Review-The Wise Ass-5 stars

 The title of the book should be enough to draw one in.  The Wise Ass by Tom McCaffrey does not disappoint.  The story begins with a little biography in a prologue but quickly switches to the “country mouse” attorney, named Jimmy McCarthy, being plopped in the big city of New York and being successful because of what and who he knows.  This success catches the eye of a local mobster who makes him a deal he cannot refuse.

This is just the beginning as he is really a smart guy who gets caught up in some nefarious dealings but is good at investing his money and hiding his own stash in offshore accounts along with his boss’s ill-gotten loot.  He learns how to launder money with aplomb. 

All goes well until the Feds make some discovery and in the machinations of cops and robbers, his three brothers are killed by the gangsters.  This leads him to testify and then go into WITSEC (witness protection).

In WITSEC the fun part of the book begins.  There are characters and characters in his new life in Colorado sort of near Denver. He is introduced to a US Marshall that hears a different drummer, a couple of small business owners where in addition to being lesbian one is a medium who receives message from the beyond.  There is an ex-Army Ranger working as a cook in their restaurant.

Of course, WITSEC locations are supposed to be very confidential but the convicted gangsters are released on bond because of prejudicial statements at their first trial.  A second trial is to happen but if the lawyer turned stool pigeon cannot testify, then likely they will walk. Obviously, the lawyer must be killed.

Enter the weird cast of characters including a now confident lawyer who can shoot very well and many others who are determined that he will not be killed.  It is definitely the Wise Ass meets the Wise Guys and then hold on to your hats as you struggle to turn the pages fast enough to see who wins and what happens.

A great little book with much action and adventure.  Definitely a good read.