Guaranteed Heroes by William Lashner is an intriguing & thought-provoking book. It was slow starting but picked up the pace & the characters were well developed. I gave it four stars.

I will remember Moonis Fell, Cecily Fell, Clyde Sparrow & Garth for a long time. Each character had individual strengths & weaknesses that were clearly delineated.

"This side of the river is a vacuum in which the worst impulses of humanity have been left to fester & grow." Garth told Cecily who was also known as 'Raden's Girl'.

Moonis & Gaston got into a fight over playing chess. "The smell of body odor & tobacco, of men confined together in hatred & despair was well-nigh overwhelming as it mixed with the men's cheers & curses."

The forced labor camp: "The LCM was surrounded by a tall chain-link fence topped by barbed wire, but that couldn't keep out the stars. Sometimes looking up at the distant heavens was the only way to feel free in this world."

Cecily said: "I think the cruelest thing is to have expectations in your life. When they get snuffed out, you never really recover."

When Clyde was looking for Cecily in the Ventura district ..."Clyde stayed leaning against the wall, chewing & loitering, letting the sun lick his face like a happy puppy."

William Lashner is a word master & I have enjoyed his writing for years. This was a different style for him but now I have a book hangover from it.

I received a complimentary copy from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review. ( )