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Ash McKenna #3
South Village
Ash McKenna used to be an amateur P.I.-emphasis on ‘amateur’. Despite good intentions, he made a mess of his life in New York, so tried to build a new one in Portland. But after a traumatic turn of events, he ends up on a commune in the Georgia woods, binge-drinking cheap whiskey and waiting for his passport to flee the country and nightmares that have followed him.Then a man is found dead. Known only as ‘Crusty Pete’, the commune dweller is sprawled in the dirt, having fallen from a high rope bridge. It’s written off as an accident, but Ash suspects something more sinister. As he looks into Pete’s death, Ash is shocked to find the supposedly peaceful community houses a rogue faction preparing to commit an unspeakable act of violence.Ash has to make a run, or put his skills to use and try to stop them. But he doesn’t know who to trust, or where the faction is planning to strike. As he struggles to put a stop to the violence, while keeping his own demons at bay, Ash finds that it’s only a matter of time before one or the other puts him down for good.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2016
20 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Rob Hart
58 books1,077 followersRob Hart is the author of the USA TODAY bestseller ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS. He also wrote THE PARADOX HOTEL, which was nominated for. Lambda Literary Award, as well as THE WAREHOUSE, which has been sold in more than 20 countries. He also wrote the Ash McKenna crime series, the short story collection TAKE-OUT, the novella SCOTT FREE with James Patterson, and, with Alex Segura, the comic book BLOOD OATH and the novel DARK SPACE.
His short stories have been published widely, including “Due on Batuu,” set in the Star Wars universe, which appeared in FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and "Take-Out," which appeared in BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2018.
He’s worked as a political reporter, the communications director for a politician, and a commissioner for the city of New York. He is the former publisher at MysteriousPress.com and class director at LitReactor. He lives in Jersey City.
His short stories have been published widely, including “Due on Batuu,” set in the Star Wars universe, which appeared in FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and "Take-Out," which appeared in BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2018.
He’s worked as a political reporter, the communications director for a politician, and a commissioner for the city of New York. He is the former publisher at MysteriousPress.com and class director at LitReactor. He lives in Jersey City.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 21, 2016
The correct term her would be "lukewarm." I was somewhat looking forward to SOUTH VILLAGE because the premise looked so intriguing and different from the previous novels in the series NEW YORKED and CITY OF ROSE. Aaaaand it just didn't do it for me.
There is a lot to like about the latest Ash McKenna novel. The suspended reality setting of a hippie commune lost in Georgia is original and quite fitting with Ash's character arc. The mystery is also clever and while it takes its sweet time to deliver itself and tests the reader's patience, ultimately managed to sucker punch me.
I'm just really running out of patience for this series, to be honest. A lot of SOUTH VILLAGE is, once again, dedicated to Ash's introspection and development as a person and I have difficult time keeping up with a character that I don't find sympathetic and/or interesting. Don't get me wrong, I've read Rob Hart's short stories and he's a terrific talent and I will read other projects, but I think this series just isn't for me.
Some of you will connect and identify with Hart's angry, foul-mouthed New Yorker with a Karma tab. It just isn't my thing and I believe I gave the series a fair enough shake so far to say that.
There is a lot to like about the latest Ash McKenna novel. The suspended reality setting of a hippie commune lost in Georgia is original and quite fitting with Ash's character arc. The mystery is also clever and while it takes its sweet time to deliver itself and tests the reader's patience, ultimately managed to sucker punch me.
I'm just really running out of patience for this series, to be honest. A lot of SOUTH VILLAGE is, once again, dedicated to Ash's introspection and development as a person and I have difficult time keeping up with a character that I don't find sympathetic and/or interesting. Don't get me wrong, I've read Rob Hart's short stories and he's a terrific talent and I will read other projects, but I think this series just isn't for me.
Some of you will connect and identify with Hart's angry, foul-mouthed New Yorker with a Karma tab. It just isn't my thing and I believe I gave the series a fair enough shake so far to say that.
September 30, 2016
Rob Hart has done it again! With South Village, Hart has gone deep, really developing the character of Ash McKenna. From New Yorked to City of Rose to now South Village, Ash has shined as a complex, complicated and multi-faceted character and Hart has delivered as an author who embraces strange locales and even stranger stories. South Village has a new freshness, while still maintaining the edgy style we've come to expect and enjoy in the Ash McKenna series.
