The Bad Samaritan

When you have no education, no skills, no friends, and no Social Security number, your career choices are limited. Blithe is lucky—sort of. She finds Richard, a wealthy sugar daddy. After Richard’s death, Blithe’s worried she’ll be reduced to something more distasteful than mistress. Luckily, his financial world friends come calling. They wanted to “right the recession wrongs,” and her special skills could be helpful. All she has to do is flirt with a few powerful men and report what they say back to the boss. But from the first moment, there are complications: a homeless guy who’s elected himself her personal Jiminy Cricket, scandals, and eventually a murder accusation directed at Blithe. Will Blithe be able to escape this good deed gone bad? Does she want to?

The Bad Samaritan is like an amusement park ride. You think you know where you’re headed when suddenly you’re spinning in another direction—then another—then another. But that’s what makes this “ride” fun. Robert N. Chan ensures that no one is quite what you expect. The hooker with the heart of gold, the guy down on his luck, the powerful kingpin, the meek helper–they all hide their own secrets. One of the most powerful aspects of the book is the exploration of the characters’ relationships, often with minor characters. It helps them to rise above familiar types to unique, unpredictable people. Each word and each action has you wondering, “Is this the real person or is this an act they’re putting on?” Just when you think a character has finally revealed themselves, a new twist is exposed. With this constant shifting, the labels “good guy” and “bad guy” are up for grabs until the very end, keeping you guessing. Once you begin The Bad Samaritan, you are quickly drawn in by the characters and can’t put it down until you reach page 319.