Author: Troy Cook

Publishers: Capital Crime Press

ISBN: 0977627667

Expanding on his literary talents, writer-director Troy Cook has developed his own quirky style by entering the comedy-mystery arena with his debut novel 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers. Using quirky humor with mystery is a tricky balancing act that’s a feat for even the most seasoned writer, yet Cook manages to pull it off deftly.

The plot takes place in the Florida Panhandle and centers on a psychopath, Wyatt Evans, and his daughter Tara. After her mother is murdered, Tara, at the tender age of nine, is drawn into the world of crime by her evil father. The father and daughter team don’t think about robbing banks and killing anyone who gets in their way, as they adhere to their own set of forty-seven rules. In his world, crime does pay, and as long as you follow the rules you’ll get away with it, no matter how bad it seems.

Wyatt is also obsessed with completely controlling Tara and when at the age of twenty-two she falls in love with and runs away from Max, the son of a small town sheriff, you can well imagine her father’s ballistic response. Nothing short of murdering Max herself will satisfy her, as she chases lovers from town to town. Tara realizes that she can take care of herself and maybe, as she muses, this is why her father grabbed her so hard. However, running away from her father doesn’t completely change her lifestyle, as she continues to rob banks, while at the same time teaching her new love Max a trick or two.

The pacing of the story moves steadily forward, building in intensity as Max’s father Williams, as well as lawmen Dawkins and Stratton, pursue Wyatt and the love couple. Featured in the cast of characters and rollercoaster plot is Wyatt’s former criminal partner, Pete, who came up with a great idea with his partner and his muscular Bull. Why not go out and rob Wyatt? They will have all the money of a banking job with none of the work involved.

All of this makes for a wacky hybrid novel with skillfully played bizarre characters that is sure to please avid readers of this genre, as well as newcomers, as it pushes all the right buttons. We even can’t help but feel a kind of bond with some of the characters, particularly Tara and Max, who we hope will change their ways.