Thrillers, Phases of Life - Fiction, Crime Fiction, Erotica

Voluntary Madness

Name: Voluntary Madness
Author: Vicki Hendricks
ISBN: 9781852426668

by Vicki Hendricks

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Overview

Punch is a beautiful man in his forties, slowly dying from alcohol abuse and diabetes. Juliette is his adoring girlfriend, willing to do absolutely anything for him. Together they have made a twisted pact: to live a wild life in Key West, collecting material for the book Punch is compelled to write before they end it all a year later.

Punch and Juliette's craziness quickly accelerates. She flashes at strangers; he pretends to be blind in public; they break into Hemingway's house to have sex. But the games quickly turn dangerous when a guard at the house interrupts them and dies in the assault. Way out of her depth, Juliette has to decide whether she'll keep her part of the pact. The inventor of white-trash noir, Hendricks has updated Bonnie and Clyde for the 21st century.

Vicki Hendicks is the author of Iguana Love, Miami Purity and Sky Blues. An extreme sports enthusiast, she lives in Hollywood, Florida

Also available by Vicki Hendricks
Iguana Love

About the Author, Vicki Hendricks

Vicki Hendricks is the author of noir novels Miami Purity, Iguana Love, Voluntary Madness, Sky Blues, and Cruel Poetry, the latter a finalist for an Edgar Award in 2008. Her collection, Florida Gothic Stories, was published in 2010. Hendricks lives in Hollywood, Florida, and teaches writing at Broward College. Her plots and settings reflect participation in adventure sports, such as skydiving and scuba, and knowledge of the Florida environment.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Mimicking the hard-edged cynicism of James M. Cain and reminiscent of James Haley Chase, Hendricks (Iguana Love) probes the psychosocial baggage of two outside-the-mainstream characters intent on creating art out of the wrecks of their lives. Against a pornographic Rorschach of unwashed sex fueled by marijuana and alcohol, the author offers up a quixotic, marathon Chamber of Commerce tour of the eateries and tourist attractions of Key West. Sexually abused by her father since she was nine, 22-year-old ex-Cracker Barrel waitress Juliette has had little happiness in her life. When she meets 44-year-old half-Jamaican, half-Italian, diabetic, alcoholic Punch in Fort Pierce, she falls desperately in love with the self-styled novelist. Using proceeds from Juliette's abusive father's life insurance, the ill-starred couple migrate to Key West and make a pact that they will live out the year (and their bankroll) indulging themselves sensually and instigating "experiences" that Punch will chronicle in a novel--art imitates life. The plot takes a more serious turn when Punch accidentally kills a security guard at the Hemingway House, where the two adventure-seekers are trying to have sex. Having squandered one-third of their remaining capital on a used motorcycle with a ruined engine, they become "Burrito Bandidos", holding up popular Island eateries for sustenance. Copious, steamy sex scenes; gritty, Bukowskiesque characters; and popular Key West hangouts definitely focus the book's appeal and make this a Leaving Las Vegas on a tight budget. (Nov.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.