VICTIM

Anthony Rey Perez has just the right tone for this satirical debut novel, especially as he aptly mimics the protagonist's self-justifying voice and truth twisting. Perez's pace moves the story forward--no matter the circumstance. He sounds just like the smart Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx featured in the story. Javi Perez succeeds until he doesn't by playing the victim "trifecta": tragic circumstance (his drug-dealer father is gunned down); struggling economics; and being a person of color. A good student who aims to become a writer, he parlays his victim status into a scholarship at a prestigious college and ultimately a gig as a staff member of a famous magazine. This first-person novel about his rise and fall is compelling, and Anthony Rey Perez's excellent narration makes it a memorable audiobook. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2024]