Customer Reviews

Out A Order

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Evie Rhodes paints a modern depiction of the battle of good and evil in the book, Out `A' Order. Newark, NJ is a city in despair. Crime, murder, and evil have taken up permanent residence and there is little hope left for the members of this community. The resident elders are shocked and disappointed that so many of their youth have adopted the vicious code of ethics that heartless criminals like Ballistic and Rico have established.

Shannon Davenport lived the life of a gangsta before turning over a new leaf for his wife, Tawny, and daughter, Jasmine. Tawny begged Shannon for years to move their family out of Newark, but Shannon is determined to raise his family in the only place he has ever called home. He regrets this decision after Jasmine is killed on those same streets. As Shannon searches for answers about Jasmine's death, he stumbles upon an evil bigger than anything he has ever known. This evil threatens all of Newark's Central Ward and if someone does not intervene soon, all will be lost.

Rhodes presents a unique tale on an ancient dilemma...good versus evil; however, the storyline is poorly constructed. Readers will find it hard to connect with most of the characters because they are one-dimensional. The multitude of characters, storylines, and details are confusing, and forced this reader to backtrack in order to make the necessary connections. Grammatical errors, lingo and strange word structure slows the reader down as well. This story has great potential but it will leave readers disappointed.

Reviewed by M. P. McKinney
APOOO BookClub

Based on the reviews, (granted there were only three)I expected this to be a riveting yet dark tale that weaved together spirituality with a bit of urban drama. Well, the drama is there and the spirituality is there; they just aren't blended together very well.

Here we find Shannon, a reformed OG that has lost his daughter in a senseless death and is again caught in the web of gang violence. Shannon and his wife Tawnye have "made good" but never left the neighborhood or their people.

What I am never able to understand is how Rico felt that Shannon was a threat to him and why he wanted him dead. Even more confusing is the story of the darkling. How did Nana, Momma and Poppa all migrate from New Orleans to Newark? What caused the darkling to reappear?

The idea of this story is really good, just not executed very well.

This book is so good...I am not an avid reader often starting a book and never finishing it. But this book I could hardly stand to put it down. So many twist and turns. I can't wait to read more Evie Rhodes.

Do you believe in evil? Get ready to experience the devil's handiwork in this page turning thriller. The setting is Newark, New Jersey where the toughest street warriors are butting heads to claim their territory. After the senseless death on a young girl, Jasmine, the blood begins to flood unrestrained in the neighborhood. It will take her father, Shannon and the old head prayers warriors to combat the evil spirit that has covered the neighborhood.

Out "A" Order will challenge your beliefs and keep you glued to the pages till the end. The story develops as the characters morph into the spirit that lives in their hearts. The supporting characters make the novel real and believable. The possibility of this type of thing happening is scariest of all. Rhodes is a master writer with a skilled vision of story telling. Do yourself a favor, read and be ready to be thrilled.

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

OUT "A" ORDER by Evie Rhodes is the story of gang warfare in Newark, New Jersey. Ballistic wants Rico's territory but Rico isn't about to give it up without a fight. The only problem is, Ballistic is a sociopath with absolutely no conscience. Nothing is too ugly for him to do when it comes to asserting his authority in the Central Ward. The war breaks out in earnest when Shannon's daughter is killed by what appears to be a stray bullet intended for Rico. Shannon is an Original Gangster or O. G. who has turned his life around. Unfortunately, when Jasmine is killed, his marriage falls apart and he is thrust back into the underworld.

Before Jasmine closes her eyes in death, she sees a mysterious stirring in the trees. Marcus, who rushed to her side, sees it also. Later, after another gang killing, another friend sees it, but because of the shock, she loses her voice and becomes unable to tell anyone about her experience. Three elders in the community watch what's going on with fear and horror. They know that something even worse than evil gangbangers is loose in the Central Ward. Will they be able to stop it before it is too late? Will Aisha get her voice back? Will Shannon be able to find out what was really behind his daughter's murder?

Evie Rhodes has penned an interesting paranormal novel about evil and how it can come about. It is a very tense book with well-developed characters and a very different plot. If you find the paranormal fascinating, then this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"A chilling tale is displayed in the novel Out "A" Order. Relaying a story that reaches down into the darkness of evil."

"The death of Jasmine Davenport triggers the beginnings of a street war between gangs that utilize death as a way to make a name for themselves in Central Ward in Newark, New Jersey."

"Shannon Davenport is fighting desperately to find the one responsible for the murder of his daughter. He's dragged into the warfare where traps are set, torture is dealt out and lives are eliminated. It is then that he truly discovers the evil spirits lurking among them."

"A legendary curse has taken hold of Central Ward and it will take the innocence and belief of one man's heart to stop this horrific ordeal."

"This incredible story will take readers on a journey that is creepy and will cause the hairs upon your back to stand up."

He spent some time in prison, but now as freed as an ex-convict is allowed by American de jure and de facto rules, Shannon Davenport has vowed to be a great father and make a better life for his eight years old daughter Jasmine. However, unable to move them out of dangerous Newark's Central Ward, Shannon's second chance at life dies when an unknown sniper shoots and kills his daughter. Her last word "Daddy" will haunt him forever as Shannon vows to find and murder the assassin.

At Jazz's funeral a local gang chief has the hit man Spence Parkinson killed and tossed into the same grave site as the little girl as apparently the Davenport child was collateral damage in a turf war. Immediately afterward at their home, Shannon and Jazz's mother Tawney argue when bullets are fired through windows at them. All hell has broken loose in Central Ward with the police and law abiding citizens hoping to survive while Shannon continues his vigilance as he begins to believe that the devil's spawn is behind the dead zone where everyone seems OUT "A" ORDER.

The deep look at Newark's Central Ward is gripping especially following the murder-funeral of a precocious preadolescent. When the story line takes a sharp left into evil spirits it seems a bit OUT "A" ORDER though entertaining. This is a fascinating tale especially the tour of Newark; but the two prime plots (vigilante justice and supernatural evil essences) seem to CRISS CROSS on separate roads with either able to hold the plot together, but neither fully does though Shannon's quest comes closest. Evie Rhodes is a talented author whose book would have been better served as two novellas using the same starting incident.

Harriet Klausner