Title: The Teenage Mafia, Book 2: Playing Chess with Real Pieces
Author: Henry F. Tyler, III
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 9781463440077
Pages: 264, Paperback
Genre: Urban Action Thriller
Reviewed by: Beth Adams, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
The Teenage Mafia is back! Henry F. Tyler III now picks up with Book 2: Playing Chess with Real Pieces where the prequel left off. Continuing with the cast of characters so well etched in the readers’ mind from Book 1: Not Your Average Street Gang, it begins after Lewis is shot and wounded, recovering in the hospital when his gang identifies Redd, a Blood member as his assailant. Revenge sets into The Teenage Mafia gang, as they seek out to destroy and kill Redd and go to war with the Bloods before they find out Lewis wasn’t killed and come looking to finish the job.Henry Tyler continues embellishing his characters as he has in his debut book. He portrays the personality of the raw and raunchy XXX sex addict Eric, along with his girlfriend Honey and the harem of sluts he hangs with; bringing into his book an undercurrent of unabashed candor when it comes to carnal intentions. With the powerhouse hitter of Rosa Park High School’s star football linebacker, Willie, kicking the crap out of anyone that comes in his way, the descriptive violence is awesomely exploited. Willie’s personality is deepened by him knowing his future of becoming a NFL star rests on the edge of non-existence should he get identified as a gang member; having the mental pressure of being forewarned by a UCLA scout Mark Vaughn to quit his gangster activities before its too late. Henry Tyler adds Steven’s character to the mix by bringing in a cerebral level of balance to the gang, keeping the dialog focused on the money. Cleverly, he uses the L.A. Police Det. Hugo Lopez to weigh in a well articulated element of suspense; becoming the proverbial houndog-cop tracking the fugitives throughout the concrete jungle, picking up the shell casings from the aftermaths while sniffing out the scent of what’s going on. All of these characters are spun around the bank heists, jewelry robberies, drug deals, rip-offs and pressure relieving orgy sex as the gang prepares for battle; bringing down the Bloods.
Chess and gangs have some things in common: Bishops, Knights, a Queen and a King. To a gang these are ranks of power within the hierarchy of command. At the end of this book the coronation of these titles are bestowed to C-Loc and Whip as Henry F. Tyler III created a farewell scene in the airport. Steven, Zenobia, Lewis and Tammy were catching a flight to New York City as Eric, Willie and Jonny were there to see them off. After reading so much about these people, from so many revealing episodes of sex, violence, greed and drugs, I felt a uniquely inspired bond with these characters had developed. I felt Henry Tyler was bringing these people I had gotten to know (and enjoy although not condone) to a close like the curtain call in a play – all in front of the reader with parting ways, taking their “bow” – so to speak. I think that’s the true quality of Henry F. Tyler’s writing, inasmuch as you don’t have to like what these guys are doing to like them, because frankly they are unlike anyone I really know in real life.
I just hope that this isn’t the final curtain call, and maybe when the plane lands in NYC The Teenage Mafia might take a bite out of the Big Apple!