October 10, 2016
"How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?"
A brief (and somewhat paraphrased in the text) Die Hard reference made by Rob Hart's quasi-PI protagonist Ash McKenna in his third series installment South Village, this quip's same-story-different-setting implication in fact couldn't be any more antithetical to the actual reading experience of these books. Whereas the Die Hard franchise flattened sequel-by-sequel into one-dimensional self-parody, Hart manages even after three outings to keep his readers intrigued and guessing by pushing the overall arch in new, captivating directions.
With each fresh hole Ash McKenna digs himself into, Hart smartly crafts his unique settings (a coastal Georgia hippie commune, this time) and tense circumstances (an intricate noir mystery about radical environmental activism, community, guilt, and, of course, murder) to unearth unexpected hidden layers of his protagonist. For a character initially described as a 'blunt tool,' it's beyond impressive how at-once sharply defined and increasingly complex Ash has become since New Yorked.
And, yet again, I'm left with a thrilled sense of curiosity as to where Hart will take him next.
A brief (and somewhat paraphrased in the text) Die Hard reference made by Rob Hart's quasi-PI protagonist Ash McKenna in his third series installment South Village, this quip's same-story-different-setting implication in fact couldn't be any more antithetical to the actual reading experience of these books. Whereas the Die Hard franchise flattened sequel-by-sequel into one-dimensional self-parody, Hart manages even after three outings to keep his readers intrigued and guessing by pushing the overall arch in new, captivating directions.
With each fresh hole Ash McKenna digs himself into, Hart smartly crafts his unique settings (a coastal Georgia hippie commune, this time) and tense circumstances (an intricate noir mystery about radical environmental activism, community, guilt, and, of course, murder) to unearth unexpected hidden layers of his protagonist. For a character initially described as a 'blunt tool,' it's beyond impressive how at-once sharply defined and increasingly complex Ash has become since New Yorked.
And, yet again, I'm left with a thrilled sense of curiosity as to where Hart will take him next.
December 29, 2016
This third installment of the Ash McKenna series took me a bit longer to get into than the first two. NEW YORKED and CITY OF ROSE really opened with a bang and didn’t let up. In SOUTH VILLAGE, we find Ash living at a Georgia hippie commune working as a chef alongside Aesop. The hippie commune setting wasn’t as appealing to me as say, a vegan strip club in Portland. I was concerned there would be too many stereotypical peace-loving characters who rub cynical Ash the wrong way and it would get old. It doesn’t. Ash is angry and closed-off but the commune knows better to mess with him and he’s left alone to brood and meddle in things which is what he’s good at and what I love about him. The story opens with Crusty Pete’s death and Ash is the only one who suspects it wasn’t an accident. The second half of the book took off like a rocket for me with one twist after another and Aesop is now one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Another solid winner from Hart.
September 1, 2016
A great entry in the Ash McKenna series. Hart is at the top of his game in this novel, weaving together vivid characters with unusual settings and a churning mystery. He handles Ash's development beautifully, showing how a broken person with no small amount of self-loathing can finally begin pulling himself out of the emotional holes he's dug. It's great to see, because over the last few books, Ash has become something like a real person, someone you actually know. And he's a smartass with little regard for personal safety, which is always fun to read. I'd have to rank the McKenna books up with Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro as my favorite series.
November 22, 2019
I was about to confess to being new to Rob Hart until realizing this is the fourth one of his that I've read. haha. Well, there you go. The guy is good. This is my third trip into the lands of Ashley McKenna, and while I plan to continue my way yonder in the modern day Boy Named Sue's adventures, South Village for the first time posed me a question that I didn't expect. Do I want to continue?
Let me just say that especially if you're new to Rob Hart, if you're under 50, if you're not a disgruntled hippie, you'll probably like this book. And never fear, Ash doesn't get political despite his usual light ribbing of his peers in the more hipsterish persuasion...while I'm BRIEFLY on the subject, what is a hipster anyway? I used to get called hipster by a friend of mine, and aside from liking good music, having a new minimum of flair and caring about art, I'm about as basic as it gets. Clearly for Ash and for most people, hipster is really just another word for as/hole. Well, if the thumb fits, right? haha.
