In Robert McGammon’s THE FIVE, a minor struggling rock band embarks on what might be their last tour, when one of the members announces he’s quitting. As they drive through the American Southwest, they catch the attention of a damaged Iraq War veteran, who decides to make killing them all a personal crusade.
This is a terrific story, and McGammon brings his A game. The characters stand out as flesh and blood people, the villain is sympathetic, and the tension builds nicely to the climax. The backdrop is amazing–McGammon does an excellent job presenting the struggles, temptations and joys of the rock and roll scene. There’s also an interesting supernatural element at work in the story, which elevates the simple plotline into a game between invisible forces of light and dark.
THE FIVE was a lot of fun to read. Recommended.
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