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Jake Caldwell #1
Poor Boy Road
As a mob enforcer, Jake Caldwell is in the dark business of breaking kneecaps and snapping bones. But each job sends him one step closer to turning into the man he swore he’d never become – his violent and abusive father. Leaving the mob is easier said than done. When his boss offers a bloody way out, Jake has no choice but to take it, even if it means confronting ghosts of old.
Arriving in his Lake of the Ozarks hometown, Jake has two things on his mind: kill ruthless drug lord Shane Langston and bury his dying father. What he doesn’t expect is to fall in love all over again and team up with his best friend Bear, the Sheriff of Benton County, to take Langston down. Racing through the countryside searching for Langston, the web of murder, meth and kidnapping widens, all pointing toward a past Jake can’t escape and a place he never wanted to return – Poor Boy Road.
Arriving in his Lake of the Ozarks hometown, Jake has two things on his mind: kill ruthless drug lord Shane Langston and bury his dying father. What he doesn’t expect is to fall in love all over again and team up with his best friend Bear, the Sheriff of Benton County, to take Langston down. Racing through the countryside searching for Langston, the web of murder, meth and kidnapping widens, all pointing toward a past Jake can’t escape and a place he never wanted to return – Poor Boy Road.
312 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2016
122 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
James L. Weaver
16 books81 followersJames L Weaver is the Kansas City author of the Jake Caldwell series from Wolfpack Publishing featuring:
• Poor Boy Road (Jake Caldwell Book #1) - IAN Thriller of the Year finalist,
• Ares Road (Jake Caldwell Book #2) - New Apple Official Selection for Thrillers and IAN Thriller of the Year finalist
• Blackbird Road (Jake Caldwell Book #3) - Solo Medalist Winner for the New Apple Book Awards Suspense/Thriller category
• Asylum Road (Jake Caldwell Book #4)
• Husker Road (Jake Caldwell Book #5)
• Anarchy Road (Jake Caldwell Book #6)
James makes his home in Olathe, Kansas with his wife and two children.
His previous publishing credits include his 5-star rated debut novel Jack & Diane, which is available on Amazon.com and has been optioned.
His limited free time is spent writing into the wee hours of the morning, working out, golfing, running, and binge-watching Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu – he’s not picky.
You can follow him on Twitter @jlweaverbooks.
• Poor Boy Road (Jake Caldwell Book #1) - IAN Thriller of the Year finalist,
• Ares Road (Jake Caldwell Book #2) - New Apple Official Selection for Thrillers and IAN Thriller of the Year finalist
• Blackbird Road (Jake Caldwell Book #3) - Solo Medalist Winner for the New Apple Book Awards Suspense/Thriller category
• Asylum Road (Jake Caldwell Book #4)
• Husker Road (Jake Caldwell Book #5)
• Anarchy Road (Jake Caldwell Book #6)
James makes his home in Olathe, Kansas with his wife and two children.
His previous publishing credits include his 5-star rated debut novel Jack & Diane, which is available on Amazon.com and has been optioned.
His limited free time is spent writing into the wee hours of the morning, working out, golfing, running, and binge-watching Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu – he’s not picky.
You can follow him on Twitter @jlweaverbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 16, 2016
I wish to thank Net Galley, Lakewater Press, Booklover Catlady Publicity, and Mr. James L. Weaver for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Poor Boy Road is the second novel by James L. Weaver. I was expecting a mystery. It is not a mystery, as we know who the bad guys are. We do, however, get kidnapping, murder, betrayal, some good action and suspense, and a hint of romance. But to me, the best thing about Poor Boy Road is the character study of protagonist Jake Caldwell. Jake is a “leg-breaker,” a guy who works in collections for a really bad dude. When a debtor can’t pay up, Jake’s job is to inflict physical pain. However, over the last few months, Jake has been using his own savings to pay off the debtors’ debts, as he doesn’t want to hurt basically decent people anymore. He has a lot of regrets, and he wants a second chance at a good life. Poor Boy Road is primarily the story of Jake’s quest for redemption.
I went into this book cold with low expectations, but I really warmed up to it as I kept reading. Though Jake is no angel, he has a basic core of goodness that I found compelling. He must come to terms with many issues, including (no spoilers here) the impending death of his no good father, what to do about the love of his life that he ran out on 16 years previously, the death of his brother, and his own impending demise if he doesn’t perform one more essentially impossible task for his boss. This isn’t all, but to tell more would involve spoilers.
The plot, though fairly basic, is very well executed. The pace is steady; there are no wasted words. I loved a number of the supporting characters, including the town sheriff, Bear; Jake’s high school lover, Maggie; and his sister, Janey. I even had a soft spot for drug criminal Willie. I really embraced the theme of people caught in a life of crime trying hard to break free and move towards a decent honest life.
Overall, I found Poor Boy Road to be a very enjoyable read. I believe it is the first book of a series, though there are no significant loose ends and certainly no cliffhanger ending; the ending, in fact, is very satisfying. I recommend the novel to anyone looking for some action and suspense and a really good character study. I am looking forward to book 2 of the Jake Caldwell series.
Poor Boy Road is the second novel by James L. Weaver. I was expecting a mystery. It is not a mystery, as we know who the bad guys are. We do, however, get kidnapping, murder, betrayal, some good action and suspense, and a hint of romance. But to me, the best thing about Poor Boy Road is the character study of protagonist Jake Caldwell. Jake is a “leg-breaker,” a guy who works in collections for a really bad dude. When a debtor can’t pay up, Jake’s job is to inflict physical pain. However, over the last few months, Jake has been using his own savings to pay off the debtors’ debts, as he doesn’t want to hurt basically decent people anymore. He has a lot of regrets, and he wants a second chance at a good life. Poor Boy Road is primarily the story of Jake’s quest for redemption.
I went into this book cold with low expectations, but I really warmed up to it as I kept reading. Though Jake is no angel, he has a basic core of goodness that I found compelling. He must come to terms with many issues, including (no spoilers here) the impending death of his no good father, what to do about the love of his life that he ran out on 16 years previously, the death of his brother, and his own impending demise if he doesn’t perform one more essentially impossible task for his boss. This isn’t all, but to tell more would involve spoilers.
The plot, though fairly basic, is very well executed. The pace is steady; there are no wasted words. I loved a number of the supporting characters, including the town sheriff, Bear; Jake’s high school lover, Maggie; and his sister, Janey. I even had a soft spot for drug criminal Willie. I really embraced the theme of people caught in a life of crime trying hard to break free and move towards a decent honest life.
Overall, I found Poor Boy Road to be a very enjoyable read. I believe it is the first book of a series, though there are no significant loose ends and certainly no cliffhanger ending; the ending, in fact, is very satisfying. I recommend the novel to anyone looking for some action and suspense and a really good character study. I am looking forward to book 2 of the Jake Caldwell series.
September 29, 2016
Good solid crime fiction. Not the most original plot, but well written. Fast paced and holds the reader’s attention.
Jake Caldwell works as a debt collector for a high level Kansas City crime lord. That means cracking heads and breaking bones as the job requires. Jake is good at his job. At least he used to be. When he first started out the people Jake confronted meant nothing to him, they were part of the job, “no different than a hamburger you’d flip at McDonald’s”. Somewhere along the line things changed, now he’s started to care, which means he can’t do the job the way it needs to be done anymore.
He’s tired and he wants out… if they’ll let him go.
A phone call from his sister Janey informs Jake that his estranged father is dying. Jake doesn’t really want to return to his family. But his boss has a deal for him: There is an up-and-coming rival drug lord in the same area, so if Jake can find the rival, and kill him, then he’s free to leave the organization. So, Jake reluctantly agrees to return to the “piss-ant Ozark town” that he ran away from sixteen years ago.
Poor Boy Road isn’t the most original or suspenseful story you’ll ever read. It falls into what I refer to as the “pleasant time waster” category. It won’t stick with you long after you’ve read it, but it’s a decent read. I wouldn't put it at the top of a long "to-read" list, but if you're looking around for something to read it's definitely worth a look.
I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley.
Jake Caldwell works as a debt collector for a high level Kansas City crime lord. That means cracking heads and breaking bones as the job requires. Jake is good at his job. At least he used to be. When he first started out the people Jake confronted meant nothing to him, they were part of the job, “no different than a hamburger you’d flip at McDonald’s”. Somewhere along the line things changed, now he’s started to care, which means he can’t do the job the way it needs to be done anymore.
He’s tired and he wants out… if they’ll let him go.
A phone call from his sister Janey informs Jake that his estranged father is dying. Jake doesn’t really want to return to his family. But his boss has a deal for him: There is an up-and-coming rival drug lord in the same area, so if Jake can find the rival, and kill him, then he’s free to leave the organization. So, Jake reluctantly agrees to return to the “piss-ant Ozark town” that he ran away from sixteen years ago.
Poor Boy Road isn’t the most original or suspenseful story you’ll ever read. It falls into what I refer to as the “pleasant time waster” category. It won’t stick with you long after you’ve read it, but it’s a decent read. I wouldn't put it at the top of a long "to-read" list, but if you're looking around for something to read it's definitely worth a look.
I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley.
August 19, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
POOR BOY ROAD by James L. Weaver features Jake Caldwell, a leg breaker for a local mobster who’s looking to retire as his heart is no longer in his work, or rather his heart is going out to those who he’s assigned to strong-arm, or their families that would be affected.
Keats is Jake’s boss and a feared mobster, who agrees to let Jake walk off into the sunset, albeit with one caveat; Jake must kill one of Keat’s competitors entrenched in Jake’s old stomping grounds named Langston.
Jake returns home with a heavy load as he’s required to put Langston down with only a short time before a deadline, meaning Jake will be on a hit list if not successful within a few days.
Stony is Jake’s abusive father who is in the last stages, and his sister Janey has asked him to return to help her out with Stony’s care.
Nicky was Jake’s late younger brother who was an addict, and surely his abuse at the hands of their father had a hand in his downfall.
Bear is Jake’s best friend going back to his childhood, and played high school football with Jake before becoming the local sheriff.
Maggie is Jake’s high school sweetheart who’s working at the convalescent home that he’s considered putting Stony in to live out his final days receiving the care that’s required in his condition.
Will Jake be able to handle all that’s been thrown at him to deal with simultaneously? Should Jake take Bear into his confidence and expose his criminal occupation and assignment to hit Langston?
Can Jake find it within himself to forgive his dying father for a lifetime of horrible mental and physical abuse to both him and his brother? Should Jake give a reunion with Maggie a chance, or has the life he’s lived closed the doors to any possible chance for a life for himself, or is it more likely that danger is present for anyone close to him?
James L. Weaver writes in a style that makes this book work well, and although admittedly being a sucker for most things “hick-lit”, I found this to be a good book that succeeds in spite of the difficult and at times depressing themes involved in Jake’s life going back to his childhood, yet somehow still gives reason for hope without any assurance that things will end well for anyone involved in his life.
Several instances of what took place in this mirrored events from my life, and I’m sure this would resonate with others for similar reasons.
POOR BOY ROAD is a ‘Jake Caldwell Thriller’ according to the cover, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series Ares Road when it’s available.
Recommended to lovers of rough & gritty small-town/rural based novels, and those who like to pull for heroes that are at best flawed, but somehow manage to cling to a set of self imposed rules to live by.
4 stars.
POOR BOY ROAD by James L. Weaver features Jake Caldwell, a leg breaker for a local mobster who’s looking to retire as his heart is no longer in his work, or rather his heart is going out to those who he’s assigned to strong-arm, or their families that would be affected.
Keats is Jake’s boss and a feared mobster, who agrees to let Jake walk off into the sunset, albeit with one caveat; Jake must kill one of Keat’s competitors entrenched in Jake’s old stomping grounds named Langston.
Jake returns home with a heavy load as he’s required to put Langston down with only a short time before a deadline, meaning Jake will be on a hit list if not successful within a few days.
Stony is Jake’s abusive father who is in the last stages, and his sister Janey has asked him to return to help her out with Stony’s care.
Nicky was Jake’s late younger brother who was an addict, and surely his abuse at the hands of their father had a hand in his downfall.
Bear is Jake’s best friend going back to his childhood, and played high school football with Jake before becoming the local sheriff.
Maggie is Jake’s high school sweetheart who’s working at the convalescent home that he’s considered putting Stony in to live out his final days receiving the care that’s required in his condition.
Will Jake be able to handle all that’s been thrown at him to deal with simultaneously? Should Jake take Bear into his confidence and expose his criminal occupation and assignment to hit Langston?
Can Jake find it within himself to forgive his dying father for a lifetime of horrible mental and physical abuse to both him and his brother? Should Jake give a reunion with Maggie a chance, or has the life he’s lived closed the doors to any possible chance for a life for himself, or is it more likely that danger is present for anyone close to him?
James L. Weaver writes in a style that makes this book work well, and although admittedly being a sucker for most things “hick-lit”, I found this to be a good book that succeeds in spite of the difficult and at times depressing themes involved in Jake’s life going back to his childhood, yet somehow still gives reason for hope without any assurance that things will end well for anyone involved in his life.
