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Layla's Score
Lefty is a black hitman working for the Chicago mob. Tasked with eliminating a mark, he kills the man and his wife, only to learn they have an infant daughter. Realizing the child is now alone in the world, Lefty takes her in and decides to raise her as his own. Years later, Lefty embarks on a trip across the country to pick up a freelance a once-in-a-lifetime hit with a two million dollar paycheck. Together with two-ex-colleagues and his daughter, they head to Detroit to take on a sadistic mob boss's son. When the stakes get high, can Lefty figure out who to trust - and keep his daughter safe? This book contains graphic violence and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
252 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2021
About the author
Andy Rausch
94 books52 followersAndy Rausch is the author or editor of more than fifty books. His nonfiction (as Andrew J. Rausch) includes My Best Friend's Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood (w/ Charles E, Pratt Jr.), and Perspectives on Stephen King.
His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.
He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.
His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.
He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 7, 2020
Markaveous “Lefty” Collins (black Chicago mob hitman) killed a white husband/wife.
Layla “Tator Tot” their white infant daughter was spared.
Lefty had decided to become a dad. He had named her after Eric Clapton’s famous song.
Tulsa, OK. Coney I-Lander served chili dogs.
Woodland Hills Mall. Layla rode the carousel.
Brooks Barker (black, retired US Army Vietnam) gave Layla some Neapolitan ice cream to keep her occupied.
Lefty had a proposition for Brooks that paid big dividends.
The hit is Bruno De Lorenzo (Antonio’s sadistic son, Detroit mobster).
Oklahoma City, OK. Dixie Jackson Brooks’ ex-wife (minister) is in on the deal also.
Detroit, MI. Belmont Penthouse. Lefty, Brooks, Dixie, & Layla had arrived.
The desk clerk was not going to rent anymore rooms.
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written gangster crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great gangster crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Terminal Velocity Books A Next Chapter Imprint; 1 edition; BookSirens; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Layla “Tator Tot” their white infant daughter was spared.
Lefty had decided to become a dad. He had named her after Eric Clapton’s famous song.
Tulsa, OK. Coney I-Lander served chili dogs.
Woodland Hills Mall. Layla rode the carousel.
Brooks Barker (black, retired US Army Vietnam) gave Layla some Neapolitan ice cream to keep her occupied.
Lefty had a proposition for Brooks that paid big dividends.
The hit is Bruno De Lorenzo (Antonio’s sadistic son, Detroit mobster).
Oklahoma City, OK. Dixie Jackson Brooks’ ex-wife (minister) is in on the deal also.
Detroit, MI. Belmont Penthouse. Lefty, Brooks, Dixie, & Layla had arrived.
The desk clerk was not going to rent anymore rooms.
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written gangster crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great gangster crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Terminal Velocity Books A Next Chapter Imprint; 1 edition; BookSirens; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
February 10, 2020
A Riveting Crime Thriller
What a remarkable page-turning story. The author merges into his narrative some past and present significant events, such as the mindsets of some police officers when approaching men of color, environmental concerns, racism, illegal drugs, war, domestic violence, and the Internet replacing brick-and-mortar businesses. The plot-driven story has some authentic and relatable characters, engaging dialogue, and explanatory settings. The complicated Lefty Collins is a hitman who takes on the raising of a child, Layla, whose parents he killed. Several years later, Lefty is hired to kill the son of a mob boss. But everything is not so straightforward when he brings along Brooks Barker and his ex-wife Dixie, and with the sudden appearance of Orlando into the picture, exposing some jolts, which I didn’t see coming, deception, disloyalties, infidelity, secrets and lies, rumors, and retribution, slowly building up to a bombshell ending that will leave you questioning, “Is there such as thing as honor among professional killers where faith, atonement, and forgiveness are achievable?” Although some of the dialogue can be graphic and comical at times, you will enjoy reading this action-packed story because there is so much more to Lefty Collins’ facade, where the layers are slowly being shed, but his relationship with Layla, Brooks, and Dixie keeps the narrative moving in so many different directions, making the story even more salacious.
What a remarkable page-turning story. The author merges into his narrative some past and present significant events, such as the mindsets of some police officers when approaching men of color, environmental concerns, racism, illegal drugs, war, domestic violence, and the Internet replacing brick-and-mortar businesses. The plot-driven story has some authentic and relatable characters, engaging dialogue, and explanatory settings. The complicated Lefty Collins is a hitman who takes on the raising of a child, Layla, whose parents he killed. Several years later, Lefty is hired to kill the son of a mob boss. But everything is not so straightforward when he brings along Brooks Barker and his ex-wife Dixie, and with the sudden appearance of Orlando into the picture, exposing some jolts, which I didn’t see coming, deception, disloyalties, infidelity, secrets and lies, rumors, and retribution, slowly building up to a bombshell ending that will leave you questioning, “Is there such as thing as honor among professional killers where faith, atonement, and forgiveness are achievable?” Although some of the dialogue can be graphic and comical at times, you will enjoy reading this action-packed story because there is so much more to Lefty Collins’ facade, where the layers are slowly being shed, but his relationship with Layla, Brooks, and Dixie keeps the narrative moving in so many different directions, making the story even more salacious.
September 23, 2019
If you want a fast read this one is for you. It starts when a hitman kills a couple, then finds they have a daughter. It is apparent from the rest of the book that the hitman takes the girl with him and adopts her as his daughter. Form there the killing, and the relationship of the hitman, others involved in the killing, and with the girl, grows. A mobster needs killing, the hitman asks for help doing it, and gets a man and his ex-wife in the bargain. Did I say bargain. Well maybe it turns out that way, maybe not? You read it to find out. The fast pace, and a compelling story earn the five stars.
