~Post by MysteryPeople Crime Fiction Coordinator Scott M.
Christa Faust came to the attention of crime fiction fans a few years ago with Money Shot, featuring kick-ass former porn star Angel Dare, whose body can be as dangerous as any gun. She was something of a pulp heroine for the Madonna age, in control of her sexuality; exploiting it on occasion, but never herself. You didn’t read it for a post-feminist discussion, though. It was loved because it was fun. Christa tapped into those classic lurid hardboiled tales and updated them. She created a visceral read, an original character, and a heightened yet believable world. Angel has returned in Choke Hold. Both she and her creator live up to her promise.
We find Angel hiding out from the Croation mob as a waitress. When an old lover and co-worker walks in with his son, it’s only a few minutes later that a couple of hoods put some bullets in him. After she and the son, Cody, make it to safety after a violent escape and chase, she learns the boy is a fighter mixed up with some shady characters in the mixed martial arts business. It’s not to long before he has a lethal guardian angel on his side and she has more bad guys to contend with.
Faust never lets up. The action is relentless and no matter how over the top and stylish, the emotions ring true. She is able to give a tongue-in-cheek delivery without being out of character. There is an undercurrent to her writing that seems to share her love of the genre with the reader. It’s like she’s whispering “Isn’t crime fiction cool? Look what you can do with it.”
She does a lot. She looks at the exploitation all performers face while delivering a lurid tale with true emotion. At the end she delivers a poignant piece of hardboiled poetry, telling us who Angel is. I hope we get to know her more.
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Be sure to check out MysteryPeople’s upcoming events this month:
10/11 – John Sandford – Shock Wave
10/19 – Jeff Lindsay – Double Dexter
10/22 – Daniel Woodrell, in conversation with Craig Johnson (and with special guest Frank Bill)
10/30 – MysteryPeople’s 1st Anniversary Party! with Jeri Westerson
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