Reviews

“Full-Tilt Boogie: A Riveting Crime Thriller Unfolding in the Heartland”

Full-Tilt Boogie by Robb T. White takes readers on a gripping ride through the gritty streets of Youngstown, Ohio, in a crime thriller that unfolds with relentless intensity. Special Agent Jade Hui, newly assigned to the field office, finds herself thrust into a maelstrom of crime and danger that threatens to engulf the entire city.

The narrative kicks off with a sense of urgency as Hui discovers her predecessor’s lackluster record, leaving her to piece together the puzzle of impending chaos in Youngstown. A tip from an Aryan Brotherhood convict sets the stage for a high-stakes operation involving a new designer drug from Europe, poised to hit the Midwest streets, with Youngstown as its epicenter.

White skillfully weaves a complex narrative, combining elements of drug trafficking, organized crime, and a mysterious figure known as “the emissary.” The stakes are high, and the tension rises as Hui delves deeper into the criminal underworld, uncovering a web of corruption and deceit.

The author’s portrayal of Youngstown as a city on the brink of chaos is vivid and atmospheric. The streets come alive with a sense of danger, and the narrative is punctuated with gritty details that immerse readers in the unfolding crime spree. White captures the essence of the city, making it a character in its own right—a place where danger lurks around every corner.

Jade Hui emerges as a compelling protagonist, navigating the treacherous terrain with determination and resilience. As she confronts a cast of disturbing characters, including a dubious former Hollywood filmmaker and his menacing thugs, the suspense builds to a crescendo. The stakes escalate, and Hui must face adversaries far deadlier than anything she encountered in her previous posting.

Full-Tilt Boogie is a masterfully crafted crime thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Robb T. White’s writing is sharp, with a noir sensibility that enhances the dark and gritty atmosphere of the narrative. The plot unfolds with precision, delivering twists and turns that maintain a high level of suspense throughout.

In conclusion, Full-Tilt Boogie is a riveting crime novel that combines a compelling storyline with well-drawn characters and a vividly depicted setting. Robb T. White proves himself as a skilled storyteller in the crime fiction genre, providing readers with an immersive and thrilling experience from start to finish. This novel is a must-read for fans of intense, atmospheric crime thrillers.

Written by Jeyran Main March 20, 2024

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Full-Tilt Boogie: A Jade Hui Mystery

From the blurb – female FBI agent takes over a new field office in Ohio, discovers a new designer drug, bumps heads with her boss, sizes up a jailbird snitch, people get dead all around her – you’d think this is a run-of-the-murder-mill, modern American crime thriller.

Think again.

Seldom do you find such unspeakable subjects as the themes in Full Tilt Boogie being described with the near-poetic precision of Robb White’s acid prose. This novel is not for the faint-hearted nor the lily-livered. There’s blood and there’s butchery and there’s absolutely nothing pretty to see here.

Yet it’s almost impossible to tear your eyes away from the page, as FBI investigator Jade Hui plunges ever deeper into the heart of darkness. The staccato scenes jump-cut from bare-knuckle brawling to skin-tingling seduction to sleazy snuff movies and torture porn, by way of prostitution, mutilation and exploitation and with a few war crimes thrown in for good measure.

One thing’s for sure: Hui is caught in the cross-hairs of an international narcotics ring but she won’t back down. The collateral damage to her terrier-like tenacity turns out to be terminal for the people around her. There are a few flinch-inducing moments where her own survival seems mighty moot, too.

It’s a harsh lens to look through, but Full Tilt Boogie brings the same intense scrutiny to the type of moral degeneracy which is similarly showcased in American Psycho, Fight Club and No Country For Old Men. And like those titles it’s a challenging but thought-provoking read.

--Rowena Hoseason, Goodreads Review, 8/10/23

Joel’s Books

"What Are The Top Hard-boiled Crime Mystery Books?"

Set against the gritty backdrop of Youngstown, Ohio, Full-Tilt Boogie is a riveting story that had me on the edge of my seat. Special Agent Jade Hui, the protagonist, is a compelling character, thrown into a complex web of crime involving a new designer drug and a series of unsettling events.

The book excels in its vivid portrayal of Youngstown as a hotbed of criminal activity, with the narrative weaving through various dark and disturbing scenarios.

What particularly caught my attention is the character development of Jade Hui, who confronts not just external threats but also internal conflicts, making her journey through the novel both thrilling and deeply personal. The interplay of different elements like the designer drug plot, the murder of a female prizefighter, and the shadowy figure known as the emissary all contribute to an atmosphere of high tension and intrigue.

The book doesn't shy away from showcasing the harsh realities of crime and its impact on both the victims and those who seek to bring justice. This novel is a standout addition to the hard-boiled crime genre, offering a fresh perspective and a gripping storyline.

by Joel Stafford December 19, 2023

THE RUSSIAN HEIST

The Russian Heist is a gripping noir crime thriller written by Robb White. The story focuses around Dmitri Byko a Russian mobster based in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. When Byko learns of a plot by an amateur gang of thieves to rob a plane filled with government money headed to the Middle East, he quickly joins in. The robbery is masterminded by an armored truck driver who knows when and where the money will be transported. As the robbery unfolds, it becomes clear to the other members of the gang that Byko has little regard for them and therefore treats them with utter contempt. Moreover, a dogged FBI agent, Annie Chang who knows all about the Russian mob in Brooklyn is hot on their heels.

This isn’t your typical heist story. The plot is thrilling and suspenseful. however, where this book really shines is in how the author develops his characters. The main character, Dimitri Byko is extremely ruthless and calculating with very little regard for human life. This causes the other character to be deeply distrustful. The book is very philosophical in nature with morality being the central theme in the book and how greed can corrupt a person’s soul to the point that he or she ceases to be human.

Reviewed By: Michael Shulman

Dead Cat Bounce

Robert White has written another exciting, intense, and page-turning story. The fact that he has at least one “smart” criminal in his story makes it that much more enjoyable. Many of the situations in the story seem believable and realistic, thus increasing the story’s entertainment. The writing is well-done and easy to follow. This is definitely a read for the murder-mystery and crime lover.

--Rachel Goodreads Reviewer