Hilary Cantor is a good person, but
like all good people, she has seen her share of hardship. A single mother of a
son with Asperger’s syndrome, she has been working hard to maintain a quality
life for herself and her son. Despite her best efforts, her world has begun to
drop out from under her. Her deadbeat ex-husband is waning in his financial and
emotional support, her bills have begun to stack up, and she has recently
become a victim of the recession when she loses her job. Facing bankruptcy for
herself and the possibility of losing the ability to properly care for her son,
she makes a final trek to beg for her ex’s assistance.
On her way through the country to try
and right her upended life, a miracle occurs. When Hilary witnesses a freak car
accident and stops to help, she finds what seems to be a godsend… a bag
containing $500,000. In the split second before someone else arrives on scene,
Hilary makes the decision to keep the money. With the money, Hilary begins to
fix her life; she pays off her debts and even makes sure that the money is not
missed.
However, no miracle comes without a
price, and for anyone to make money, someone else has to lose it. When another
person associated with the crash is found dead it becomes apparent that the
money is missed, and the owner is determined to get it back. Pursued by a
ruthless hired gun, Hilary must work with the son of the crash victim and trace
the origin of the money through death, desolation and 20 years of history
before it’s too late for her and her son.
Andrew Gross produces a thrilling
journey in Everything To Lose. The main protagonist is relatable and well
rounded. Further, Hilary is filled with a sense of morality that closely
mirrors what would be expected of anyone else facing her situation. The writing
is typical of the genre and kept me engaged throughout my reading. Despite the
fact that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I couldn’t help but compare the plot
to that of No Country for Old Men. While the books did not share an atmosphere,
setting or writing style, I continuously drew connections to characters and
plot points from the earlier novel. However, this did not detract from my
enjoyment, and I am now excited to read more of Gross’s work. I would highly
recommend this as a fast-paced, plot-driven thriller that could easily consume
a weekend.
Review by Brett Schneider
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.
(2015, 4)
Ethan,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your review and look forward to seeing my book, "Three Strikes and You're Dead" on your blog. Please let me know if I can do anything to assist your review.
Mike
Also, when you get a chance, stop over at my blog and say hi.
http://mikedraperinguilford.blogspot.com