Published by IFWG PUB International on May 27, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Occult & Supernatural, Supernatural
Pages: 230
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Eddie Coyne loves playing the horses. Loves it so much it's ruining his relationship with his wife and six-year-old son. In a last ditch effort to prove he's not a loser in their eyes, Eddie places a seemingly impossible bet on a long shot and hits pay dirt. But before he can cash in and make amends with his family, he's thrown down an escalator and left for dead by a greedy hoodlum looking to cash in on Eddie's winnings.
Dying, Eddie wakes up in the presence of the Jesses, a monolithic group of six whose job it is to decide who enters heaven and who enters hell. The Jesses tell Eddie he's stuck in the middle--not good enough for heaven, not bad enough for hell. They entice him to go in on one final bet to break the dead heat. If he triumphs, they stamp his ticket to paradise. If he loses, he spends eternity in the netherworld. The bet? Eddie must prevent someone chosen by the Jesses from taking their own life. Thinking it will be a piece of cake, Eddie agrees. He quickly learns the Jesses are more cunning than he'd imagined.
** I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Author Louis K. Lowy for sending a review copy.
The Second Life of Eddie Coyne isn’t the sort of book I would typically pick up. Eddie, the main character is addicted to gambling and, frankly, I didn’t see him as all that likeable. Gambling tends to make me cranky (my eyes glazed over when I reached the explanations for betting on the ponies) but I was intrigued by the plot and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Eddie’s story flows along at a quick, engaging pace. Occasionally, the POV will shift to other individuals to keep readers informed but for the most part we stick with Eddie in his quest to prevent his charge from harming herself. I can’t be too detailed without giving away key story components so bear with me.
While I enjoyed the story as a whole, the first problem Eddie was tasked with was not my cup of tea. It strongly follows one of Shakespeare’s famous plays and also just happens to be the one I hate the most. As a result, I ended up putting it down for a solid 24 hours with frustration. I don’t really hold it against the author for using it, as in the end it makes sense, but it did impact my enjoyment for the first half of the book.
I was a bit confused by the twist in Eddie’s origin story as there was no warning until: Boom! Knowledge! But it is entirely possible I missed a tiny hint. What I did love was Charles, the ever-suffering note-taker. For being a fairly bland character (I felt like that was on purpose) I was far more invested in Charles and his fate. Best of all, though, was the crotchety receptionist that Eddie had to meet. I love that crusty old bat and wish we had more interactions with her.
Ultimately, this is an interesting, well-written tale that makes you wonder how you would be judged if your time on Earth was cut short. The book was different than most urban fantasies I have read but I would certainly try out Lowy’s work again.