March 15, 2022
If you like fast action, guns blazing, and dead bodies littering the floors, well then me bucko, you need to read this novel. An unusual hit man gets the whiff of a two-million dollar pay out for the first mobster who can eliminate a particularly nasty young mob boss.
I have to say, there is one scene which will indelibly be etched into your memory forever. A vivid image that'll be hard to forget.
I doubt if this book will be considered for a Pulitzer Prize for this year's best fiction. But then again, it wasn't written with that particular prize in mind. But you read it and judge for yourself.
I have to say, there is one scene which will indelibly be etched into your memory forever. A vivid image that'll be hard to forget.
I doubt if this book will be considered for a Pulitzer Prize for this year's best fiction. But then again, it wasn't written with that particular prize in mind. But you read it and judge for yourself.
September 24, 2019
A hitman you can't help liking
I found this book while searching for something else, and I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did because I found myself thoroughly enjoying this unusual crime thriller, featuring Lefty, who is a hitman. The story begins as we see Lefty as he closes in on his latest 'mark'. Things don't quite go to plan and he ends up killing not just the target, but his wife too. Leaving the house, he hears a baby crying. In a room he finds a two year old girl, crying for her mother.
Skip seven years and we see Lefty in his car with Layla. Unable to kill the littlr girl, he took her for his own and she has known no other father.
What follows is a fast moving, at times violent tale as Lefty goes in search of that, 'one last hit' that will allow him to retire from killing and devote himself to his and Layla's future. It was a real page turner, as I found myself wanting to know what happened next as the book progressed.
Thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining and kept me hooked from start to finish.
I found this book while searching for something else, and I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did because I found myself thoroughly enjoying this unusual crime thriller, featuring Lefty, who is a hitman. The story begins as we see Lefty as he closes in on his latest 'mark'. Things don't quite go to plan and he ends up killing not just the target, but his wife too. Leaving the house, he hears a baby crying. In a room he finds a two year old girl, crying for her mother.
Skip seven years and we see Lefty in his car with Layla. Unable to kill the littlr girl, he took her for his own and she has known no other father.
What follows is a fast moving, at times violent tale as Lefty goes in search of that, 'one last hit' that will allow him to retire from killing and devote himself to his and Layla's future. It was a real page turner, as I found myself wanting to know what happened next as the book progressed.
Thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining and kept me hooked from start to finish.
January 31, 2020
Did not finish (DNF)
Read prologue, chapter 1, and skipped to the end to see if the writing got any better. It did not.
Issues - (a) too much copula (to-be verbs); (b) too many overused words
(see example first paragraph of first chapter - were, had to go, told, went)
(c) Too many "said" and "asked".
(d) Opening scene in chapter 1 - like he hadn't been a father to a small girl for five years (this scene I can see when 4, not 7); crosses the line to titillating with two grown men standing around waiting for a 7-year old to pee; girl is acting more like 5 than 7 - and we are TOLD how smart she is instead of SHOWN.
DNF because of writing style and unbelievable character development content.
Read prologue, chapter 1, and skipped to the end to see if the writing got any better. It did not.
Issues - (a) too much copula (to-be verbs); (b) too many overused words
(see example first paragraph of first chapter - were, had to go, told, went)
(c) Too many "said" and "asked".
(d) Opening scene in chapter 1 - like he hadn't been a father to a small girl for five years (this scene I can see when 4, not 7); crosses the line to titillating with two grown men standing around waiting for a 7-year old to pee; girl is acting more like 5 than 7 - and we are TOLD how smart she is instead of SHOWN.
DNF because of writing style and unbelievable character development content.
March 6, 2021
Score of 3/5
This book had potential but it ended up primarily being a bang, bang, shoot’em up kind of story. Gory mob tortures and the like were just too much. I was hoping to see the story fast forward to Layla also becoming a hitter. The ending left me disappointed.
This book had potential but it ended up primarily being a bang, bang, shoot’em up kind of story. Gory mob tortures and the like were just too much. I was hoping to see the story fast forward to Layla also becoming a hitter. The ending left me disappointed.
October 28, 2020
Good Storyline
Fast pace reading. Suspense and action. Interesting and fun facts. Likable and colorful characters. Detailed. Easy reading. Would definitely recommend this author.
Fast pace reading. Suspense and action. Interesting and fun facts. Likable and colorful characters. Detailed. Easy reading. Would definitely recommend this author.
February 1, 2020
Hated it
I found this book very offensive...so much so that I elected not to complete it. Not my cup of tea!
I found this book very offensive...so much so that I elected not to complete it. Not my cup of tea!
March 26, 2021
This is an auspicious start to a writer I've just discovered. I don't think it's a deep book, not that it was meant to be, i think. Just escapist good and nasty crime yard that will over the years probably have dozens of sequels and continuations of the characters, as all writers seem to want these days. Right now I'm thinking I will probably be there for a few, if not many. I'm not all that familiar with George Higgins, but I feel like Andy Rausch must be a huge fan for me. That that as you will. I have a feeling Rausch writes on his i-phone. That's a valid thing. I do it, too. I like the whole ronin with baby vibe this story has. I look forward to following Layla's inevitable evolution to girl power ronin.
January 27, 2020
Kept me reading
Some parts were too gruesome for my taste. The story line was good. It kept me reading to see what was going to happen next.
Some parts were too gruesome for my taste. The story line was good. It kept me reading to see what was going to happen next.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews