The Bang Devils

Rating:
Summary: An excellent, quick read
Review: "What's being good ever got you?" Jessica asks Chris as she convinces him to join her in kidnapping and extortion-- in the first chapter. The tone of THE BANG DEVILS is set early and Foss does a stellar job at it. With wit and style we're drawn into a world of 'love hotels' run by old ladies behind smoked-glass windows and night clubs where the women get paid ungodly sums to simply flirt. He also goes into wonderful detail describing the experience of young foreigners in Japan, and the delusions of grandeur that can grow out of it. What is unthinkable at home becomes quite feasible, and then some.

The main characters are real and believable even in extreme situations. While I don't think that I would do the same things Chris, Jessica and Taro do-- kidnap a wealthy businessman-- if I went down that road I could imagine myself (unfortunately) reacting similarly to the events that unfold. That's one of the biggest strengths of the book, actually. The characters have realistic thoughts and make realistic choices. They're not going to win any prizes for loyalty, but at least I can see where they're coming from.

Very cool cover, bad guys galore, and a downward spiral that resembles a waterslide to hell. If you've ever looked around and wondered, "How'd I get myself into THIS?" you'll appreciate watching Jessica and Chris trying to find ways out of a no-way-out situation that they've gotten themselves into.

With twists that rival the best in the genre and an ending that left me breathless, THE BANG DEVILS is an excellent, quick read. I'm already looking forward to what comes next from this promising writer.

Rating:
Summary: cut off's and testosterone
Review: a good read and insightful into the viewpoint of a foriegner in Japan. a peek into the cultural nuances that makes Japan a temptation. character building is excellent and is the backbone of Foss's writing style. easy to get into but tinged with a highschool testosterone air of excitement and danger. the ending is dissapointing if you hate cut offs, but the characters satisfy. would make a great movie, in America or Japan.

Rating:
Summary: Entertained Fan
Review: Patrick Foss is an absolute genius. His writing style is refreshing...I highly recommend this book if you're interested in Japan and want to learn more about what goes on below the polite surfaces.

Rating:
Summary: Real, gritty, and believable.
Review: The Bang Devils: Where can I start? Patrick Foss creates believable characters that draw out real emotions. The world he portrays comes to life with a rich palette of characters and settings. Every path leads deeper into darker places. And, every place is more interesting than the previous. Raw and real characters like these evoke a neo-classic sense of cinema that kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the last word and beyond.

As a person interested in Japan and Japanese culture, I found this book enlightening and intrepid. One by one Foss tackles some of the very things I find mysterious and taboo about Japan's allure.