South Village is the Ash McKenna adventure where in retrospect I will probably look back on as the book where the series began to struggle, if not fully jumped the shark. I mean, isn't putting Ash in a hippie commune a bit like putting a neon sign on that reads "hilarity ensues?" It's lazy. Beyond that, I began to become ever more aware of what doesn't work for me so well about Ash's character. Namely that he's kind of boring if you get right down to it. I get the feeling Rob Hart thinks Ash is an anti hero. If so, then it's the kind of anti hero I dislike where the things he does aren't really bad and gets redeemed rather easily. In fact, other characters here even tell Ash he's indulging himself in this self persecution thing. It gets tedious for me. The problem is we all know these people in real life, right? We're all a little like that. And I think Rob Hart may have Ash on a trajectory in the next two novels where his character hopefully evolves and redeems himself of all this moral neurosis we're forced to absorb.
So it's possible Rob Hart is simply being true to his character and that this is just where Ash is on the overall journey. If so, it's just a particularly insufferable part of it. And frankly neither the story or the journey of this particular novel comes off as a must read, even if you're like me and already own the books that finish the series. Innit to winnit. Here to the end, Ashley McKenna.
Mercifully South Village is the shortage of the series so far. Just hoping Rob Hart felt a little more inspired with the next book. I feel like there are so many more possibilities for Ash after that fantastic first novel, New York'd. So far it feels like Hart is playing it safe and hitting major beats of the first book only in different youth culture driven cities for subsequent installments.
Let me just say that especially if you're new to Rob Hart, if you're under 50, if you're not a disgruntled hippie, you'll probably like this book. And never fear, Ash doesn't get political despite his usual light ribbing of his peers in the more hipsterish persuasion...while I'm BRIEFLY on the subject, what is a hipster anyway? I used to get called hipster by a friend of mine, and aside from liking good music, having a new minimum of flair and caring about art, I'm about as basic as it gets. Clearly for Ash and for most people, hipster is really just another word for as/hole. Well, if the thumb fits, right? haha.
South Village is the Ash McKenna adventure where in retrospect I will probably look back on as the book where the series began to struggle, if not fully jumped the shark. I mean, isn't putting Ash in a hippie commune a bit like putting a neon sign on that reads "hilarity ensues?" It's lazy. Beyond that, I began to become ever more aware of what doesn't work for me so well about Ash's character. Namely that he's kind of boring if you get right down to it. I get the feeling Rob Hart thinks Ash is an anti hero. If so, then it's the kind of anti hero I dislike where the things he does aren't really bad and gets redeemed rather easily. In fact, other characters here even tell Ash he's indulging himself in this self persecution thing. It gets tedious for me. The problem is we all know these people in real life, right? We're all a little like that. And I think Rob Hart may have Ash on a trajectory in the next two novels where his character hopefully evolves and redeems himself of all this moral neurosis we're forced to absorb.
So it's possible Rob Hart is simply being true to his character and that this is just where Ash is on the overall journey. If so, it's just a particularly insufferable part of it. And frankly neither the story or the journey of this particular novel comes off as a must read, even if you're like me and already own the books that finish the series. Innit to winnit. Here to the end, Ashley McKenna.
Mercifully South Village is the shortage of the series so far. Just hoping Rob Hart felt a little more inspired with the next book. I feel like there are so many more possibilities for Ash after that fantastic first novel, New York'd. So far it feels like Hart is playing it safe and hitting major beats of the first book only in different youth culture driven cities for subsequent installments.
April 1, 2019
This series keeps getting better. Admittedly, the book gets off to a slow start with some awkward prose, but it takes off soon enough. I'm impressed with Hart's ability to completely change the venue in each installment, but Ash McKenna is still a believable character.
On the surface, this is another stereotypical private investigator series (except, of course, that Ash is not really one). So, yeah, he's a curmudgeon who drinks too much, has a chip on his shoulder and has a hair trigger. The difference, though, is that is aware of "the part of me that likes to hurt people," and dislikes that in himself. "I think there's something rotten at the core of me." Not so, of course. He does care about the right things, but that he is self-aware and has a conscience separates him from so many standard P.I. characters.
