Did you like to read Mike Hammer books or watch James Bond movies in your youth? If you are male and enjoy man’s man (pre-#metoo) stories, then Felonious Monk is perfect for you. For everyone else, not so much.
Tommy was sent to a monastery to escape murder charges after a barroom brawl. His rich and mob-connected uncle is a former priest himself. However, Tommy returns to freedom, and the Arizona desert, to attend his uncle’s funeral. No one is more surprised than Tommy when he is left his uncle’s house in the will. Tommy settles in among the new age and UFO seeking crazies in the tourist town, while trying to avoid his uncle’s and his own enemies.
So, the last paragraph’s description seems fine, right? That is the book’s blurb on Goodreads too and why I selected this book on Netgalley. So, what am I complaining about? Tommy is understandably lonely for female attention after five years in a monastery. He hones in on Sally, a beautiful assistant to a local con woman. It’s Sally or no one for Tommy, who goes all in. There is one problem. Sally herself tells him she is not interested—more than once. He still pursues her. Tommy is twenty-six yet seemingly has not heard of “no means no” or online dating. I was so distracted by his behavior that I didn’t enjoy the rest of the book. Also, I didn’t see any humor in Felonious Monk either.
Overall, a big miss for me. 2 stars.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.