ANOTHER LIFE

The sequel to When I Was Joe (2010) and Almost True (2011) finds Ty Lewis being tried on two counts of carrying an offensive weapon.

In witness protection and sometimes using the names Joe and Jake, Ty is a Londoner who is both street-smart and mixed up in some bad stuff. He shares narration duties with his cousin Archie, who enjoys the cushy life of an only child of successful lawyers. The gang Ty ratted on in the first book is still in pursuit, threatening not only him, but also his family and friends. Readers not already familiar with Ty will find the large cast of characters and their intricate relationships confusing, and those familiar will find Archie’s pals a bit boring. However, it is Archie’s naïveté that amps the suspense, through his complete lack of understanding of the danger and his bumbling interference, and his account of events that have already happened can counter Ty’s narrative unreliability. Fans who have already immersed themselves in Ty’s troubles and are looking for insight into what really happened will enjoy the gradual revelations right up to the final pages.

The story is becoming a bit played out, though, and this will not likely win new readers.