivor, Bully deals with human monsters but it's handled in a more subtle way. It's more heart-breaking than anything, yet there is suspense galore that keeps you turning the pages. A completely different novel, one that is definitely more mature. Highly recommended!

This book was absolutely terrific with great plot twists and excellent chararcted development. The premise is compelling and often times brings to light some horifying truths. The downside: the editing is awful. Names are wrong throughout the book, there are constant grammar errors, simple things brought up intitally in the text change towards the end. As an avid reader, this is extremely frustrating and the same was true for "Survivor," however both books are definitely worth the read!!

If you don't know who JF Gonzalez is then you are really missing out. He is a fantastic author, and this book is just one example of that. Set in LA, Gonzalez weaves a wonderful story that will having you racing to the end wondering who did it, and more importantly why and what are the consequences going to be. The reading is fast paced and gritty.

This book is heartbreaking and def a page turner you find yourself hating the bully but at the same time feeling sorry for him knowing the abuse he endured by his mother's lifestyle as a drug addicted hooker who was so out of it to stop any of the abuse he and his friends were put through by the people who were supposed to protect and serve {kind of reminded me of the movie SLeepers}& hid behind religion & power supposedly upstanding people though this story mostly focuses on after the bully's murder years later when the case is reopened & is mostly on the cover up of corruption it's a must read & re read