Joe Newell’s SCOUNDRELS & COCKTAILS introduces readers to Reid Franco, a sardonic narrator whose résumé reads like a barstool confession: former MLB pitcher, stunt double, and now a self-described “problem interceptor.” The novel unfolds as a series of episodic cases narrated in Franco’s conversational voice, blending crime fiction with comedic noir and Southern barroom storytelling.
The book’s greatest strength is its distinctive narrative voice. Franco’s dry wit and unfiltered observations can be found in such lines as “I help people, whether they ask for it or not, and “I’m like a bad case of the clap." This tone drives the story forward, often turning routine moments—traffic jams, bar banter, or stakeouts—into entertaining character moments. The opening chapters immediately establish this voice as Franco drifts into daydreams about business cards listing his questionable life achievements (before stumbling into a case involving a trafficked teenage girl).
Newell's ability to create both an engaging protagonist and to find the humor in each of Franco's misadventures adds a flavor to the novel that makes it so unique. Newell has a gift for creating memorable and vibrant supporting characters. The regulars at Sluggers Bar, such as the former professional baseball player now working as a bartender, the argumentative friends of his who are also there to drink, and other familiar faces add an atmosphere of familiarity and comedic relief to the stories that Franco tells about his own investigations. These supporting characters help ground Franco's seemingly aimless wanderings as an investigator and provide the book with a sense of geography.
While this episodic style lends itself to some great moments of humor, the jumping around from one case to another can disrupt the narrative flow. At times the novel's pace will falter, and some of the narrative elements may seem more like anecdotal experiences than well-developed plot lines. Additionally, some scenes will run on a bit too long, particularly those involving dialogue (which can slow down the momentum of the story).
Despite the fact that there are some structural issues, SCOUNDRELS & COCKTAILS is still a successful example of a character-driven crime romp. As such, readers who are looking for a crime-detective type of genre that includes a strong element of humor (like Carl Hiaasen and Robert B. Parker books) will most certainly enjoy Franco's sarcastic comments and the moral ambiguity of the situations he finds himself in. The combination of Franco telling his stories while sitting at the bar with his cast of colorful characters and the investigations that Franco gets involved in will keep people reading through the novel's ups and downs.
SCOUNDRELS & COCKTAILS is best enjoyed as a collection of adventures by an enjoyable narrator and less as a tightly plotted thriller. It is Franco's voice, the numerous characters surrounding him, and the feeling that Franco's next wild adventure is waiting at the end of the bar that make up the novel's charm.
Joe Newell’s SCOUNDRELS & COCKTAILS offers an entertaining, voice-driven crime narrative whose witty protagonist and colorful barroom world outweigh occasional pacing and structural issues.
~ Felix Metiagi for IndieReader