When Lucas Winter, a retired professional wrestler, runs out of gas on a dark and desolate road, his only thoughts are on getting to the lights of the small town up ahead, getting some gas, and getting out of there…only things aren’t quite what they seem in the tiny town of Anaconda.

Before he has a chance to solve his transport problem, Lucas finds himself in trouble with the law after a local man picks a fight with him…and then ends up dead. Innocent, Lucas fights to clear his name, tangling with the local law enforcement and the family of the dead man, who seem set on taking their revenge. Can Lucas get out alive? And just what is it that the residents of Anaconda are hiding….

My thanks to Liz at Manatee Books for my review copy

I’m going to start with my wrap-up then roll backwards into the story  overview.

I loved Anaconda Vice. It was extremely readable, great fun, had a lead character that I got totally behind (probably the safest place when he is around) and the story was suitably twisty so it kept me guessing. Just what a bookworm wants.

Anaconda is small-town USA and it is not ready for retired wrestler Lucas Winter. Winter’s car grinds to a halt just outside Anaconda, he manages to get to the town and starts looking for assistance but it is nighttime and there are not many folk looking to help a weary traveler. After a long night Lucas manages to get the local mechanic to agree to recover his car – it takes a couple of attempts as the mechanic is not the sharpest tool in the box and Lucas seems to suffer from “smart-mouth” and doesn’t always know when it may be best not to speak. This smart mouth causes a number of problems throughout Anaconda Vice (but it makes for fun reading).

While the car is being rescued Lucas is guided to a local diner for breakfast.  His peace is shattered by a local trying to score cheap points at Lucas’s expense.  Not one to back down from a challenge Lucas soon finds himself pitted against the local and fists soon fly. The diner suffers damage and Lucas is invited to leave…pronto.  Seeking refuge in the local hotel Lucas plans to catch up on some shut-eye.  But his peace is not to last as 4 cops burst into his room, guns out, and Lucas allows himself to be arrested.

Accused of a crime he did not commit Lucas has to convince the local police of his innocence.  The only problem he will face is that the sheriff appears to defer to the local big businessman. The guy who runs the successful large factory in Anaconda and who holds the most sway over the residents. The businessman is extremely unhappy with Lucas as it transpires Lucas was arrested for murdering the businessman’s son – he wants Lucas dead and expects the police to hand him over so that “justice” can be served.

While the “stranger vs small town bullies” is not a new phenomenon there is a reason why these tales are told – we root for the outsider/the underdog and we want to see the bullies get put in their place. Anaconda Vice ticked all the right boxes for me – James Stansfield tells a great story and the pacing and excitement are pitched to perfection. Oh and one scene really upset me.  Generally I like when a book shocks me but this one was brutal *shakes an angry fist*

And we are back at the point in the review where we first came in…Anaconda Vice. Damned good story. Buy it.

Anaconda Vice is published by Manatee Books and is available to order here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anaconda-Vice-smart-paced-thriller-ebook/dp/B079P4TDX3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520546598&sr=8-1&keywords=anaconda+vice