The plot is well-crafted, with twists and turns which are nevertheless believable. Aesop is a terrific character, and Tibo acquires more depth than he has had in the first two books in the series. That reminds me -- there are frequent references to the earlier books, and it makes particular sense to read this series in order. There are flashbacks to #2 and a lot of references to the first one as well.
Anyway, this was a terrific read, and once I got into it, I could not put it down. I wonder what Hart does for an encore.
On the surface, this is another stereotypical private investigator series (except, of course, that Ash is not really one). So, yeah, he's a curmudgeon who drinks too much, has a chip on his shoulder and has a hair trigger. The difference, though, is that is aware of "the part of me that likes to hurt people," and dislikes that in himself. "I think there's something rotten at the core of me." Not so, of course. He does care about the right things, but that he is self-aware and has a conscience separates him from so many standard P.I. characters.
The plot is well-crafted, with twists and turns which are nevertheless believable. Aesop is a terrific character, and Tibo acquires more depth than he has had in the first two books in the series. That reminds me -- there are frequent references to the earlier books, and it makes particular sense to read this series in order. There are flashbacks to #2 and a lot of references to the first one as well.
Anyway, this was a terrific read, and once I got into it, I could not put it down. I wonder what Hart does for an encore.
April 4, 2018
"Sometimes I wonder if people can see it, just by looking at me. Like those stereogram images—the psychedelic prints where if you stare at them long enough you see a bird or a peace sign floating in 3D. But when you look at me, instead of a bird or a peace sign, you see a dark gash across my soul. Something that oozes hatred and regret."
Ash McKenna is on the move again, this time to an off-the-grid vacation destination in Georgia, where he attempts to drown his memories of the events of CITY OF ROSE with copious amounts of booze. When he returns from submitting his passport application, providing a nice set up for book four in the series, he learns that one of the residents of the commune has been found dead. More violence occurs and radical paraphernalia is found, causing Ash to view his hug-it-out hippie neighbors in a new light. Still shattered by his father’s death in the World Trade Center tragedy, Ash can’t resist the opportunity to thwart would-be terrorists.
Like the first two books in the series, SOUTH VILLAGE, is crammed with kooky characters, an unique setting, and plenty of action.
I look forward to joining Ash on his next adventure.
Ash McKenna is on the move again, this time to an off-the-grid vacation destination in Georgia, where he attempts to drown his memories of the events of CITY OF ROSE with copious amounts of booze. When he returns from submitting his passport application, providing a nice set up for book four in the series, he learns that one of the residents of the commune has been found dead. More violence occurs and radical paraphernalia is found, causing Ash to view his hug-it-out hippie neighbors in a new light. Still shattered by his father’s death in the World Trade Center tragedy, Ash can’t resist the opportunity to thwart would-be terrorists.
Like the first two books in the series, SOUTH VILLAGE, is crammed with kooky characters, an unique setting, and plenty of action.
I look forward to joining Ash on his next adventure.
August 10, 2017
Good entertainment. This series benefits a lot from the varied settings in which Rob Hart places his central figure, Ash McKenna. The backdrop here -- a hippie commune in rural Georgia -- is very effective. The atmosphere and the residents are neatly etched. You really feel, physically, like you're there. I also enjoyed the basic plot and the puzzle elements that went along with it. Then, at the core you have Ash and all his foibles. He can be an incredible jerk, but he knows it, and fundamentally he's still engaging. When he knocks heads with the true jerks, the clashes come with humor too. That's been a hallmark of the series.
Special mention, however, goes to a new breakout character, Aesop. If Hart should be so inclined, this guy could carry a series of his own.
Special mention, however, goes to a new breakout character, Aesop. If Hart should be so inclined, this guy could carry a series of his own.
August 11, 2017
Another great story!
Ash is back again, this time in the middle of the woods as part of a commune run by his buddy Tibo.
Hippies, eco-terrorists, and the FBI all contribute to making this intended getaway another exorcise in frustration for Ash as he tries to unravel another mess he inadvertently finds himself in. I was afraid that the change in locale from New York to the South would change the dynamic but it surprisingly works very well. Just goes to show you what a great character Ash is no matter where he finds himself!
