RICOCHET by Keri Lake-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 9, 2015

The only sure way to destroy a man is to take what he cannot live without.

Three years ago, I had everything.

A beautiful wife.
A son.
A reason for living.

Until a ruthless task force, assembled under Mayor Michael Culling, with a brutal strategy to make the streets of Detroit ‘safe’, ripped away everything I loved in a deadly hunt called The Culling.

They tried to kill me, too. I wish they had. Now I’m cursed by the memories of that night, and the words I whispered to my dying wife.

A promise—to avenge the wrong and set it right.

I’m no longer Nick Ryder. I’m a masked vigilante. Faceless. Loveless. Fearless. A man with nothing left to lose—one who’s seen the dark and violent truth behind the city’s flawless veneer.

Michael Culling doesn’t know who I am. Or what I want. All he knows is that I’ve kidnapped his beautiful wife.

An eye for an eye—isn’t that how the saying goes? And Aubree Culling is the perfect pawn to destroy him.

If she doesn’t destroy me first.

WARNING: **Not recommended for readers under the age of 18 due to graphic violence, sex and strong language. Trigger warning for self harm.

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REVIEW: RICOCHET is a contemporary, adult, standalone, dark romance from author Keri Lake focusing on revenge and retribution. This is former computer game designer Nick Ryder, and abuse counselor Aubree Culling’s storyline. The storyline is set in the dark and seedy underbelly of Detroit’s criminal element and the political elite who believe themself above the law.

Told from alternating first person points of view (Aubree and Nick) as well as several third person perspectives RICOCHET follows Nick Ryder as he seeks revenge for the murder of his wife and son, and the horrific nightmare that has been left in its’ place. Three years earlier Nick walked into a brutal massacre, of which, his beautiful wife and son did not survive. With Nick left for dead, the killers set the house ablaze and walked away without a second glance. What ensues is a dark, gritty and graphically violent plan to take down everyone responsible including the people calling the shots. Enter Aubree Culling-Mayor Michael Culling’s wife, and the perfect target to start Nick’s vendetta.

Aubree Culling is the mayor’s wife, and therefore, guilty by association. As Nick sets his sights on destroying Mayor Culling, Aubree will be abducted and held hostage while Nick sets his plan into motion. But Aubree has a secret, one that Nick will soon discover, pushing our anti-hero to avenge the woman with whom he is falling in love. There is a slight ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ or ‘Capture Bonding’ feel to the storyline wherein our heroine will fall for the man holding her hostage.

RICOCHET is a graphically violent storyline about a man obsessed with vengeance against those that destroyed his life. Nick Ryder is a one man vigilante; a broken soul who continues to suffer with the pain and grief, and the memories of the suffering inflicted upon the people that he loves. Nick is a man, who without remorse or guilt sets into motion a plan to avenge the murders of his wife and son. He is ruthless and unforgiving; no one will survive his need for retribution. The only thing grounding Nick is his growing love for the woman he holds hostage but Nick never expected to survive at the end.

I am not from Michigan but I grew up aware of Detroit’s reputation as the ‘murder capital of USA’ and the ‘Devil’s Night’ path of destruction and chaos. Our family would watch the fall out from a night where the criminal element, as well as the copy-cats who destroyed a little bit more of the city of Detroit. Keri Lake weaves a fictional tale of retaliation that is centered in and around the Devil’s Night pandemonium and anarchy on the streets-a ‘free for all’ that was all but ignored by the political structure and law enforcement of one of America’s most dangerous cities.

RICOCHET is a story about retribution and revenge; acceptance and moving forward; falling in love and never letting go. It is also about two people whose lives are forever connected; scarred; and emotionally ravaged. The premise is dark, gritty, raw and graphic; the characters damaged, brutal and destroyed; the romance intense and all –consuming. There is a happily ever after but one that comes with a price that is the reality of Nick Ryder.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy