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Dangerous Times

by Phillip Frey (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 13 ratings · 11 reviews

DANGEROUS TIMES is a multicultural crime-thriller with strong women characters, dark humor, and the pull of the unpredictable. This book is not for the squeamish. It begins as a creepy slow burner that leads to betrayal, sex, violence and murder.

Frank Moore is a diabolical criminal who has come up with an outrageous, malevolent plan. After a frustrating search he has fina...more

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Published September 28th 2010 by Phillip Frey on Smashwords, Inc.

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Dec 22, 2012 Keith Nixon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Frank Moore, hitman for gangster boss Eddie Jones, has a plan. He intends to rip Eddie off to the tune of $5m, the trouble is he needs to find someone else to take the fall. Enter John Kirk, an ex-soldier turned car mechanic who bears a striking resemblance to Frank. However, things start to go wrong almost immediately. Frank ends up with $10m in his lap, John doesn’t die quite as Frank intended, all manner of people are after the money and then the bodies start piling up…

Even several days after...more Frank Moore, hitman for gangster boss Eddie Jones, has a plan. He intends to rip Eddie off to the tune of $5m, the trouble is he needs to find someone else to take the fall. Enter John Kirk, an ex-soldier turned car mechanic who bears a striking resemblance to Frank. However, things start to go wrong almost immediately. Frank ends up with $10m in his lap, John doesn’t die quite as Frank intended, all manner of people are after the money and then the bodies start piling up…

Even several days after finishing Dangerous Times I’m still not sure about whether I liked it or not. Yes, it’s well written, yes, the characters are well scoped out and yes, the dialogue is interesting. Although I appreciate an intriguing plot that gets to the point with a minimum of fuss and embellishment, Frey’s writing was economic to the point of being terse. So much so it proved sometimes difficult to keep track of what was happening, a few words missed here and there and I was soon lost and having to re-trace my steps for confirmation.

In addition there were several apparent methods of adding interest including switches of character perspective within a paragraph, which just served to jar the narrative and set the teeth slightly on edge. Also, the chapters rolled into one another, just a line space between them.
The whole cast of characters, from Frank’s wife and mistress, to John’s girlfriend and mother, to Hicks the bent cop (who seemed superfluous to needs most of the time), to Eddie and his cohorts, were particularly unpleasant and all, frankly, entirely out for themselves. That the plan went wrong almost immediately led to some interesting outcomes, however I found myself doubting that someone of Frank’s apparent intelligence would have left certain elements to chance (okay, this would have killed the story dead but then suspension of belief stretched).

And to Frank himself. Frey on his website says his protagonist is ‘impish’ and ‘playful’. This would not be how I would depict a sociopathic murderer with a penchant for cutting open main arteries with a razor. The book is also described as being darkly humourous, yet I can’t recall laughing once, it’s just not within that genre.

So, back to the beginning – did I like Dangerous Times? You know, I’m still not sure…

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. ** (less)

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Nov 05, 2012 Gloria Antypowich rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed by Gloria Antypowich for Readers Favorite

I am a big fan of crime thriller books so I looked forward to reading Dangerous Times by Phillip Frey.

By all appearance, Frank and Ty Moore are normal people, living a nice life, in a nice house, on a nice street in West Los Angeles. But things are not always what they appear to be.

Ty is the niece of Eddie James, a dangerous, merciless, money laundering gangster. Frank works as his errand boy, delivering Eddies laundered money from point to point...more Reviewed by Gloria Antypowich for Readers Favorite

I am a big fan of crime thriller books so I looked forward to reading Dangerous Times by Phillip Frey.

By all appearance, Frank and Ty Moore are normal people, living a nice life, in a nice house, on a nice street in West Los Angeles. But things are not always what they appear to be.

Ty is the niece of Eddie James, a dangerous, merciless, money laundering gangster. Frank works as his errand boy, delivering Eddies laundered money from point to point.

Frank Moore has psychotic tendencies. He is a violent man who has no conscience and loves to draw blood. He has come up with an outrageous plan to steal million of dollars in cash from Eddie. His wife, Ty, knows the basics of his plan and supports it as revenge for the murder of her parents at Eddies command. As the book opens, Frank is on his way to Charlie Habakkuks place to nail down a critical piece in his plan. He needs to find someone who looks enough like him to be identified as Frank Moore in death. Charlie is a hacker with a drug addiction and Frank has offered him a lot of money to find such a person and make an exchange of legal identities with him.

John Allan Kirk is fingered for the switch. Charlie uses his hacker knowledge and with a few strokes on the computer keyboard, Frank becomes John Allan Kirk and unbeknownst to him, John Allan Kirk is now recognized as Frank Moore. Frank tracks down his unsuspecting victim, stalks him and waits for the right opportunity to carry out his plan. But as we all know, the best laid plans can go awry.

Dangerous Times is a well written crime-thriller. The plot is fast paced and convoluted, filled with surprise turns, betrayal, violence and murder—and a bit of sex. The story line includes multiple characters, each with their own problems and circumstances, but Frey pulls them all in and makes it work very well.

As one character asked, "why does it all come down to the money". As another character said "It's the money in the pocket that makes the man." Each of the characters have their own answers to those remarks, but indeed the desire for money is a primary factor in the beginning.

In the end some of them realise that their everyday problems were not very big, compared to the mayhem Frank Moore brought into their lives. Others get a second chance to rebuild a better, happier life. Some lose their lives. And Frank Moore played a dangerous game—did he win; you'll have to read Dangerous Times to discover that!

I recommend this book to anyone who likes crime thrillers. You won't be disappointed.
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Aug 13, 2012 Cassie rated it 5 of 5 stars

REVIEW BY CASSIE HOFFMAN

Dangerous Times is a crime-thriller that is full of twist and turns and unpredictable situations. The story has murder, sex, lies, and it is just an all around dark and gritty story. Dangerous Times keeps you on your toes, guessing and wondering what is going to happen next.

Frank is a hit man who is paid to do his favorite thing, kill. He comes up with a plan to screw over his boss for a few million dollars. His wife Ty helps him, because she wants’ payback for what her u...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Shalini Ayre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Frank Moore, well dressed in his camel-hair coat, is on a mission - get the money and leave town. Anyone standing in his way will be taken care of. He's not concerned if he leaves his wife Ty behind or his mistress plus he wants to be rid of Ty's uncle. It's the last errand he does for him and then freedom.

John Kirk an ex-marine and an auto-mechanic. He's haunted by his past and despite some effort, wants to lose the 'manana' attitude. Lisa, his so called girlfriend has little respect for him an...more Frank Moore, well dressed in his camel-hair coat, is on a mission - get the money and leave town. Anyone standing in his way will be taken care of. He's not concerned if he leaves his wife Ty behind or his mistress plus he wants to be rid of Ty's uncle. It's the last errand he does for him and then freedom.

John Kirk an ex-marine and an auto-mechanic. He's haunted by his past and despite some effort, wants to lose the 'manana' attitude. Lisa, his so called girlfriend has little respect for him and his mother finds comfort in a bottle of whiskey.

Lieutenant Hicks is a troubled man. Resentful that his wife left him for a 'white-ass lawyer', he still mourns the death of his son and has pangs of guilt for taking a bribe - kind of; the money is going to help him get out of San Pedro.

The lives of these three men become entwined in a dark and twisted tale of deceit, greed and murder. And it all starts with Frank assuming the identity of John Kirk. Frank's executes his plan with simplicity and cunning not aware that his scheme is unraveling. Remarkably, it still works out in his favor - or does it? A complete domino effect, Franks determination to get his money leaves behind a trail of destruction. Will he be able to succeed and walk away from it all unscathed?

A complex and tangled web of a story, Dangerous Times is a novel that keeps giving until the dramatic ending. Frey's characters are vibrant with great depth. He has created a hero of sorts with John Kirk, but I'm sure readers will find themselves willing Frank to be successful with his plan - I did. He's not particularly likable - no-one really is but that's the charm with this novel. One life is revealed as being connected with another and as Frey leads you down one path, you end up somewhere completely different.

