Low Life by Ryan David Jahn

Val Penny ♦ June 1, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment

Ryan David Jahn grew up in Arizona, Texas, and California, USA. He left school at sixteen, worked several odd jobs, and spent time in the army before moving to Los Angeles. There he worked in television and film for several years.He now lives in Louisville, Kentucky and published his first novel, Acts of Violence, in 2009.  It won the CWA John Creasey Dagger.  Amongst the other works he has published are, Low Life and The Dispatcher.
 The concept of the story in Low Life is unique. It is one of the most interesting and curious novels that I have ever read. The plot keeps you guessing until the very end.  However, after you close the book you are still pondering the events, wondering what exactly happened.  So, even after you finish the book, you want to start it over again to see what clues you missed the first time around.

In Low Life the reader is drawn into a twisting, psychological mystery.  We follow the mental and physical breakdown of an unassuming individual adrift in society.  Simon Johnson is woken by someone in his apartment. After a struggle, he believes that he has brutally murdered the stranger and is amazed that he is his physical double. This leads Simon into a chain of events that are increasingly bizarre.

This is a smarter than average crime thriller. It seeks to unsettle and challenge the reader at every turn.  I found the book a little hard to get into and had to read the beginning twice.  However, having done so I found it both challenging and gripping.  If you enjoy thrillers, this is an intelligent, well written book where there is a truly clever twist.  I highly recommend it.