Just Another Job That Doesn't Pay Very Well

by J.D. Graves

Originally appearing in BLACK MASK magazine #4, 2018. Here is a hard hitting tale of loyalty, love, and righteous jackasses.Uncle's BBQ is a dive joint in the middle of nowhere. Which makes it the perfect spot for the Mafia to run operations. When low level capo, Tony Spano's young wife loses her battle with cancer, he mourns her untimely death by wearing her clothes. And putting on her make-up. And then leaving the house. When the Don learns of this sudden change in Tony's behavior he sends a gift of a dozen black pansies. The message seems to be clear to everyone but Tony and his psychotic brother, Petey. Now it's up to the rest of the gang to convince their fearless leader to step aside or there will be more than BBQ smoking down at Uncle's. A guaranteed cheap thrill from the editor of Quality Cheap Thrills himself. EconoClash Review's Editor-in-Chief J.D. Graves.

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2020

Reviews

[Scott Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free short story from the editor of Econoclash Review previously published in Black Mask.

There's a fair bit of scene setting in this story, but once the Spanos brothers come into the story it really takes off, although some of the things mentioned in the synopsis are much clearer there than in the story itself. Can't fully complain when I didn't pay a penny to read it.

It's plenty humourous and explosive to make up for early faults.

Looking forward to the other stories I have from Graves.

[Troy Higginbotham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tense little story. Read it originally in black Mask. The ending is wild. But the journey there is both dark and disturbingly humorous.