Customer Reviews

Ride or Die

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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

Check any bookstore and you will find street literature is a large part of the African American book section; there is something for everyone. In my opinion Solomon Jones is one of the best in this genre. In his novels, it's not all about the street actions, there is a purpose behind the madness. In Ride or Die, the young and pretty preacher's kid, Keisha, should be enjoying life, yet she is running for her life.

Keisha Anderson is the daughter of the Reverend Anderson, a prominent pastor in the city of Philadelphia. Jamal Nichols is the son of Frank Nichols, the drug lord of the neighborhood. Jamal and Keisha are in love; however, their fathers Reverend Anderson and Frank Nichols have a history that should make their children stay far away from each other. After Keisha is attacked on her way to church, Rev. Anderson confronts Frank and is determined to bring him down. During an early morning demonstration called by the Reverend. in front of one of Frank`s establishments, the Police Commissioner is shot and killed. The confusion afterwards gives Jamal and Keisha a chance to run away and be together. On the run, they become aware that someone fitting Jamal's description is wanted for killing the commissioner.

This is an exciting fast paced novel in which most of the events happens within a 24-hour span. If you read Jones' previous novel, The Bridge, you will remember Detective Lynch; he is back as the lead detective trying to solve this difficult case. Even though this is classified as urban fiction, a novel about the streets, Jones does a very good job exploring why Keisha is so willing to turn from good girl to bad girl, why Frank and the Reverend hate each other and how the Reverend and his wife are living two lives, one for church and another for home. The profile of the Anderson family is superb; the graphic details are vivid; the ending profound. This is a very good read.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

Like the title says, he's at it again. With this book, the author shows his versatility and why, in my opinion, should be mentioned among other terrific African-American authors. He tells the story once again from the streets of Philly, but this time, it is two families going at it, with the main characters being the young kids from each family. He does a tremendous job going from sequence to sequence, just like in Pipe Dream and the Bridge, and once you think you have the story figured out, there is another curveball he throws at the reader. He brings back Detective Lynch from the Bridge as one of the main characters in the pursuit for justice. You can tell the story is truly authentic, and its almost as if you can sit down in the story and watch as it goes along, like you would watch a great movie. All in all, it's another must-read from arguably the most under-the-radar author in the game right now.

After reading Mr. Jones first book Pipe Dreams, I was hooked. I checked out Ride or Die from my school Library and WHOA what a ride this book was. Meet Keisha Anderson, daughter of a preacher named John Anderson,who pays more attention to his church members than he does to his family. Keisha's mother doesn't give her any attention either. Then comes Jamaal Nichols, black as tar with long dreds, son of Frank Nichols, the drug kingpin that was once like a brother to John Anderson before murdering his father and taking over his drug empire. Jamal and Keisha met when they were kinds and renunited but this time it was no puppy love. Jamal loved her so much he disobeyed his father and Keisha left her family to ride with the man she loved. Jamal is accused of killing the police commissioner so they were on the run. From carjacking to murder Keisha and Jamal will do anything to outrun the cops. They were gonna ride together or die trying. This story has SOOOOOOOO mant twists and turns it will have you on the edge of your seat gripping the book. I read it in one day!! Cop it NOW!!!

As everyone can see I'm still playing catch up with Mr. Jones' books and even though I'm reading them out of order I'm nonetheless still enjoying every minute of it. In Ride or Die, Mr. Jones introduces us to Keisha and Jamal two lovers on the run from their fathers, who are sworn enemies and from the police who somehow think that Jamal is responsible for the Police Commissioner's murder.

This story jumps right off the pages as Jamal attempts to elude the entire Philadelphia police force with only the help of his boo Keisha who proves that she knows the true definition of Ride or Die. Ride or Die is full of unexpected plot twists which really drives this story and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until it reaches it's shocking conclusion.

Review for "Ride or Die"

Keisha is the daughter of a prominent North Philly pastor, Jamal is the son of a local drug Street figure. Keisha and Jamal have loved each other since they met on a playground when they were kids.

The game of cat and mouse begins when Jamal's father attempts to use his son as a hit man to kidnap and kill the pastor's daughter. During an anti-drug rally, a city official winds up shot to death and Jamal becomes the primary suspect. He and Keisha then become unwitting fugitives in a race against time, managing to stay one step ahead of the police as Jamal attempts to clear his name.

Solomon Jones takes his readers on a roller coaster ride, probing into the depths of crack houses, prostitution, addiction and despair. Yet in spite of the bleak scenarios that he has painted cleverly using Philadelphia as his backdrop, he has created characters that are believable - characters that you can both empathize with and loathe simultaneously.

"Ride or Die" take the darker side of Philly and thrusts it into the streetlight of reality. This is a modern day love story with as many twists and turns as there are pages, coming to an unpredictable conclusion.

This book is definitely worth the read.

This is the second book I've read from Jones and I like the way he weaves a story. This was intense. A full plot with high energy.A wonderful tale.Give me more Mr. Jones.I loved the end.A page turning urban drama.
reviewed by
Dawnny

Jones did a fantastic job with this new book. A contemporary Romeo and Juliet story about a young couple in the ghetto who falls victim to circumstances beyond their control. Despite all that, their love conquers all and they find happiness in the end. Who can't appreciate a good love story full of drama, crime, and redemption? If you have enjoyed his previous novels, you will certainly enjoy this one as well.