Several instances of what took place in this mirrored events from my life, and I’m sure this would resonate with others for similar reasons.
POOR BOY ROAD is a ‘Jake Caldwell Thriller’ according to the cover, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series Ares Road when it’s available.
Recommended to lovers of rough & gritty small-town/rural based novels, and those who like to pull for heroes that are at best flawed, but somehow manage to cling to a set of self imposed rules to live by.
4 stars.
December 11, 2015
As James L. Weaver's editor, I can't speak highly enough about this author. He's hard working and dedicated and that shows in his work. Poor Boy Road is an incredibly well-written good time read. There are no attempts to tick diversity and trend boxes, James wrote this to provide entertainment for his readers. His voice is smooth and clear, and his attention to detail and observations are vivid. It's a book that grabbed me from the outset, and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. And that was one of earlier drafts. Now it's a thousand times more addictive.
It's fast, exciting, funny, dark, emotional and raw, all at the same time. Even if a reader can predict the ending, it won't matter because the fun part is finding out the characters reach it.
Jake Caldwell is a character that will be sticking around for years to come. With plenty of books planned in the series, he's set to be a firm favourite with readers and will gain fans daily.
If you need a bit of escapism, a good time, and entertaining read, then this book is for you.
It's fast, exciting, funny, dark, emotional and raw, all at the same time. Even if a reader can predict the ending, it won't matter because the fun part is finding out the characters reach it.
Jake Caldwell is a character that will be sticking around for years to come. With plenty of books planned in the series, he's set to be a firm favourite with readers and will gain fans daily.
If you need a bit of escapism, a good time, and entertaining read, then this book is for you.
December 26, 2015
A very good action/suspense. I even got a bit emotional over Jake's sad childhood. Pity about the luke warm-ish romance. Almost non existing. I hope we'll read more about Jake and Maggie's rekindled love in the next book.
I totally enjoyed this. Looking forward to book #2 next.
I totally enjoyed this. Looking forward to book #2 next.
September 25, 2018
I didn't like this as well as Ares Road but it was okay. I love suspense but this is very violent, too gritty for me.
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
My Rating: 3.5 stars
March 1, 2017
4.5 stars.
Poor Boy Road is the first in a series featuring mob enforcer, Jake Caldwell. In fact, Jake very much wants to be an ex-mob enforcer but the price for this is killing his mob boss’s rival drug lord, Shane Langston. This will mean returning to his hometown which holds nothing but bad memories – of his troubled childhood at the hands of his violent father (now close to death), the trauma of his brother’s death and his abandonment of the woman he loved.
Although the book follows a fairly well-trodden path, it is a really entertaining read. Key to this is that, despite his dubious past exploits, Jake Caldwell makes an engaging protagonist who one feels still retains his moral compass. It is to the author’s credit that we care about Jake, who comes across as something of a “lost soul” seeking a path to redemption despite the “Devil’s bargain’ he’s had to make with his mob boss, Keats.
'Sometimes he stared in the mirror at hollow eyes, seeing the face of a man who hid in the shadows, a man he swore he’d never become.’
In fact, many of the characters in the book are looking for a way out: from poverty, crime, drug and alcohol addiction, family breakdown or domestic violence. The author creates a convincing picture of life in small-town America where your life chances can be measured by which side of Poor Boy Road you reside.
‘Every town, every city had their economic dividing line between the haves and the have nots. Poor Boy Road was their line.’
The book is full of twists and turns with plenty of action as Jake teams up with his old friend, Bear, now Sheriff of Benton County, to frustrate the drug gangs that menace the community and achieve the goal that will give Jake the chance to make a new start in life. Along the way he has to confront unpleasant memories, particularly his troubled relationship with his father, in the hope that he can stop trying to ‘outrun the ghosts’.
I really enjoyed Poor Boy Road and I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Ares Road.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Lakewater Press in return for an honest review.
To read this and reviews of other great reads, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
Poor Boy Road is the first in a series featuring mob enforcer, Jake Caldwell. In fact, Jake very much wants to be an ex-mob enforcer but the price for this is killing his mob boss’s rival drug lord, Shane Langston. This will mean returning to his hometown which holds nothing but bad memories – of his troubled childhood at the hands of his violent father (now close to death), the trauma of his brother’s death and his abandonment of the woman he loved.
