Gunmetal Black

By Daniel Serrano

Book Overview

Urban lit meets classic noir in this "absolutely sensational" debut thriller from a major new voice in crime fiction (Teri Woods).

As a child, Eddie Santiago grew up on the mean streets of his Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago, where he witnessed his father's murder. Now in his thirties, after serving ten years in a state penitentiary, Eddie is coming home.
With prison behind him, Eddie plans to seek refuge in Miami Beach. But new trouble begins when Eddie and his old friend/gangster Little Tony are pulled over by two cops, who rob Eddie of his money belt, which contains his life savings. Convinced it was a set-up, Eddie is determined to recover what is rightfully his, all the while trying to reform his childhood friend.

Along the way, Eddie falls for a Mexican beauty with a past she is trying to escape. But his romance is almost cut short when he is dragged into a drug war, becomes a murder suspect, and is forced to participate in an ill-conceived casino heist.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446574333
• ISBN13: 9780446574334
• Release Date: August 2011
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Revenge is Best Served Cold

Fresh out of jail, the last thing Eddie Santiago needed was to become entangled into the illegal dealings of his childhood best friend Little Tony. Eddie had plans to leave behind the streets of Chicago and the memories they held and move to Miami. His love for Latin music and the congas had Eddie ready to take his money and become legit by becoming a partner in the Salsa record label his prison cell mate wanted to start. But Eddie has to fight to wash the grit of Chicago off his hands and take back what is his for he is haunted by the ghost of a favor owed to Tony, memories of his father's murder and being set up by his old boss Pelon. From the opening flashback Gunmetal Black gives you a peek into the troubled life of Eddie Santiago. Living a life plagued with violence and crime it is no wonder that the first part of this story centers on Eddies time in jail. It is during this time that we witness the growth of Eddie beyond his criminal past. Filled with intricate criminal plans and deception with every turn, Gunmetal Black is a gritty street novel with just enough drama to hold your interest from beginning to end. I recommend this book to urban lit fans that enjoy a good plot and mystery with their story. The use of flashbacks to fill in the blanks along with the real life situations the characters are placed in makes this an interesting read. There are no over the top antics and unrealistic finales to disappoint the reader. Reviewed by LaShonda S For Sexy Ebony Book Club Reviews

Gunmetal Black

Eddie Santiago is finally released from the harsh prison life he has endured for the past ten years. His childhood friend and best buddy, Tony, picks him up from the prison in a very nice car. Eddie knows Tony is back into the street gangs and he wants no part of it. He saved money while in prison so he could leave Chicago and go to Miami, where a former Cuban convict awaits him. They plan to start a small salsa record company. Tony takes Eddie about town, even though Eddie is pleading to go to his own apartment. Before Tony finally gets around to it, they are pulled over by two very dirty cops who search them and the car, and take all of Eddie's money. Depressed, he knows he is probably going to go back into the street life with Tony. He needs to figure out a way to get his money back from the police. One thing after another happens and he still hasn't found leverage to force the evil cops into giving his money back. Will he get caught as he tries to replenish his funds and earn enough to live? Will he ever find a woman to love now that he is free again? Daniel Serrano has penned a fascinating street novel that delves into the real lives of people who are victims of their circumstances. GUNMETAL BLACK takes a trip through the mean streets of Chicago and shows how easy it is to fall into the gang mentality. The characters are well developed and it is easy to understand how they feel and what they want. It is a very good novel. Reviewed by Alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

The Beat Of My Heart

Gun Metal Black by Daniel Serrano is an intriguing story that looks through the eyes of a young Hispanic man growing up in the middle of turf wars, drugs, woman, and music. Eddie Santiago grew up in a two-parent home and was introduced to the Conga drums at an early age. He grew to love them and appreciate them as much as his parents. Learning music early was not the only thing young Eddie would be a witness too. Following around his well-known father left nothing to the imagination, because his dad believed in sharing everything with him. From how to use a gun to loving a woman; Eddie's world gets rocked when his hero is murdered right before his eyes. Shattering his dreams of living the American dream Eddie turns to the streets and gets his hustle on. Mixing and mingling with little regards to where his life is headed, Eddie gets a bum rap and is forced to do a ten-year stint in jail. With nothing but time on his hands, Eddie reminisces about his childhood and where it all went downhill. Counting the days until freedom and pondering his future, will Eddie try to turn his life around or will he get in where he fits in? This book is filled with colorful characters, graphic bloody details, salsa flavor, and Hispanic history. Mr. Serrano mixes Salsa, Mambo and a little love interest in this tale of drugs, war and sanity. In Gun Metal Black we are shown a side of the game that has never been described with a hint of passion, dirty cops looking to shake the drug dealers, convicts who actually want to enhance their lives, and cut-throat friends who will sell your soul to the devil just to come up in the street game. Hold on to your seats as you travel through time, listening to old school music, falling in love, and fighting the masses and trying to maintain your composure. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in history, passion, and of course violence. Reviewed by: Cheryl H APOOO BookClub