El Camino Drive by Edward Izzi

Author Edward Izzi has penned an emotionally gripping thrill in El Camino Drive, a psychological tale of stolen revenge and dead ends.

Decades after his father was murdered, Detective John Valentino has reached the end of his proverbial rope – battling depression and self-loathing, living the shell of a life, and unable to escape the demons of his past. When the violent and vengeful escape route he chooses is hijacked by someone else, he becomes the prime suspect in a string of murders, but also discovers a new reason to live.

Izzi explores ideas of grief and abandonment, substance abuse and depression, weaving these powerful themes into a stellar police procedural and a slippery whodunit. Not only is the premise unique, but the characters are robust and well-developed, bubbling over with emotional complexity and grit.

The language is straightforward, and the strong dialogue makes up for the occasionally flat or absent description. However, there are tense inconsistencies and awkward wording that need some work, though the prose is generally clean. With terse action and deep character background that makes readers feel like they’re part of the tangled Valentino clan, this is a dark and emotionally stirring novel that will leave you guessing to the very end.

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