Although the book follows a fairly well-trodden path, it is a really entertaining read. Key to this is that, despite his dubious past exploits, Jake Caldwell makes an engaging protagonist who one feels still retains his moral compass. It is to the author’s credit that we care about Jake, who comes across as something of a “lost soul” seeking a path to redemption despite the “Devil’s bargain’ he’s had to make with his mob boss, Keats.
'Sometimes he stared in the mirror at hollow eyes, seeing the face of a man who hid in the shadows, a man he swore he’d never become.’
In fact, many of the characters in the book are looking for a way out: from poverty, crime, drug and alcohol addiction, family breakdown or domestic violence. The author creates a convincing picture of life in small-town America where your life chances can be measured by which side of Poor Boy Road you reside.
‘Every town, every city had their economic dividing line between the haves and the have nots. Poor Boy Road was their line.’
The book is full of twists and turns with plenty of action as Jake teams up with his old friend, Bear, now Sheriff of Benton County, to frustrate the drug gangs that menace the community and achieve the goal that will give Jake the chance to make a new start in life. Along the way he has to confront unpleasant memories, particularly his troubled relationship with his father, in the hope that he can stop trying to ‘outrun the ghosts’.
I really enjoyed Poor Boy Road and I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Ares Road.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Lakewater Press in return for an honest review.
To read this and reviews of other great reads, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
December 11, 2015
Amazing!!! Unlike anything I've ever read. Completely enthralling and interesting from start to finish. 100% recommend!
December 7, 2018
I'm not really a big thriller fan. Though I've read some and enjoyed them, they aren't what I would automatically reach for when I need something to read. That being said, Poor Boy Road has one hell of a protagonist. Jake Caldwell is a complex and intriguing character who transcends the thriller genre. He's intelligent and tough, but beneath that wounded and incredibly vulnerable. He makes mistakes - a lot of them - but he always admits to them and never cuts himself any slack.
I loved that Weaver kept Jake from being a Marty-Stu character (as so many recurring male characters in the thriller genre are) and instead created a real and indelible person.
This one is definitely worth a read and I look forward to what else Weaver has up his literary sleeve.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an eARC in return for an honest review. I am also a fellow author with Jim at Lakewater Press. My comments on Poor Boy Road, for all that, were honest and heartfelt. Take them as you will.
I loved that Weaver kept Jake from being a Marty-Stu character (as so many recurring male characters in the thriller genre are) and instead created a real and indelible person.
This one is definitely worth a read and I look forward to what else Weaver has up his literary sleeve.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an eARC in return for an honest review. I am also a fellow author with Jim at Lakewater Press. My comments on Poor Boy Road, for all that, were honest and heartfelt. Take them as you will.
December 15, 2016
Thrillers aren't usually my kind of book, but this one has a very good, fast-paced story.
Now, onto making the portraits for this book!
Now, onto making the portraits for this book!
February 25, 2017
I have a life-long obsession with all things mob related and am often disappointed with the books that purport to have mob-related characters or story lines. POOR BOY ROAD was not a disappointment. I was hooked from the first paragraph.
Jake Caldwell is an enforcer for the mob. Now he’s heading home where the abusive father he escaped from years ago is dying. He is also on deadline, his boss has given him a way out of the “business” only it involves taking his bone-breaking work to the next level: murder.
Jake’s new life and the old collide as he faces family obligations, old friends, a rekindled love, and the ticking clock of a murderous and unforgiving boss.
POOR BOY ROAD is a fast-paced thriller that was hard to put down. It is well written with realistic characters and dialogue. My interest never waned and I really cared about the characters. This is a story that could be happening in any town right now, which makes it even more realistic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Jake Caldwell is an enforcer for the mob. Now he’s heading home where the abusive father he escaped from years ago is dying. He is also on deadline, his boss has given him a way out of the “business” only it involves taking his bone-breaking work to the next level: murder.
Jake’s new life and the old collide as he faces family obligations, old friends, a rekindled love, and the ticking clock of a murderous and unforgiving boss.
POOR BOY ROAD is a fast-paced thriller that was hard to put down. It is well written with realistic characters and dialogue. My interest never waned and I really cared about the characters. This is a story that could be happening in any town right now, which makes it even more realistic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
August 29, 2017
Poor Boy No More
Put together a tiebreaker trying to get out of the Life, a dying abusive father, drug dealers, and lowlife, and you've got one shell of a tale ! James Weaver casts his spell on you while he weaves this story around you.
