Dark Karma

DARK KARMA by Joyce Veranda Gray takes a look at those who commit crimes and how karma makes the criminals take the place of those they have harmed. Dray, who killed an innocent man in order to join a street gang, is forced to become the father of the dead man. He must deal with the grief and anguish of the devastated wife and mother. Carlita steals a sleeping woman's entire pay for the month when she takes her purse while riding the bus. Carlita finds herself living on the streets with the woman's young son. They have no where to go, nothing to eat and in addition, the law is looking for them. Josh, a drug dealer who lures beautiful, young women into his clutches to turn them into addicts, finds himself addicted to heroin. He's on the streets with no money and no prospects. He gets raped and abused by anyone who wants to take advantage of his addicted female body. All three of them have horrific dreams and through these dreams, they know they must find Redemption. None are sure quite where or how to find this place in the desert. DARK KARMA is a refreshing new look at street crimes. It forces the characters to take responsibility for what they've done, even though each of them has a good reason/excuse for what they did. The characters are well developed, from committing their crimes to their new lives as their victims, and it is easy to identify with them and their misdeeds. I found myself having pity as well as hatred for what they'd done. It was especially poignant because no matter what they said or did, they could convince no one they were stuck in someone else's body. There were amusing parts as well as frightening ones. It was a very good book and I would recommend it. Reviewed by Alice Holman of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers