Born Dying

This is my first novel by Harold Turley. It was a quick read. I truly enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. I live in the same area as the book, so I could relate. I can't wait to read his other two books.

Raised by a single mom, Nate has too much idle time on his hands and hooks up with the wrong crowd on DC's rough streets. Between high school classes, Nate and his friend O'Neal are runners for Chico, and they don't blink as they face danger with each assignment. As Nate becomes more familiar with a hustler's world, he decides he wants more for himself and vies for his own territory. Nate matures into a shrewd business man, and convinces top-man Carlos that he is a leader, and acquires his own empire. Building his posse, which includes lifelong friends, Nate gains a reputation for running his territory like clockwork. Slowly but surely, greed and power rear their ugly heads, and Nate's trusted soldiers begin to exhibit questionable behavior. DC police officer Lionel Taylor (aka LT) is an undercover detective whose profession puts him in constant danger as he tries to bring down drug dealers of all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately for LT, the monkey climbs on his back, and he is quickly consumed by drugs, the element he once fought against. Almost a decade later, LT finds himself alone, and without a family, a job, or hope. Like most tales in the street fiction genre, friends become foes, and the battle for money and power overshadows reality. The irony in BORN DYING makes the story unique and gives the characters lots of depth. Harold Turley II uses tragic situations and turns them into lifelong lessons about the uncertainty of trust and the importance of family. BORN DYING is worth reading, and the story's purpose lingers on long after the final page. Reviewed by Dawnna for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers