LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED) --
In the summer of 1988, vicious
career criminal Teeg Lawless becomes infatuated with Jane, a mysterious con
artist drawn to his ferocity, much to the chagrin of Teeg's 16-year-old son,
Ricky. Unnerved at seeing his father embrace something like domesticity, Ricky
becomes increasingly reckless and erratic, alienating best friend Leo, a young
thief who prides himself on his overly cautious approach to criminal activity.
Teeg enlists Leo's father to help him pull off a major heist he believes will
provide him and Jane with a fresh start. But when Jane and Ricky form a bond,
and a private detective obsessed with saving Jane from a life on the run arrives
in town, all involved are set on a collision course that can only end in
tragedy.<br />VERDICT The powerhouse creative team of
Brubaker and Phillips (<i>Pulp</i>) combine elements of noir and coming-of-age
stories in this psychologically and emotionally complex drama about desperate
men and women daring to strive for better lives in a violent world where hope
and love are dangerous liabilities.<br /><br /><br />