'The Wrong Man' by William Inglsey

Sam Schuler has an ordinary existence. He works at a liquor store while attending junior college with hopes to improve his lot in life, and he lives with his pregnant girlfriend, Jill.

Ordinary doesn't last long when Sam is accused of stealing a stash of marijuana from a party he didn't want to go to in the first place. When a confrontation with the neighborhood's sociopath, Owen, is interrupted by the police, Sam's idyllic life turns to ruins when Owen and his gang rape Jill.

It's no longer about setting things straight for Sam. He wants revenge on the lowlifes that has turned his quiet life into a nightmare and seeks help from his cousin, an ex-con who makes a living stealing and dealing. The old edict is that revenge is best served cold, but a lack of time and Sam's rage makes him serve it piping hot. The result is a fast-paced story full of setbacks and an ending that hits you with a suckerpunch.

It's been a while since I've read a good street novel, and The Wong Man is a stellar example of the genre. The language is crude, the characters are meaner than mean, and no matter how good a guy's intentions are things inevitably go from bad to worse. The light at the end of tunnel is a false glimmer of hope and Inglsey keeps dangling it in front of his characters - and the reader - until all the elements come together. The stitches are raw and the seams are frayed and while some points merge seamlessly there are others that leave the reader in doubt and begging for more.