Category: Tricky reviews

“Tricky is a witty, gritty love letter to Los Angeles. The action thrills; the key players are written with sensitivity and grace; and Stallings manages to entertain while advocating for criminal justice reform and calling out unexamined societal biases.” — Katrina Niidas Holm,  Mystery Scene Magazine

A challenging must-read for police procedural fans reflects today’s society.

This is a finely crafted novel. Noirishly hard-boiled, the book is much more than a police procedural; it’s an exploration of some serious themes, such as personal redemption and the societal prejudices against the disabled

Punk-rock poet Josh Stallings has written an intense new crime novel about the power of people to change.

Tricky is a reflection of today’s society. Forced to ask questions about bias, intellectual disability, police actions, and redemption, Madsen stands in contrast to cops who resort to violence and force.

Punk-rock poet Josh Stallings has written an intense new crime novel about the power of people to change.

I was hooked in chapter one and crying by chapter three.