A Case of Love and Squalor Paperback – August 25, 2014

Good read

Moral Code – A review of the novel ‘A Case of Love and Squalor’“It's not the pace of life I mind. It's the sudden stop at the end.” - Thomas HobbesAuthor Steve Myers’s novel ‘A Case of Love and Squalor’ features a no-nonsense PI mudding through the scum of the criminal world to attain salvation. Taking on what he thinks is an open-and-shut case for a quick pay out, he is quickly dragged deeper into the murk of human violence and brutality.Private investigator Joseph Andrews, aka Joe is quite literally the star of the show. He is a smart aleck who spews witty one-liners on unsuspecting victims and can cut down even the mightiest of opponents with his mean remarks. But then he is also extremely shrewd, intense and instinctive when it comes to his detective skills. In short, he is the pin-up boy for the quintessential ‘lovable jerk’. Apart from Joe, there are characters like Harold Forrest, Diane, Esme and the detectives who all stand out and are believable in their presentation.The narrative is fast-paced and rarely does it slow down and yet it manages to connect with you at a personal level. There’s plenty of action and some graphic imagery too and those who have the stomach for it will surely enjoy it.You’re bound to have a smile plastered on your face while reading Joe’s exploits and his witty comebacks. It would really be a shame if he doesn’t get a follow-up story or if this doesn’t turn into a long series.