Driven

A Detective Angela Harwell Novel

By: Rick Jacobs, Rodney L. Rastall

Narrated by: Rodney L. Rastall

The victim of a traumatic childhood event, Angela Harwell's life is forever changed. As she grows up, she trains relentlessly and becomes a Domestic Violence Detective for the Memphis Police Department. A disturbing case of abuse puts Harwell on the trail of Tyrone "T-Bone" Reed, the ruthless head of a powerful gang called The Family. Rich, smart, and connected, the cunning gangster proves no easy target. A heartbreaking night of bloodshed, however, turns things personal for Harwell. Having lost everything she cares about, she becomes driven by revenge, vowing to crush Tyrone and The Family.

She is clearly outnumbered, but sometimes help comes from damndest places.

©2014 Richard L. Jacobs Sr. (P)2014 Rodney L. Rastall

So Memphis!

What did you love best about Driven?

Jacobs really gets the grit and funkiness of Memphis right. The characters, from the gangster Tyrone to the good-ol-boy West Memphis police chief, are all true to life. The menace is real, the conflicts are believable, and the dialogue is perfect. Gritty but real Memphis.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the characters, even the gangsters and the minor characters like the computer geek Rico and the cocktail waitress Jenny. Jacobs gives all of them just enough dimension (without slowing down the plot) that I feel like I will see these people the next time I'm in a Memphis bar. I also like the way he includes Memphis landmarks like the Redbirds ballpark, BB King's, and Harbor Town. (I would also like to thank Mr. Jacobs for avoiding the touristy, over-hyped Rendezvous as a location, by the way.) I've read many books that purport to be set in an interesting city (like New Orleans) but really could just be any urban environment. Memphis has a unique flavor, and Jacobs gets it right. I would know if he struck a wrong note, but that never happens. I suppose I could compare him to John Grisham. I definitely would say fans of The Firm and The Rainmaker will enjoy this book.

What does Rodney L. Rastall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It's hard to be objective about the narrator because he is an old and dear friend of mine, but I am an avid audiobook fan and have heard so many gifted narrators that I feel qualified to say that he is amazing. He is a Memphis guy, so he gets the voices and accents just right. Also, his pacing perfectly matches the urgency of the story. He has so many facets to his rich voice. He is frighteningly menacing as the uber-thug Tyrone and the Mexican drug lord Ricardo, but also vulnerable yet determined as the heroine Angela Harwell. There are moments of violence and moments of tenderness, love and death and humor, and Rodney is great at all of it. I look forward to seeing reviews from people who are further removed and more objective, but I think I'm right in saying this is pretty great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cried. I also gasped and yelled back at the book when the plot took sudden turns. Rodney's voice and Rick's writing skill made these people so real to me that I was completely enthralled.

Any additional comments?

I hope this book finds the wide audience it deserves. Due to violence, language, and drugs, it is for adults only. But anyone who enjoys a good, meaty, gritty crime thriller will love it. Due to the considerable talents of Mr. Rastall, I believe the best way to experience this book is as an audiobook. Thank you, Audible, for making this happen.

You know how it will end

You know how it is supposed to end but it holds on to you till the end. Enjoy some great reading. I see movie in the future

Addicting, Riveting, & Justifying!!!!

Covers all the social and economic issues of America today! Laced with tears, love, family, and pride. Takes you vicariously through the scenes of Memphis and the MidSouth so vividly that you can hear the blues, taste the BBQ and hear the crack of the bat at Autozone Park. To anyone who has been a victim of a violet crime, Harwell fights for you! To Rick & Rodney, I've read 42 books this year, best one EVER!