Trifecta

by Moses Miller

Reviewed by: Michelle Bishop
October 2011

Trifecta by Moses Miller is the third book in the Nan Jones series. In this novel, we see Nan, Carson, and Sonny trying to start new lives. Nan has settled down south with his childhood sweetheart. Carson has retired from the police force with plans to move to Miami. And, Sonny finds himself hobnobbing with politicians and forging legal business ties that he wants to hand down to his son. Yet, each man finds himself drawn back to the streets to deal with their pasts once and for all.

Miller again entertains us with another gritty, bloody street novel. In this case, some of the main characters have grown up and are seeking to heal themselves. While the novel doesn't fully explore the characters' emotional growth, we do see some transformation as they seek to move on with their lives. It is clear that some of the characters don't change and likely never will but we do get the sense that others are maturing or, at least, are trying to do so.

However, there are consistency issues in this novel. For example, at one point, one character tells another that someone died of a heart attack. Shortly thereafter, another character claims he killed that same person. Also, as we reach the end of the book, it seems Miller is desperately trying to figure out how to wrap things up. One minute Nan is in someone's apartment, then he's shooting at someone across town at in scene we have no idea he should even be aware is happening. It's almost as though the chapters were hastily rearranged without careful attention to the connecting details.

Nevertheless, Trifecta is fun. There are lots of gun-toting, women-assaulting men killing just about anyone who crosses their paths. The chaos of the street life reigns. And, although Miller provides the obligatory "praise Jesus" moments, we don't feel as if we'd been beaten over the head with a bible. Despite the occasionally distracting poor word usage, odd comma placement, and the disorienting jumps from one scene to the next, you will be eager to see how life ends up for Nan Jones and company.

What did you like about the book?
Trifecta is a fast-paced, entertaining read.

What did you dislike about the book?
The story-telling in this novel wasn't quite as strong as in The Game of Trife. It seems the story shifted a great deal as the novel was being developed and the inconsistencies in the time line and/or the plot lines the shifts created were not always resolved.

What could the author do to improve the book?
The author should make sure he double-checks his plot lines to ensure consistency and make sure that dictionary is close at hand.

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Unity :

Posted 587 days ago

Was totally stuck until I read this, now back up and rnuinng.

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