This review is for: Spyder (Paperback)

Spine-tingling author David Fingerman goes in a bold new direction with the release of his 231-page book of fiction entitled SPYDER. (ISBN 978-1-60318-264-5) Named for the books main character, SPYDER takes us on a candid journey into the inner city of Everyday-Metropolis, USA. From a first person accounting, the author sets the reader on the edge of reality with nowhere to go but into the raw pulse of the human condition. Using a colorful combination of characterization and sarcasm, Fingerman moves readers across this edgy work with denial and fascination, creating the "I know it's tragic, but I can't help but watch" mentality. A sensation I find similar to enjoying Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Allow me to introduce you to Spyder, a thirty year old man who has already tasted the worse flavors life has to offer. "Actually, I go by the name of Spyder, that's Spyder spelled with a y. In my younger days living on the street, I got a black widow, complete with red hour-glass, tattooed on my right cheek just below the eye; about the same place a gang-banger tattoos a tear drop after he offs somebody. Thus, my name. It shows the high creative intellect that's out on the street." He's a man of crass wit possessing a bad ass survivalist approach to life in the drug filled alleys and wayward streets. "Let's see, I dissed the Latin Kings this morning; by noon tomorrow I'd be dissing the Vice Lords by not showing up. Hell, the day was young and I still had plenty of time to diss the Bloods, Crips, Disciples, and the Naturals to make me a complete moron and walking dead man. Not a problem. I licked the twenty clean of any remaining powder and walked out the door to see what the rest of the day might bring." Fingerman peels back the layers from the shunned world of opportunistic relationships that breed from the raw needs of addiction, violence, and homelessness. The book opens when Spyder's girl friend Olivia, a relationship of convenience rather than attachment, dies from an drug overdose, thus forcing Spyder to consider steady employment and sobriety over living hand to mouth and strung out on the city streets. From the violence of guns over taking Spyder's hard learned experience with a blade, and the fact that his body is aging pass the peak of his youthful days of becoming a street renowned VIP, to the loneliness that comes from a lack of familial support and emotional contentment, Fingerman paints Spyder's journey. What unfolds is one man's attempt to change his life, to build stability and relationships from scratch without possessing a single social skill other than the ones learned from surviving life on the streets. SPYDER begs the question: Can a man who has only known a life of drug dealing, gang violence, and the pitfalls of affection magnified under such a heated spotlight, find a peaceful existence within the structured expectations of civility? If you've read either of David Fingerman's books, the collection of short stories Edging Past Reality or his first novel Silent Kill, than you know it's a good bet you're going to love SPYDER, too. I couldn't put it down! I've read all his books, and he's quickly become one of my favorites because reading one Fingerman book doesn't mean you've read them all. He's versatile; a rare quality and a true mark of a great writer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Spyder - David Fingerman's latest in his down to earth style!, March 8, 2011

By Guardian Windowfrog (USA) -

This review is from: Spyder (Paperback) Spyder's gritty, rough life and his eventual realization of what he wants of life are very palpable. I've known REAL people like him. Your story is very convincing and a hell of a good read!

I review lots of suspense/mystery books being a reviewer for Suspense Magazine, and I thought that David Fingerman's Silent Kill stood up well against most I read. It kept me reading, engaged by the story. It is one of those stories where the reader gets to know things the main characters don't, but Fingerman never gave it all away.

Written in multiple points of view, sometimes depth of character can be sacrificed. But, I found myself rooting for Louise, Andrew and Elias's captives just the same, and in many different, torn sort of ways. I think the success of the characters was in the vast connections that the author made between them.

Elias was a tragic bad guy, and his character was where I really wanted to know more, more of his past which lead him to think the thoughts he did. Of course, us readers always want more. That has to be a compliment right there. Louise and Andrew on the other hand seemed to be built up together, unique characters for this type of story. Depth could be found in the layers of their lives. Gillespy, well I just never had a clear cut feeling about him, too complicated with such a jaded past, a character who struggles to be redeemed, but can they?. But, the best of all was the dog from the front cover - well I just loved him. What an amazing character he was, with a past, misdeeds, misfortunes and redemption all his own. I applaud this character! Wonderful :)

This is not a cozy mystery by any means. So if you like your murder mysteries/suspense stories with gore, a demented bad guy, violence, etc. I would say this one is for you. There is a lot going on in it as far as plot, some sub-plots that were not even resolved, but they didn't need to be or shouldn't be. The author kept adding in twists, and I know personally how much that takes to plan out. And, his knowledge on the subjects showed. The cop talk was all very believable.

The biggest compliment I can give here is that I checked this author out. And, I really want to read, Edging Past Reality, his collection of short stories. Plus, I look forward to finding out more about his two coming releases.