Review Detail

Reader reviewed by bookworm9

Nineteen-year-old Ed Kennedy is an underage cab driver who lives in a shack with his smelly, ancient, but beloved dog, the Doorman, and spends a lot of time playing cards with his three best friends. Ed thinks his life is pretty pathetic, until he begins getting playing card aces in the mail, each with three people he has to help.

The premise of the book is as simple as that. The reality of it is a lot more complicated, as Ed faces everything from being sent to kill a rapist to being asked to help some people who are near and dear to him. Throughout, he wonders who is sending him these bizarre messages, and why he is the Messengeror is he?

This was one of the most unique and downright GOOD books Ive read in awhile. I could say it was part coming-of-age novel and part brilliant thriller, but really this book defies all labels. Its just a plain good story, and though a few of the people Ed is sent to help fade into the woodwork too quickly (the ice cream lady, Bernie the movie guy, and even Ritchie), theyre more then made up for with the other vibrant interactions Ed has (all three people on the first card, the confrontation with his mom, and Marvs secret, for starters). Ed is a great character who had me rooting for him the whole way.

If it hadnt been such a good book, the ending would have ruined it, and as it was, it was very disappointing, being both maddeningly didactic and ambiguous. Its only saving grace was that it was happy, which Ed deserved. But ending aside, this is a must read.