Put together a tiebreaker trying to get out of the Life, a dying abusive father, drug dealers, and lowlife, and you've got one shell of a tale ! James Weaver casts his spell on you while he weaves this story around you.
November 14, 2019
This book rates a 10
This has to be one of the best books I've read in awhile. The characters are so real and it addresses the drug problems plaguing the country. It shows the lengths people will go to get their product on the street. I highly recommend this to read.
This has to be one of the best books I've read in awhile. The characters are so real and it addresses the drug problems plaguing the country. It shows the lengths people will go to get their product on the street. I highly recommend this to read.
November 2, 2017
Whew..a gripping thriller and I for one hope I never wander down anything remotely like Poor Boy Road. James Weaver deftly draws you into a horrifying world of bone crunching acts, drugs, sketchy characters, and a sad history that has you rooting for the hard-nosed Jake the entire way. It's good to know there will be a sequel!
August 6, 2018
Fun
The book kept me going trying to figure out what new twists it was going to take. I’m looking forward to reading more books in the series
The book kept me going trying to figure out what new twists it was going to take. I’m looking forward to reading more books in the series
November 27, 2018
Excellent read!
Great story line! A little down home, a few skeletons in the closet and a lot of edge of your seat action makes for a great book and this one has it all!
Great story line! A little down home, a few skeletons in the closet and a lot of edge of your seat action makes for a great book and this one has it all!
November 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I received a copy of the 3rd book so of course I had to start from the beginning. I liked the characters, they were pretty relatable. It did seem to drag at times but it held my interest. I moved right on to book 2.
February 8, 2018
Very thrilling story.
This book kept me engaged at all times. With a very well written plot and likable and believable characters, it’s easy to read and entertaining at the same time.
I recommend this book to anyone over 18 who likes thrillers.
This book kept me engaged at all times. With a very well written plot and likable and believable characters, it’s easy to read and entertaining at the same time.
I recommend this book to anyone over 18 who likes thrillers.
March 1, 2017
Continuously moving, packed with tension and suspense, Poor Boy Road is a gritty and dirty mob verses drug gang story that no one can really win.
Jake Caldwell, bone breaker for the mob, wants out. His dad is dying and Jake is called home for his father’s last days. Unfortunately, Jake’s home town happens to be the stomping ground for his boss’s rival. His boss offers him a choice. While he is home for his father’s last moments he must take out Shane Langston… If he doesn’t, Jake’s way out involves a box with his name on it. It’s not really a choice. But going home stirs up more than just bad memories.
James L. Weaver has written a gripping tale full of tension and suspense. This was a very enjoyable read. The second half simply flew by. The characters are rich with history and backstory. Even then typical bad guys have depth. The town has such a realistic feel that you start to eye back alleys and side streets with suspicion and old country back roads with a heathy amount of fear. I’m really looking forward to Jake’s next story in Ares Road
Jake Caldwell, bone breaker for the mob, wants out. His dad is dying and Jake is called home for his father’s last days. Unfortunately, Jake’s home town happens to be the stomping ground for his boss’s rival. His boss offers him a choice. While he is home for his father’s last moments he must take out Shane Langston… If he doesn’t, Jake’s way out involves a box with his name on it. It’s not really a choice. But going home stirs up more than just bad memories.
James L. Weaver has written a gripping tale full of tension and suspense. This was a very enjoyable read. The second half simply flew by. The characters are rich with history and backstory. Even then typical bad guys have depth. The town has such a realistic feel that you start to eye back alleys and side streets with suspicion and old country back roads with a heathy amount of fear. I’m really looking forward to Jake’s next story in Ares Road
March 2, 2016
A SUPERB STORY ABOUT SEEKING REDEMPTION FROM A VIOLENT UPBRINGING - 5 STARS
As a mob enforcer, Jake Caldwell is in the business of breaking kneecaps and snapping bones, but leaving the mob is easier said than done. When his boss offers a bloody way out, Jake has no choice but to take it, even if it means confronting ghosts of old, mainly his upbringing by a violent and abusive father. Arriving in his hometown, Jake must kill ruthless drug lord Shane Langston and bury his dying father. The search for Langston sees Jake fall in love all over again and team up with his best friend, the Sheriff of Benton County and it involves a web of murder, meth and kidnapping.
