Edgy themes weave throughout urban fiction, but when it comes to loyalty to the family, look out. This month’s selections show men willing to torture, kill, and destroy other males who dare lay their hands on their wives and children. But don’t forget the women. They, too, will stand by their man…maybe while holding a gun behind their back.
Cliff-hanging endings dominate November’s selections, but the return of one of the more intriguing and violent characters in street lit makes K’wan’s new novel my pick of the month.
PICK OF THE MONTH
K’wan. Animal III: Revelations. Cash Money Content: Atria. Nov. 2014. 232p. ISBN 9781936399932. pap. $14.99; ebk. ISBN 9781936399949. F 
K’wan (Ghetto Bastard; The Black Lotus) once again brings back one of urban fiction’s most conflicted characters in Animal, a reformed killer from the rough New York City streets. Having put away his guns, Animal now values his privacy with his wife, Gucci, and son T.J. in Los Angeles. But other folks have different plans, including his ex-mistress Red Sonja, who offers a deal that Animal cannot refuse. Like a Western hero weary of the fight, Animal reluctantly picks up his guns (that have the cool name Pretty Bitches) and returns to the mayhem. Arriving in New York City, the crew has to pull off a kidnapping, but the plan goes way wrong resulting in a hell of a shootout. As noted by one character, “ain’t no happy endings in the ghetto and ain’t no honor among thieves.” A different, more gentle side of Animal is shown here, yet when it comes to defending his family, an enraged killer emerges. VERDICT The author is at the top of his game with trademark violence; however, he also deftly pulls together his large cast and sends them through an intricate mystery. Characters from earlier books (Animal; Animal II: The Omen) return to K’wan’s stage; playing a large role is the Black Lotus, a ruthless assassin. A stunning cliff-hanging ending will have fans clamoring for more.
Noire. Red Hot Liar: The Misadventures of Mink LaRue. Dafina: Kensington. Dec. 2014. 263p. ISBN 9781617734915. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN 9782577470677. F
So what’s going on with audacious Mink LaRue after she’s milked the Texas Dominion family of big-time cash? Living La Vida Loca, she’s “rich, black, and beautiful!” and goes wild sexing up Suge, the Dominion family enforcer who “could slump the boogey-man and make a nightmare disappear.” Be careful of greed, hon, there’s plenty of folks who want to separate you from your dough, including Gigi Molinex, a grifter passing herself off as a reality show executive. Oh, yeah. Ex-boo Gutta is taking the bus from Harlem to Dallas hoping to grab Mink by the throat and get his money back. And by the way, Viceroy Dominion is running for office. Do ya think anyone can find dirt in his family? Maybe, but Mink expects to stay slick, rich and black, and everything was gonna be everything. VERDICT Noire’s “Mink LaRue” books (Natural Born Liar; Sexy Little Liar; Dirty Little Liar) make up a tip-top urban fiction series. Prepare yourself for great sass, sexy romps, and plenty of backbiting nastiness, plus Mink’s sidekicks, Bunni and Peaches, are scene-stealers. What’s not to like? Stay tuned, an edge-of-your seat finale assures more misadventures.
Rashaan, Shakir. Tempest: The Chronicles of the Nubian Underworld, Book 3. Strebor: Atria. (Zane Presents). Dec. 2014. 261p. ISBN 9781593095482. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN 9781476748900. F 
Participants of sexual dominance and submission shift their playground location from Atlanta to a Caribbean island aptly named Isle ne Bin-bener—The Island of Evil Pleasure. In this luxurious paradise sexual pleasure is the ultimate achievement, but sex isn’t accompanied with soft caresses and light touching. Dominant Ramesses—also called “Daddy”—oversees his empire of sexual dominants, slaves, and submissives who partake in such intense practices as Night of a Thousand Lashes or Fire Play. Ramesses’s partner is Neferterri—or “Goddess”—who enjoys her own games. Social rules are strictly enforced. Submissives rarely make eye contact with their masters, and punishment can be brutal. Arriving on the island are two dominants, Sir Lyrical and Domina Lorina, who focus their sexual desires on Ramesses and Neferterri. But this self-centered duo, unfortunately for them, makes a huge mistake by ignoring BDSM protocol. VERDICT Rashaan (The Awakening; Legacy) writes with a wicked hand in describing the sexual acts of these ultimate pleasure seekers. Some readers may feel there is TMI as sex flows from the erotic to physical torture that pushes the envelope of the pleasure/pain balance. Ramesses’s violent reaction to protect his “family” will surely raise eyebrows. Purchase with caution due this work’s extreme sexual content.
Sanders, Yolanda Tonette. Day of Atonement. Strebor: Atria. (Protective Detective: Bk. 2). Nov. 2014. 254p. ISBN 9781593095260. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN 9781476744551. F
Columbus, OH, homicide detective Tony Evans returns in the second installment (after Wages of Sin) of Sanders’s “Protective Detective” series. The book opens with a flashback scene set 30 years earlier in Houston. Young Tony and best friend Elvin ignore the pleas of Elvin’s sister, Elena, to play Atari with them, and the eight-year-old girl stomps away and vanishes. Three decades later her body has been found, but the now-adult Elana has only been dead a few days. Agreeing to help Elvin uncover the truth about Elana’s abduction, Tony and his family travel to Houston, combining a family visit with some cold case investigation. At Elana’s funeral a host of suspects appear, making for several red herrings as to who kidnapped Elana and held her captive for all those years. Combining his own investigative skills with those of private investigator B.K. Ashburn, Tony realizes someone from his own family might be the monster who killed Elana. VERDICT Sanders inserts sections emphasizing family relationships and how Tony struggles to be a strong father to his own son. Unfortunately the mystery of Elana’s abduction often takes a back seat to tangents on trusting in God for guidance in dealing with family tension. Even though the details of Elana’s struggle to survive are horrific, the resolution comes as a soft fizzle rather than a stunning thunderclap.