That's How I Roll: A Novel

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Andrew Vachss, the master of the hardboiled, returns with a deeply revealing new novel about a master assassin whose love forced him to kill his own conscience. A deeply revealing novel from the master of the hardboiled, Andrew Vachss, about an assassin whose love forced him to kill his own conscience. Execution looms, but no prison can hold Esau Till's mind. Or his love. He sits on death row, writing his life story-his last chance to protect his brother, Tory, after he's gone. And, as too many have learned, when it comes to protecting his baby brother, Esau Till is a man without boundaries. When the genetic cards were dealt, Esau drew a genius IQ but a horribly crippled body. His brother Tory drew a "slow" mind but almost superhuman strength. Esau quickly learned the only way to guarantee his baby brother's safety was to make himself indispensable to certain people. A self-taught explosives expert, he became the top assassin for two rival local mobs. Now, as the State prepares to take his life, Esau plots going all-in on the last and most deadly hand he will ever play.

Reviews

Classic, gritty Vachss, who writes prose you can strike a match on. Shots

Its brutal, grindhouse and poetic. . . . As if the devil himself had penned [Thats How I Roll]. . . . Vachss is a writer to admire, one that does not shun from showing a world with all of its ugly flaws. Lit Reactor

A noir masterpiece. Irish Independent


[A] chilling tour de force. . . . Crafty, strong-willed Esau combines courtly manners, deadly paybacks, and ruthless singularity of purpose. Publishers Weekly

Vachsss stories . . . burn with righteous rage and transfer a degree of that rage to the reader. The Washington Post Book World

Esau Till has to be about the most unique killer-for-hire ever invented. . . . A great character study of a man with a mission, despite overwhelming odds. His survival instincts and matter-of-fact philosophies promise to remain unrivaled for quite some time. Bookreporter

Vachsss tough-guy writing style grabs you by the hair and jerks you to attention. Detroit Free Press

This novel could easily be mistaken for a memoir. . . . Both chilling and realistic.New York Journal of Books

Vachss combines his trademark black humor with his longstanding concern for children and their well-being. . . . A smart, cynical glimpse into the human condition. Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Andrew Vachss's many books include the Burke novels and two previous collections of short stories. His books have been translated into twenty languages, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, and The New York Times, among other publications. He died in 2021.