I hope this series continues for a long time because I'm definitely hooked and Rob Hart has created one of my favorite series characters in Ash McKenna! Good stuff!
Ash is back again, this time in the middle of the woods as part of a commune run by his buddy Tibo.
Hippies, eco-terrorists, and the FBI all contribute to making this intended getaway another exorcise in frustration for Ash as he tries to unravel another mess he inadvertently finds himself in. I was afraid that the change in locale from New York to the South would change the dynamic but it surprisingly works very well. Just goes to show you what a great character Ash is no matter where he finds himself!
I hope this series continues for a long time because I'm definitely hooked and Rob Hart has created one of my favorite series characters in Ash McKenna! Good stuff!
December 12, 2022
My favorite Ash McKenna book so far and that’s saying something. The lead character does a lot of growth in this book that makes hime a much more relatable character. There’s still violence, self destructive tendencies, and one liners that you’d hear in old films so don’t worry about that, Ash is still on the case. Yeah, there are still some oddballs and goofball names, but, I reckon life is like that when you’re on the fringes of society. Anyway, a straightforward mystery with some redemption and ecoterrorism to boot. What’s not to love? I don’t know Rob Hart but his books are the best thing that’s come along in my literary life for some time.
December 16, 2019
The Ash McKenna series keeps getting better. This was my favorite so far, in part because Ash wasn't creeping on any women this time around. I liked the setting - always fascinated by people living on communes. Aesop especially was a good character, and I was glad he finally got through to Ash.
I could have done with a lot less Chell/Dad/Wilson guilt. I get it, he feels bad. I didn't need it on every other page. But other than that, another good story! I'll keep going...
I could have done with a lot less Chell/Dad/Wilson guilt. I get it, he feels bad. I didn't need it on every other page. But other than that, another good story! I'll keep going...
October 15, 2024
This book had all the earmarkings of going sideways fast. Too much recap of the first two books,so much so that he actually took cute little phrases from his other books and put them in this one. Thankfully, the characters are so well written that this other stuff fell to the wayside. Ash is a bit like Jack Reacher in that he's in the wrong place at the wrong time.
June 15, 2020
Book 3 in the continuing adventures of Ash McKenna
January 22, 2022
Fast read. Lots of action.
January 19, 2024
Still digging the series and Ash as a character, but this was my least favorite so far. Decent action and still hard-boiled, but not as gripping as the previous.
December 7, 2024
Really enjoy this series.
October 10, 2016
Oh mans. I get so little reading time anymore that even if a book is good, it takes me forever to get through it. But somehow, every time I get my hands on one of Hart’s books, I tear through it in am impressively short time.
South Village was no exception. I finished it in record time, just as I had with its two predecessors, New Yorked and City of Rose.
It’s incredible to me that every time we run into Ash McKenna, he is both the same guy we know and love, and an entirely different person. Now past the time in which he tried to leave his history of entanglement and violence long behind, we find him instead trying to drown it in a sea of cheap whiskey.
Over and over again, every time we meet Ash, we encounter a very human character trying to deal with a life that didn’t come with a manual. How he lived in New York wasn’t working. Keeping his hands and nose clean in Portland sure as hell didn’t cut it. And now, baking in the Georgia heat, all the whiskey manages to do is give Ash permission to not actually deal with anything he’s feeling. It’s blessedly hard to face what happened and where he is in life when he’s halfway inebriated at all times.
This is closer to the same Ash we met in New Yorked, so blinded by what he’s experiencing personally that he misses what other people might be living through, and more importantly, what negative effects he’s having on those around him. Ash comes across as somebody you want to coddle, somebody you want to kick in the ass, and somebody you need to stay the hell away from, all at once. He’s a hot mess, and I love how he lives on the page.
Coming to this from the previous two books I had high expectations for the story, and Rob didn’t disappoint. There’s so many different things going on yet the notes of each are perfectly struck, Hart composing a masterful symphony of character conflicts and larger mysteries, all timed to the ticking of a clock as it winds down. I found myself fighting as hard as Ash was to understand what was happening, to get a handle on what the cipher was and who it was meant for, and feeling just as addled and hindered by his addiction as he found himself. Hart seems the master of disseminating bread crumbs, giving you just enough to keep you on the trail but no way in hell are you getting the full picture before he decides to let you. The mystery will be revealed when, and only when, Hart says so.
Though I liked the book as a whole, there was one dynamic in particular that struck me above everything else. There’s a bit of a cliche in a lot of mysteries and crime fiction, where our big, brazen, flawed male hero falls for a girl he’ll sleep with but won’t seek happiness with, no matter how strong their connection. In the end they push apart from each other, going their separate ways to leave our main guy hurting and alone.
Enter Aesop. I think what I liked best about how important Aesop became to the story, how he filled the buddy-role for Ash, was how little I expected it. See also, how little Ash expected it. Aesop was responsible for Ash sobering up, for opening Ash’s eyes to the people around him, and for making sure Ash wasn’t alone when he needed help, both personally and while dealing with the conspiracy evolving inside South Village. Pretty important for somebody you could easily dismiss as a gentle, non-intrusive side player at first glance.
He was important to the story in his own right but it was truly the relationship that formed between the two men that struck me. It was a true friendship. It was touching. It was personal. It was close and moving. And it was between two guys, in a crime fiction novel. For me, as a reader, it was refreshing as well as an important deviation from that tired cliche. To exhibit a true connection like that, human and tender, especially between two men, was definitely the less easy road to take. I admire Hart for not only doing it, but for managing to nail the emotions there like whoa.
This book has a little bit of everything going on. Personal troubles, relevant environmental concerns, threats from inside and outside the camp, friendships, enemies, and murder will all keep you on your toes and tearing through pages. I’m as excited for more Ash McKenna after this book as I was after the first.
Bring on Prague.
South Village was no exception. I finished it in record time, just as I had with its two predecessors, New Yorked and City of Rose.
It’s incredible to me that every time we run into Ash McKenna, he is both the same guy we know and love, and an entirely different person. Now past the time in which he tried to leave his history of entanglement and violence long behind, we find him instead trying to drown it in a sea of cheap whiskey.
Over and over again, every time we meet Ash, we encounter a very human character trying to deal with a life that didn’t come with a manual. How he lived in New York wasn’t working. Keeping his hands and nose clean in Portland sure as hell didn’t cut it. And now, baking in the Georgia heat, all the whiskey manages to do is give Ash permission to not actually deal with anything he’s feeling. It’s blessedly hard to face what happened and where he is in life when he’s halfway inebriated at all times.
This is closer to the same Ash we met in New Yorked, so blinded by what he’s experiencing personally that he misses what other people might be living through, and more importantly, what negative effects he’s having on those around him. Ash comes across as somebody you want to coddle, somebody you want to kick in the ass, and somebody you need to stay the hell away from, all at once. He’s a hot mess, and I love how he lives on the page.
Coming to this from the previous two books I had high expectations for the story, and Rob didn’t disappoint. There’s so many different things going on yet the notes of each are perfectly struck, Hart composing a masterful symphony of character conflicts and larger mysteries, all timed to the ticking of a clock as it winds down. I found myself fighting as hard as Ash was to understand what was happening, to get a handle on what the cipher was and who it was meant for, and feeling just as addled and hindered by his addiction as he found himself. Hart seems the master of disseminating bread crumbs, giving you just enough to keep you on the trail but no way in hell are you getting the full picture before he decides to let you. The mystery will be revealed when, and only when, Hart says so.
Though I liked the book as a whole, there was one dynamic in particular that struck me above everything else. There’s a bit of a cliche in a lot of mysteries and crime fiction, where our big, brazen, flawed male hero falls for a girl he’ll sleep with but won’t seek happiness with, no matter how strong their connection. In the end they push apart from each other, going their separate ways to leave our main guy hurting and alone.
Enter Aesop. I think what I liked best about how important Aesop became to the story, how he filled the buddy-role for Ash, was how little I expected it. See also, how little Ash expected it. Aesop was responsible for Ash sobering up, for opening Ash’s eyes to the people around him, and for making sure Ash wasn’t alone when he needed help, both personally and while dealing with the conspiracy evolving inside South Village. Pretty important for somebody you could easily dismiss as a gentle, non-intrusive side player at first glance.
