The Badness

THE BADNESS is a modern-day urban legend that reads like street fiction. In the tradition of urban legends, Nane Quartey's story is haunting and poignant. It is the tale of four very unique individuals lost in the tough, gritty world of the inner city projects, whose lives connect in a hideous turn of events that will place each participant on the same dangerous path of destruction. Alias is haunted by a family curse. He carries a terrible burden that torments his dreams and drives his days. Doin and Joozy are two soul mates who share mutual physical imperfections. Their unexpected love binds them together and seals their fate. After experiencing a traumatic abused childhood at the hands of his mother, D. Wayne is a sadistic tormented serial killer. He is on a murderous spree, in search of fulfilling the insane demands of his imaginary god, Rah. Gripping and suspenseful, THE BADNESS played with my emotions from start to finish. It wasn't an ordinary tale of life in the streets, instead all of the characters were developed and distinct. This story has a lethal dose of hard-edged street life. The plot, the characters, and the setting, were utterly unique and fascinating. The words and characters just jumped off the pages. While reading this story, I was in the mind of each character. I felt every emotion. When Joozy and Doin fell in love, I fell in love! When Alias was fighting his nightmares, I was having nightmares! The abuse and pain D. Wayne endured, I endured it! Quartay crafted a fine-tuned detailed story with love, angst, pain, and humor. THE BADNESS is a suspense thriller that captures the lives of four very different lost souls, traveling on a haunted and tormented journey through life. However, when fate steps in and places each on the same path, the results are the makings of a "true urban legend." Reviewed by Richell Winchester for The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

This is the first book of Nane Quartay's that I've read, But it won't be the last. I am simply amazed at the way this man writes. It will be hard for anyone to read this book and feel as though they are not a part of the story. The story line was wonderful, never for a minute getting off track. The characters were described in complete detail, making you feel you actually knew them. Every page was full of suspense. I absolutely loved the book. My favorite charcters were Joozey and Doin. I have no other words except-- ~Simply Amazing~

Mr. Quartay shows us how lives intersect with devastating consequences. But through all the pain and hurt, two characters, Joozy and Doin managed to find a love that's very rare. MellowGAAL GAAL Book Club of Atlanta

The Badness begins immediately after slavery when Jefferson Browne is cursed by a family member. The curse, which causes his ear to become grossly deformed is also passed on to his descendants. The first born male child for the next three generations are afflicted by the curse until Alias, the modern day and fourth generation first-born male is determined to end the cycle. He achieves this by figuring out the reverse-curse, which entails gathering spiders legs and an assortment of repulsive items that he's required to mix up and cook in an urn and then smoke the concoction. The end result is three one dollar bills marked with strange words. In order to end the curse, Alias must pass this damned money or "mourning paper" as he refers to it on to unsuspecting strangers, thus passing on the curse. When he meets a new friend, he inadvertantly passes the cursed money to him. D.Wayne is a product of an abusive and incestuous mother. Driven to insanity, D.Wayne becomes a serial killer. Doin and Joozy are two people who have grown up believing that they are "ugly". Doin has an awful scar on his face and Joozy has features that just don't add up to pretty. When these two people meet up, though their lack of physcial attractiveness is constantly mentioned, the reader quickly sees their true beauty. Nane Quartay has written an absorbing and poignant tale that interweaves the lives of these characters. The voices rhythmically alternate between first and third person echoing social injustices from the past to modern times. The descriptive prose had me captivated. The Badness is a compelling literary work that I highly recommend.

The Badness - By: Nane Quartay Strebor Books International - July 2005 Available In Stores Everywhere What if a single dollar bill determined your fate? The Badness is the story of a man named Alias who suffers from a family curse that has plagued the male members of his family for generations. Alias, however, is unwilling to accept his fate without a fight. Trouble is, breaking the curse may cost him his life but if he waits, it may cost the life of an unsuspecting stranger. When the curse is mystically transferred onto three single dollar bills, Alias finds himself freed from the hellfire only in time to see the heat settle on a horribly scarred man he encounters. The story begins with Alias in a bar fighting his own demons about passing on the tainted money. Was it fate that brought character Doin into the bar at the precise moment that Alias gave the first dollar to the bartender? You won't want to miss one second of the suspense that unfolds in this brilliant psychological thriller. Told in Nane's street-wise and gritty voice, it will have you riveted to your seat while flipping pages. I loved this book and highly recommend it.