3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Working in a train-wrecking yard may be a little dangerous, especially if you don’t follow the safety procedures. But if accidents keep occurring and more people keep on dying, you may start wondering if they are really because of the laxity of the deceased on following the safety rules, or something else is going on. Jerry Parrish will clear that suspicion in his action thriller book Steel Toes and Teeth.
In this story, Daniel Palmer, a reporter of the Tribune, is sent to work undercover at the Kohlberg Corporation Factory to get any clues about the “accidents” that have been occurring there. Little did he know what he was getting himself into; otherwise, he would have decided to leave for his deserved vacation to Colorado. What is the cause of these “accidents”? Will Daniel Palmer suffer one of these “accidents” too? You will find the answers in Parrish’s book.
In his first book, Parrish’s characters are realistically portrayed. On one hand, you have Daniel Palmer whose dream is to ascend to a better position at work and have an opportunity to show what a great reporter he can be. On the other hand, you have José whose main goal is to take care of his friends. The other characters are less fleshed out but add flavor to the story as salt and pepper.
At the end of the book, it is mentioned that Parrish used to work at a train-wrecking yard in his youth, and there is no doubt about it because he mastered to convey the forlorn reality of this place as the background of his story. The strenuous work these people have to do on a daily basis to be able to provide food for their families is unimaginable. I could picture the place in my mind perfectly and could relate to these hard workers. How Parrish captivates the reality of this kind of job was what I enjoyed the most reading.
Nevertheless, the pace of the story was surreal, in my personal opinion. Daniel Palmer goes to this factory to investigate why there are so many “accidents,” and he discovers why and how in less than five days. I know it is a fictional story, but unless he is blessed with good fortune, I don’t understand how he is so lucky to be in the correct place and time so many occasions. I just couldn’t believe this part. Besides, the book has some parts in Spanish, but they aren’t written coherently. I know because I write and speak Spanish fluently.
All in all, the story is easy to read and enjoyable. It makes the reader ponder what he/she would do in order to feed their families. I don’t want to spill the beans here, but there were also insights into some political and social issues that happen very often in some countries. Therefore, I recommend this story to people that care about political and social issues. However, if you like action stories, or if you’re interested in journalism, you’ll like it too. Warning: there is violence and gore. In sum, I rate this story 3 out of 4 stars.
******
Steel Toes and Teeth
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Kalin Adi's review? Post a comment saying so!
