Ride or Die [Paperback]

Solomon Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2005

Seventeen-year-old Keisha is the beautiful, sheltered daughter of an activist pastor with a checkered past. Handsome, ambitious Jamal-a street-savvy crack dealer-is the son of North Philly's most notorious drug kingpin. A history of violence and betrayal lies between their fathers, who are now bitter enemies. After one of his church members is gunned down-with a bullet he is sure is meant for him-Pastor Anderson goes after Frank Nichols, determined to drive him from the neighborhood for good. There's just one problem: Keisha and Jamal are in love.

When the families face off on opposite sides of an anti-drug demonstration, a high-ranking police official is killed in the crossfire, and Jamal becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Keisha is left with a choice. Will she stay with her father, in the confines of the sheltered world she's known, or will she venture into the unknown in order to help Jamal clear his name? She chooses Jamal, and in a whirlwind flight across the seamy underside of Philadelphia, Keisha will risk everything for love. Even her life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Philadelphia Weekly columnist Jones's lively second novel (after The Bridge) is a classic tale of a doomed relationship between bad boy Jamal Nichols, the son of a North Philadelphia drug lord, and a beautiful, restless preacher's daughter who is achingly "attracted to the dark side." When Keisha Anderson is nearly raped by an unknown assailant, her father, Rev. John Anderson, takes it upon himself to confront drug kingpin Frank Nichols. John and Frank grew up together, but there's bad blood between them. Years ago, John's drug-dealing father was mysteriously murdered, and Frank took over his business, betraying John, who has his own sins to atone for. A rally outside Frank's bar, led by angry Reverend John, quickly becomes a riot, and a rooftop sniper kills the police commissioner. Jamal, after being tentatively identified by police as the shooter, flees with lovestruck Keisha in tow, but the real murderer, ex-convict Ishmael Carter, is still on the loose. The law closes in and Reverend John's misdeeds catch up to him just as love-struck Jamal and Keisha sneak off to Jamaica. Will love really conquer all? While Jones's soap opera prose wallows in the shallow end of the melodramatic pool, his timeless story and some strong action sequences make this a quick, satisfying entertainment.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Solomon Jones is the real deal. With page turning plots and life-like characters, he takes you beyond the ink and into the story."
--K'wan, bestselling author of Gangsta, Road Dawgz and Street Dreams

"Ride Or Die is a scorching rollercoaster ride through the intestines of Philly. Solomon Jones masterfully constructs a world where no one is what they seem."
---Y. Blak Moore, author of The Apostles

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (October 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312339895
• ISBN-13: 978-0312339890
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,613,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author whose novels include The Last Confession, Pipe Dream, The Bridge, Ride Or Die, C.R.E.A.M., and Payback. Jones is the creator of a TV pilot that was optioned by NBC's Peacock Productions. A seasoned public speaker, Jones is an adjunct professor at Temple University and an award-winning columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. Jones is also the creator of Words On The Street, a literacy program for at-risk youth. His next novel, The Gravedigger's Ball, will be released on Oct. 11, 2011. Jones lives in Philadelphia with his family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is You With Me?, January 13, 2005

By 

Loose Leaves Book Review (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ride or Die (Hardcover)

Ride or Die: You either ride with me or die trying. That is Keisha Anderson and Jamal Nichol's motto. She is a PK - preacher's kid -- and he is a drug lord's son. They met years ago when they were pre-teens and experienced puppy love, now they are experimenting with the real thing - true love. Their fathers, John Anderson and Frank Nichols were friends, in fact they were even like brothers, but something happened. Something drove a wedge between them and they have spent the past umpteen years in rivalry.

Someone attempts to rape Keisha and her knight in shining armor, Jamal, saves the day. She tells her father about the incident and he becomes livid. The same evening, an attempt is made on John's life, but someone else dies, and he believes Frank has something to do with both incidents and stages a protest outside of his bar. The protest turns violent when a stray bullet, intended for John, hits the police commissioner and kills him. Not to mention, Keisha is kidnapped. Someone has to pay and Jamal is the chosen fall guy.

Detective Kevin Lynch is back; he was first introduced in The Bridge. His job is to solve the homicide of the police commissioner and other crimes which occurred as a domino effect of the protest. Jamal is running for his innocence and Keisha is with him. The question is: was she really kidnapped or is she a willing participant? In the midst of all the chaos, family secrets are unveiled. The saints are more like devils in sheep's clothing.

Jones gives you high speed chases, carjackings, shooting sprees and all the while, makes you feel as though you're front and center for each of the crimes, with his elaborate details. That man can tell a story and always amazes you with an "Aww hell naw" ending. But I must admit, unlike the other two novels, I figured this one out. That won't guarantee the next reader will. Ride or Die is drama/mystery/romance at its best. Okay, what's next Jones? Bring it on `cause I'm aching for another good read.



Reviewed by: Esther "Ess" Mays for Loose Leaves Book Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, November 14, 2004

By 

M. Wood "4everlearning" (Laurel, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ride or Die (Hardcover)

This is the second book I've read by Mr. Jones and I expected more. The character development was really great and as usual he stuck to the ghetto in a way that if you didn't grow up in the ghetto you felt more in tune with it. This story seemed to be more for a younger audience. Even though I finished the book, I didn't do it within the usual time frame I could have because I was bored. I have yet to read Pipe Dream but I have high expectations for that one also.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tale of two families, September 17, 2004

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ride or Die (Hardcover)

Innocent Keisha Anderson crosses paths with thug wanna-be Jamal Nichols when she is eleven and he is thirteen. Their tender relationship is broken when his mother sends him south to get him away from his criminal father. The relationship begins anew years later after Jamal saves Keisha from an attack by his father's thugs. Rev. Anderson, Keisha's father, knows it was Jamal's father, Franks Nichols, who sent the thugs after his daughter and he stages a protest in front of Frank's bar. During the protest a rooftop sniper begins firing and the police commissioner is killed. The chase is on. Jamal, accused of being the killer snatches Keisha to safety and they begin the run of their young lives. As they seek safety, family secrets are revealed, shocking both young people.

Solomon Jones's plot twists and turns and every time I thought I knew who did it or even why it was done, I would find out I was completely wrong. It is well written, suspenseful and full of surprises. I could hardly put it down. It is indeed, an excellent, must-read mystery.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers