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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rhett C Bruno is the USA Today and Washington Post Bestselling & Nebula Award Nominated Author of 'The Circuit Saga', 'Children of Titan Series', 'Buried Goddess Saga', 'Vicarious', 'The Roach', and 'The Luna Missile Crisis' (Audible Originals)

Publisher: Aethon Books (December 8, 2020) Page count: 306 Formats: ebook, paperback, audiobook

As a big fan of superhero fiction, I had to give this one a whirl. I love tropes deconstruction and The Roach does it with style and heart. Reese Roberts used to fight crime in Iron City. Unlike Batman or Daredevil, however, he didn’t believe in second chances and eliminated the scum for good. He was deadly efficient. Until a bullet pierced his spine and paralyzed him from the waist down.

Confined to a wheelchair, Reese turned into a wizened drunk and a recluse who wants to die. Then someone breaks into his lair and steals his suit. The copycat fights for justice, but his appearance activates an unhinged killer who has a score to settle with The Roach and others. All because of one feral knight that changed many lives.

I loved almost everything about the story. I listened to the audiobook version and R.C. Bray did a terrific job - he nailed Reese’s voice perfectly, making it bitter and full of rage. He also fits the gloomy setting of an Iron City with its narrow alleyways, tragic stories, and continuous rain.

Speaking of Reese - he’s hard to like, but he also shows how capable a disabled person can be. Reese has a secret lair and armor that allowed him to fight crime without getting too many bruises. But he’s no Bruce Wayne. He’s more like Frank Castle. Brutal and efficient. Willing to kill to make things “right”. Despite this, I cared for the bloke and loved his narration for its intensity. While he hates most people, his relationship with Lauren (a woman he once saved) and her daughter is as complex as it is touching. Then there’s Isaac and his mother who find a way through Reese’s shell.

Above all, The Roach delivers excellent, fast-paced fun for those who prefer their fiction on the darker side. Twists come where they should and all big twists are perfectly timed. Bruno has a knack for writing action and suspense - I couldn’t put the book down (or, rather, stop listening to it).

Read it if you love superheroes, dark fiction, and well-paced crime stories. It’s great.