He was important to the story in his own right but it was truly the relationship that formed between the two men that struck me. It was a true friendship. It was touching. It was personal. It was close and moving. And it was between two guys, in a crime fiction novel. For me, as a reader, it was refreshing as well as an important deviation from that tired cliche. To exhibit a true connection like that, human and tender, especially between two men, was definitely the less easy road to take. I admire Hart for not only doing it, but for managing to nail the emotions there like whoa.
This book has a little bit of everything going on. Personal troubles, relevant environmental concerns, threats from inside and outside the camp, friendships, enemies, and murder will all keep you on your toes and tearing through pages. I’m as excited for more Ash McKenna after this book as I was after the first.
Bring on Prague.
February 24, 2017
Really good! I love the setting of the story: a hippie commune in Louisiana!
October 11, 2016
South Village is the third book in Rob Hart's fun and entertaining Ash McKenna series, and in my mind, it's the most interesting one yet. Forgoing his past tendency toward ultra-violence but keeping his ear for sharp and focused dialog, Hart takes us on a (this is at the risk of sounding pretentious, so sorry!) far more cerebral journey than in New Yorked and City of Rose.
For Ash McKenna has now killed a man...and that fact is threatening to kill him. Leaving two worlds behind now (the slashed/burned New York and Portland), Ash has taken refuge in South Village, a sustainable living commune deep in the Georgia swampland. Plagued by summer heat and haunted by terrifying dreams, Ash copes in the only way he knows how: solitude and whiskey. Never a great combination.
But when the commune is rocked by a mysterious death...and then another one...Ash has no choice but to face his demons (and the horrors of DTs) in order to save a place he's learned to call home.
With characters as colorful as New Yorked, and a setting as lovely as City of Rose, South Village brings us the best of Hart's writing: dark and brooding, but still, in the end, full of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read Ash McKenna's next installment, The Girl from Prague.
For Ash McKenna has now killed a man...and that fact is threatening to kill him. Leaving two worlds behind now (the slashed/burned New York and Portland), Ash has taken refuge in South Village, a sustainable living commune deep in the Georgia swampland. Plagued by summer heat and haunted by terrifying dreams, Ash copes in the only way he knows how: solitude and whiskey. Never a great combination.
But when the commune is rocked by a mysterious death...and then another one...Ash has no choice but to face his demons (and the horrors of DTs) in order to save a place he's learned to call home.
With characters as colorful as New Yorked, and a setting as lovely as City of Rose, South Village brings us the best of Hart's writing: dark and brooding, but still, in the end, full of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read Ash McKenna's next installment, The Girl from Prague.
September 21, 2016
The latest in the Ash McKenna series finds Ash in the last place you'd expect - a hippie commune. What I really love about the series is how Ash grows and develops, and actually sees consequences of the previous books in his new setting. Hart really nailed the hard realities of addiction and answering to oneself for violence left in one's path. Ash is more real than he's ever been on the page - and he was a wonderfully rendered character in New Yorked and City of Rose.
It was great to explore a new setting through Ash's eyes, at times I identified completely with his negative attitude toward the hippies he was living with, but I was still happy for him when he found human connections with the people willing to put up with him enough to get through the barrier. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.
It was great to explore a new setting through Ash's eyes, at times I identified completely with his negative attitude toward the hippies he was living with, but I was still happy for him when he found human connections with the people willing to put up with him enough to get through the barrier. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 16, 2016
With Rob Hart's third Ash McKenna novel, SOUTH VILLAGE continues to deal with the repercussions of Ash's questionable life decisions. Ash is dealing with the mental effects of the violence he has dealt to others, as well as the physical effects of his addictions. As dark as these topics are, SOUTH VILLAGE is leavened with themes of hope and healing. A must read for readers that can appreciate their protagonists who grow and change from book to book.
August 3, 2016
The best Ash book yet, which is saying a lot. Well-paced, great/unique setting and featuring some memorable characters. Hart builds on the strong NEW YORKED and CITY OF ROSE to craft a must-read third installment that goes to another level. Really enjoyed this one.
December 2, 2016
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