Customer Reviews

Odd Jobs

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Kevin Davenport is a student, funding his college studies by working various odd jobs. His current job is at the Kosher World Meat Factory - unloading sides of beef in the morning, and carrying racks of hotdogs in the afternoon. It's a good union job, with good pay and Kevin can thank Jimmy Balducci (the father of a friend) for it.

It doesn't take Kevin long to work out that the Kosher World Meat Factory is controlled by a crime syndicate. When Kevin finds a connection between the Kosher World Meat Factory and the death of his father (a prosecutor in the D.A.'s office) and sister in a hit-and-run accident ten years ago, which he witnessed as an eleven year old, he's keen for revenge. Going to the police does not appear to be an option for Kevin: especially not after seeing a co-worker end up in pieces inside a fellow worker's locker. When Kevin proves himself as a winning fighter in some organised fights between companies, he becomes trusted by those who run the plant. This gives him some useful insights, and some opportunities. So Kevin Davenport has a plan, but can he survive, and triumph against a brutal crime syndicate? And what about his friends?

`Let your mistakes be your own.'

I mostly enjoyed this novel: I was caught up in Kevin's story from the beginning and while some aspects of the story seemed slow to develop, the pace really picked up about half way through and then I couldn't put the book down. There are some unexpected twists, and some unlikely laugh- out- loud moments. This is Ben Lieberman's debut novel, and it's well worth reading. Especially if you enjoy stories about revenge, and can handle the blood and guts of a meat factory. I hope that Kevin Davenport reappears in future novels.

Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith