Against the Grain
A Novel
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4.8 • 4 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“FREEZE IS THE COLDEST NEW AUTHOR ON THE COME-UP.”
–Nikki Turner
Love him or hate him, Arkadian “Kay” Frost has made his mark on the streets of Baltimore as the leader of a close-knit group of friends: Mike, the ladies’ man; Tank, the funny guy with a short fuse; Apache, the wild one with artillery expertise; Gee, aka Dread, a cold piece of work; and Dre, who doesn’t drink, smoke, or cheat–and trusts no one.
Bank robberies are their bread and butter. But when a heist goes wrong, Kay ends up in prison. After serving time, he’s ready to get back to his boys and start the game again. But they’ve moved on to big-time drug dealing, and Kay can’t duck its lure. The money is flowing, but when someone in Kay’s inner circle secretly betrays him, the friends divide and engage in a full-blown war. Kay wants out before more people die, and the only person he can trust now is his woman, ShuShawn, who is not only beautiful but is as street-smart as he is. Together, Kay and ShuShawn go against the grain. It seems no one can touch them . . . except perhaps the Feds, who have been watching everything.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Freeze. Against the Grain: A Novel. One World: Ballantine. (Nikki Turner Presents). 2008. 288p. pap. F~With an endorsement from Nikki Turner, this impressive debut will need very little selling by librarians. Rocking a Baltimore/Virginia setting, incorporating authentic prison scenes, and detailing the inner workings of the gangster lifestyle, Freeze's tale fits right in with the popular rags-to-riches street-lit theme. Strongly recommended for all urban fiction collections. Background: Haunted by the death of his best friend during a bank job gone wrong, Arkadian "Kay" Frost pulls his nine years in prison and once out quickly establishes himself as a major player in Baltimore's drug industry. Relying on his mentor, Scatter, a reformed drug user, Kay skyrockets to untold wealth in the heroin trade. His friend Mike works the cocaine side of the business but wants more. Can Kay's woman, the sexy Shu-Shu, be trusted? Kay has it all: expensive cars, sleek women, and a party at Virginia Beach that is pure gangster. Once at the top, though, the only way is down, and Kay soon finds out how fast the script can flip.--Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L..
