Son of a Snitch II: The Bastard
by Michael Evans

Reviewed by: Delonya Conyers

Readers of part one of Son of a Snitch will recall the shame the Thompson family had to endure after the patriarch of their family, Lorenzo, snitched on his drug crew. Lorenzo's actions made it extremely difficult for his wife Kathy and their children Jessie and Crystal to reside in their Striver's Row home. But the person who suffered the most was Jessie who was labeled "Son of a Snitch" and continually harassed.

In a disturbing twist Jessie and Crystal eventually turned to each other for comfort and began a sexual relationship. By the time they were in their late teens living with the added shameful dark secret pushed an already troubled Jessie over the edge. In an effort to clear his family's sullied reputation Jessie decides to go on a murdering spree killing snitches. His effort finally earns him respect amongst his peers. But jealousy also fuels Jessie when he kills his best friend Wayne who he caught having sex with Crystal. As book one ended the police had finally captured Jessie who's found hung in his jail cell while Crystal was left pregnant with the big question remaining: Who was the baby's father, her brother or his best friend?

Author Michael Evans fast forwards nine years into the troubled lives of the Thompson family. Part two follows the lives of Crystal and her twin sons Justin and Antwon. The guilt of not knowing the parentage of the twins along with the deaths of Jessie and Wayne, that she also feels responsible for, weighs heavily on her shoulders. Crystal struggles to raise the boys who are as different as night and day. Antwon is a street kid who worships his Uncle Jessie's status as a hood hero. Justin is a home-body who enjoys sketching and has very effeminate ways much to Antwon's dismay. By adulthood Antwon has matured into a menace while Justin becomes a famous fashion designer. But when Crystal's secret finally surfaces it not only turns brother against brother but also brother against mother and the consequences are deadly.

What did you like best about this book?
Unresolved issues from part one were resolved especially who fathered Crystal's twins and how did Crystal live with the guilt surrounding Wayne and Jessie's deaths.

What did you dislike about this book?
The book was divided into way too many small chapters some of which were only two – three pages long which took away from the continuity of the read. I also think the epilogue was unnecessary and should have been omitted.

How can the author improve this book?
Eliminating the excessive chapters especially when their titles provide way too much insight as to what's about to occur would definitely make Mr. Evan's story flow better.

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