Book Review: ‘Lola On Fire: A Novel’ By Rio Youers

The last book I read by Rio Youers was titled Halcyon and it was great. And now he’s back with his new book Lola On Fire and it is an early candidate for one of the best books of the year. It has it all with non-stop action, great characters and story set over a number of years and it has Lola, one of the best characters in years of reading books. Here’s hoping for more Lola adventures.

Lola has been on the run for many years from Mob boss Jimmy Latzo, when she thought she ended him but she didn’t. He has always vowed revenge on her. For young Brody Ellis taking care of his sister Molly, who needs medicine, is the most important thing to him. He robs a convience store in the early hours and on his way out he bumbs into a woman Blair Mayo and looses his wallet. This is the beginning of his world being upended. She uses it for a blackmail scheme. He needs to steal diamonds from his step-mother in return for his wallet and her keeping silent. But it’s a setup as he finds a murder victim while breaking in to the house. It turns out it’s all a plan to set him up and he goes on the run looking for the one person that might be able to help him, his mother Lola. It leads to an action pack adventure that leads to Lola and a final battle, one that is so awesome and shows just how bad-ass Lola is. Who survives this is what keeps the reader hooked. I’m not sure if there are plans for more Lola novels, I can only hope, as I would be down to read them.

You can pick up Lola On Fire from William Morrow on Tuesday, February 16.