Review of Behind the Hood by Marita A Hansen

Five out of five stars

INTENSE!  I could probably leave my review at this one word and that would say it all.  What a nerve wracking read.  At first I thought there were going to be too
many point of view characters for me to get involved emotionally, but they all
tied back to each other perfectly.  I had no problem keeping track of who was who and how they related back to each of the other characters.  By the last
three-quarters of the book I had the phones turned off and the Do Not Disturb
sign hung on the door.  I had to know what was going to happen and I didn’t want any interruptions.  Marita Hansen did not disappoint.  I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Tama is a tough guy gang leader who causes problems wherever he goes.  He starts things off by stabbing Maia, a 14-year-old girl, while trying to rape her and then has the nerve to try to push the blame for it off on her.  Tama has a habit of pushing the blame for all his problems onto anyone but himself.  Maia’s
older brother Nike and Tama are long time enemies and Nike is determined to
make Tama pay for what he did to his little sister.  But Tama has eyes for Nike’s wife next and no one is safe who tries to get in his path.

This novel is brutal in its honesty, giving a true-to-life picture of gang life and the destruction that goes along with it.  If you’re at all squeamish, this is probably
not the book for you.  Lives are destroyed, whole families destroyed, in a matter of seconds because of selfish desires.  I’ll read just about anything I can get my hands on and it had me cringing in a few places—-praying in others.  I got attached to these characters in the short time it took me to read it and it hurt me when they got hurt.  At the same time I’m being repulsed by what’s taking place, I’m also getting pulled in.  It takes real talent to pull off a story like this.  I can’t wait to read the next one by Marita Hansen.  This story may take place in New Zealand, but the same story could be told in any gang territory in the States.  Definitely earned the five stars I’m going to give Behind the Hood.