I really enjoyed this book. It unravels at a steady pace and as the tension intensifies so does the intricacies of the plot. As I went from one chapter to the next, I kept wondering how is this going to end? Frey has created a tense, enthralling thriller with elements of a harsh criminal underworld and yet there are moments of tenderness. With simple, clean descriptions, its a story of 'everyday' people's fears, hatred and willingness to survive - no matter what. A highly recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not expected to give a positive critique.(less)

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Jul 16, 2012 Alejandro Canton-Dutari rated it 4 of 5 stars

This thriller caught my interest from the beginning, perhaps because it took me around San Pedro, California, which I remember fondly. It contained all the expected elements -- goriness, sex, a bit of social exposure and more.
I must say that I felt attached to the main character, Frank, in spite of his criminal mind. For some reason I came to think of him as a criminal with as much geniality as bad luck.
I also appreciated the author's concern about the hostilities between Whites, Blacks and Hisp...more

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May 30, 2011 Red Haircrow rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-thriller

The descriptions of the character’s driving, streets, turns and buildings, or the settings in which he finds himself helps set the tone and mood of the story. Frank Moore is direct and brutal, yet I found him believable and even sympathetic to a degree because he does some of the acts that might cross our minds to do: kill the unrepentant druggie and rid the world of one more useless drain on society. Sometimes the detachment left me drifting, or the seeming randomness of thought, but it was all...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Quick review:

Cover: Fitting
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 4
Overall: What a puzzle to fit all the pieces together.
Characters: Solid
Plot: A tangle of lives and limps to add to the thriller this book is.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes?
Recommend: Sure
Book Boyfriend: John Allen Kirk

SUMMARY (50 words or less)

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. This book brings me back to my reading roots. Reminds me of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Two of my favorite authors. There is a lot going on in this b...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Midu Hadi rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mystery and crime novel readers

Shelves: abuse, 212books, crime-fiction, modern-fiction, serial-killers-and-other-murderers, singles

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing rated it 4 of 5 stars

REVIEW BY CASSIE HOFFMAN for Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews and Editing

Dangerous Times is a crime-thriller that is full of twist and turns and unpredictable situations. The story has murder, sex, lies, and it is just an all around dark and gritty story. Dangerous Times keeps you on your toes, guessing and wondering what is going to happen next.

Frank is a hit man who is paid to do his favorite thing, kill. He comes up with a plan to screw over his boss for a few million dollars. His wife Ty helps hi...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Tyrnesha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Dangerous Times is the story of two men from different walks of life. Their lives intertwine, which could mean danger for the both of them.

This was a really good book full of twists and turns. It was unpredictable, a detail I enjoy when reading. There were times when the added details made for boring reading. I also found myself getting lost in certain spots because of the story going back and forth. Overall, this was an enjoyable book.

1 like · like · see review

Oct 26, 2011 Jack rated it 4 of 5 stars

A thriller with a complex and interesting plot which kept me guessing all the way through.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Wanda Paryla marked it as to-read

Oct 17, 2012 Rasana Atreya marked it as to-read

Sep 10, 2012 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-freebie, thriller, mystery

Aug 25, 2012 Matthew Perry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jul 29, 2012 Selina is currently reading it

Jul 26, 2012 Dominique is currently reading it

Jun 24, 2012 John Kelly is currently reading it

Jun 12, 2012 Andee added it

Shelves: my-ebooks

Jun 03, 2012 Wende M marked it as to-read

May 27, 2012 Karen (Mrs. Northman) marked it as to-read

Aug 02, 2011 Rodney marked it as to-read

Jul 19, 2011 Darcia Helle marked it as to-read

Jun 05, 2011 Nancy marked it as to-read

Recommended to Nancy by: Red Haircrow

Feb 22, 2011 Jennifer marked it as to-read

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About Phillip Frey

Phillip Frey grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he performed as a child actor at The Cleveland Playhouse. The day after he graduated high school he moved to Los Angeles and attended Los Angeles City College. Phillip enrolled in their Theater Arts Department and performed in many of their plays while also performing in local theater.
He then moved to New York where he performed with The New York Sh...more

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