David Gordon – The Bouncer – (Joe Brody #1)
The Bouncer is the first book in the Joe Brody series by David Gordon. The series currently consists of three books with The Hard Stuff and Against the Law being books two and three in the series.
The Bouncer is the second book I’ve read in 2022 as well as, the second Joe Brody book I‘ve read, Against the Law was the first. It was one of my December 2021 reads.
About The Bouncer
The Bouncer is, of course, Joe Brody, but Joe is not your typical bouncer. After a rough childhood that included losing his parents and being raised by his grandmother, Joe made it to Harvard. He was unfortunately expelled and joined the military, where he became a black ops special forces operative. But that ended when he developed a drug habit.
A close friend Gio Caprisi who owns a strip club gave him his job as a bouncer. Gio owns a lot more than one strip club, he is one of New York’s head Mafiosos.
The Bouncer opens with Joe‘s arrest during a raid on the strip club conducted by FBI Agent Donna Zomara. Agent Zamora, who the best shot in her class at Quantico, is stuck in a desk job manning the NY Hot Tip line. The raid was the result of one of her tips.
Soon Joe and Agent Zamora‘s lives begin to intertwine. First in a botched FBI raid on a gun-running operation. Where Joe was working with a group of low-life’s trying to hijack the same guns the FBI was after! And then when a perfume heist (again where Joe is one of the thieves) proves to be more deadly than anticipated!
The action throughout the book is fast and furious and sometimes graphic, but that is the world that Joe, Gio and Agent Zamora live in!
Since I had read the third book first I had already met many of the characters but it was good to know more about of everyone. They‘re all great!
About David Gordon
David Gordon holds an MA in English and Comparative Literature and an MFA in Writing, both from Columbia University, and has worked in film, fashion, publishing and pornography.
His book The Serialist, which won the VCU/Cabell First Novel Award and was a finalist for an Edgar Award.
His other works include Mystery Girl, as well as a short story collection, White Tiger on Snow Mountain.
Bottom Line.
The bottom line is the Joe Brody series has quickly become one of my favourite series. First and foremost it is a favourite because Joe Brody is a great character. A bad guy who tries to do what‘s right. However, just as important is the supporting cast of characters including: Agent Zamora and Gio and his cronies, and the not yet mentioned Yelena, a Russian princess of thieves.
Here‘s what a few others say about The Bouncer.
“The Bouncer is a Tour-de-force, ranging from underworld crime to a unique caper and a terrorist plot. David Gordon brings an outstanding new voice to the contemporary crime novel.“ -Robert Crais author of the Elvis Cole novels.
Fast, funny and tough, David Gordon’s The Bouncer will toss you over his shoulder like King Kong and carry you away.” Max Allan Collins author of The Road to Perdition
So check it out as for me, The Hard Stuff is already on my Library TBR shelf!
The Wildl Life – Joe Brody Book 4 will be released February 1, 2022