Poor Boy Road is primarily the story of Jake’s quest for redemption following the period of his life after having his knee destroyed by his father, thus ending a promising football career. He skipped his home town leaving his girlfriend and best friend behind only to return sixteen years later under order from his mob boss.
I really like stories about people working their way back to a decent life and this is very much one of the better such tales I have read. I breezed through the 270 odd pages in a couple of nights and was enthralled from start to the very satisfying finish. Jake is a complex and intriguing character, intelligent and tough, but at the same time wounded and vulnerable. He has made and continues to make a lot of mistakes but never offers excuses for any of them.
This is the first in a hopefully long series about Jake and his friends and, I guess, enemies. The side characters added depth to the story and the way their interaction with Jake was described left me looking forward to the next instalment. Two have been mentioned above but there is also Jake's sister Janey and the author's description of their upbringing was harrowing and an excellent backdrop to the whole story.
The plot is well executed, the pace is steady, the story is believable and does not drift into waffle. It is a wonderful, character-driven thriller with a fair dollop of violence, but the violence is not wanton, it is necessary to tell Jake's story. I recommend this to everyone who has an interest in the crime/thriller genre.
Dexter95
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
As a mob enforcer, Jake Caldwell is in the business of breaking kneecaps and snapping bones, but leaving the mob is easier said than done. When his boss offers a bloody way out, Jake has no choice but to take it, even if it means confronting ghosts of old, mainly his upbringing by a violent and abusive father. Arriving in his hometown, Jake must kill ruthless drug lord Shane Langston and bury his dying father. The search for Langston sees Jake fall in love all over again and team up with his best friend, the Sheriff of Benton County and it involves a web of murder, meth and kidnapping.
Poor Boy Road is primarily the story of Jake’s quest for redemption following the period of his life after having his knee destroyed by his father, thus ending a promising football career. He skipped his home town leaving his girlfriend and best friend behind only to return sixteen years later under order from his mob boss.
I really like stories about people working their way back to a decent life and this is very much one of the better such tales I have read. I breezed through the 270 odd pages in a couple of nights and was enthralled from start to the very satisfying finish. Jake is a complex and intriguing character, intelligent and tough, but at the same time wounded and vulnerable. He has made and continues to make a lot of mistakes but never offers excuses for any of them.
This is the first in a hopefully long series about Jake and his friends and, I guess, enemies. The side characters added depth to the story and the way their interaction with Jake was described left me looking forward to the next instalment. Two have been mentioned above but there is also Jake's sister Janey and the author's description of their upbringing was harrowing and an excellent backdrop to the whole story.
The plot is well executed, the pace is steady, the story is believable and does not drift into waffle. It is a wonderful, character-driven thriller with a fair dollop of violence, but the violence is not wanton, it is necessary to tell Jake's story. I recommend this to everyone who has an interest in the crime/thriller genre.
Dexter95
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
July 5, 2016
I know Jim Weaver. Jim Weaver is a friend of mine. He served on a government affairs committee I staffed some years ago. I knew he was writing detective/modern noir/crime books, whatever they are called. Frankly, I feared the worst. I'm not a fan of the genre. I've read others' amateur attempts at these stories over the years. I did not want not to like a book that Jim Weaver, a very good guy, wrote. But, a week ago, I ran into Jim at our annual meeting and he gave me a copy of this, published by an Aussie publisher breaking into the US market. I can not imagine a better first book written in this genre. I'm an English major, a former English teacher. I have to quibble with the use of every cliche in this business, which works, though, since it is so much a part of these stories. Even with that, this is better than most of the books I've picked up over the years in airports or summer cottages and my wife's night stand. The tone, pace, plot are all top notch. I'd like to know a little more about the setting, as James Lee Burke writes settings in his books about Louisiana. I'd like a little more about the characters, even for this genre. But to write this level of book and get it published from a guy with a more-than-full-time professional job puts all the English majors who do not write and especially all the English majors getting MFAs to shame. A great achievement by Jim Weaver. Thanks, Jim.
March 2, 2016
I received a free advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Poor Boy Road is a very well written and entertaining novel full of action and suspense with murder, betrayal, kidnapping, and even a little romance. The characters are well developed and well rounded. The main character, Jake Caldwell, is an enforcer, a real bad dude, who breaks kneecaps and bones but he has a heart and is having second thoughts about what he’s doing and is looking for a way out. He is smart, tough, vulnerable, and very human. The plot is well executed and developed fully. The supporting characters add a great deal to the story. There is never a dull moment. The story held my attention to the very end. This book is definitely worth reading and I look forward to reading more about Jake Caldwell in the future.
February 17, 2016
This is the first James Weaver book that I have read, and I really enjoyed it. Jake Caldwell is a great tough guy character, which you can’t help but like. The Author has done a great job of filling in Jake’s background, and taking us back to his past. You can see from the way his father treated him growing up, that it shaped him into who he is. This story ticked all the boxes for me. It was entertaining, it kept my attention and I wanted to keep reading it. Great ending. I’ll be keeping an eye out for James Weaver’s next book.
January 24, 2016
Jake Caldwell is a richly tortured character worth rooting for.
The environment is well crafted and the side characters add depth.
When I finished the story I was sad, only because it ended so well and I had nothing to return to reading after a long day.
I hope there is more in store for Jake Caldwell.
The environment is well crafted and the side characters add depth.
When I finished the story I was sad, only because it ended so well and I had nothing to return to reading after a long day.
I hope there is more in store for Jake Caldwell.
April 24, 2016
Gripping, page turner!
Maybe I'm biased since I happen to be from Warsaw, MO, and knew the setting inside and out, but I could not put this book down! The storyline, character development, and writing was beyond my expectations! This book is the raw, brutal truth surrounding a small, beautiful, lake town plagued by the nastiness of meth, mafia and mayhem. Absolutely loved it!
Maybe I'm biased since I happen to be from Warsaw, MO, and knew the setting inside and out, but I could not put this book down! The storyline, character development, and writing was beyond my expectations! This book is the raw, brutal truth surrounding a small, beautiful, lake town plagued by the nastiness of meth, mafia and mayhem. Absolutely loved it!
January 20, 2017
Loved this book! Jake did not seem like the typical character I'd want to read about, but it wasn't long before I found myself wanting to know his every move and unable to put the book down. I can't wait to read the next book to see what Jake does next!
March 24, 2016
Very well written and easy to read. Couldn't put it down. Great read.
July 25, 2016
Excellent, gripping story with a superb protagonist who redeems himself.
January 18, 2024
This is the first book in the thriller series that features Jake Caldwell as the primary character. Jake is an enforcer for Mr. Keats, a Kansas City Drug Lord. Jake seldom, if ever, has had to kill people for his K.C. boss. He usually is the leg breaker for people with past due debts. Jake is no longer happy with his current employment situation. In this story, Jake wants out of the criminal group and offers to kill Shane Langston a rival Drug Lord from a more rural part of Missouri who is trying to encroach upon Mr. Keats’ territory with the condition that Jake be released from further criminal activity, without harm, once the mission is accomplished. Will Jake succeed? Will Mr. Keats honor his deal with Jake? Those are the two central mysteries this story will try to unravel. But, these two problems are actually just the start of the problems, complications and obstacles Jake will encounter in this thriller. This is a very well written and an engaging thriller. The characters are well drawn and very realistic. The dialogue rings true to the type of people (i.e. criminals) involved in this storyline. The climatic encounter with the Langston gang is very violent and suspenseful. This book is an excellent entry into the thriller genre of fictional stories. As a side comment, there is a brief and rather short cryptic reference to the fictional Jack Reacher character as written by the author Lee Child. The implication is that Caldwell met Jack Reacher in Colorado at some time in the past. I have not tried to verify that encounter by reaching back into the Reacher series. Nor does that encounter seem to have any relevance to this story.
November 22, 2018
Wow, loved it. 4 1/2 stars
I was completely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's not my usual read, but it came highly recommended so I wanted to give it a go. It took me a little while to get into but once I was in I was hooked.
James has written such real characters I felt their pain and desperation, even poor Willie. I loved the relationship between Jake and Bear, their banter and insults made the friendship incredibly real.
This book was action packed, and combined with everyday drama that, like in real life, doesn't always have perfect timing, it kept me turning the pages and disappointed when I had to put it down.
This was a great stand alone, but I will definitely be reading #2.
I was completely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's not my usual read, but it came highly recommended so I wanted to give it a go. It took me a little while to get into but once I was in I was hooked.
James has written such real characters I felt their pain and desperation, even poor Willie. I loved the relationship between Jake and Bear, their banter and insults made the friendship incredibly real.
This book was action packed, and combined with everyday drama that, like in real life, doesn't always have perfect timing, it kept me turning the pages and disappointed when I had to put it down.
This was a great stand alone, but I will definitely be reading #2.
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