Michael Jones, a young gay artist and part–time prostitute will do anything to stage his first exhibition. When he falls in love with rich financier, Jack Hutchinson, he seems set to achieve his goal. But as Mikey becomes caught between the unforgiving territory of smoky–bar Hackney and the green–garden luxury of upper class London, we discover the intense mindscape of a man obsessed with his dreams as he attempts to free himself of his past.
When a net of antagonistic relationships and inner battles encroaches upon him, the consequences of Mikey's uncompromising pursuit emerge in thrilling tragedy, leaving him having to fight for all he holds dear, and in the only way he knows how. Within a plot thick with the flesh of individual struggle, a backbone of page–turning tension carries Mikey's plight through the charcoal grey London that rubs itself so close to his skin, entrapping him in a dark kaleidoscope of sex and crime.
Pushing him to the full expression of his haunting richness, Brooke alerts us to the psychological discourse and emotional minefield of a troubled man struggling to establish a sense of self and place in urban England.
Review
From page one, A Dangerous Man will take you on a wild journey of one man's quest for belonging, love and self fulfillment. We follow the main character, Michael, through a series of challenges as he endeavors to become a reputable artist and a dutiful boyfriend. In his efforts to "arrive", Michael attempts to move beyond the identity of a male prostitute and embody something bigger, something better, but this doesn't come easy for him. The reader quickly learns that Michael's biggest challenges are his own deep seated beliefs about himself and how this shapes his perspective of the world around him.
A Dangerous Man is a compelling read with real insecurities that any reader can relate to on some level. It has subtle twists and turns that become more overt as the book progresses, allowing the reader to completely feel and see how Michael's life quickly spirals out of control. If you are looking for a light read that has that happy, feel good quality to it, this is not for you. However, if you are one who loves to route for the underdog but isn't squeamish about things not always working out perfectly, then you will find this thoroughly enjoyable. You will find yourself cheering and wishing for Michael's success at times, while at other times, you'll be wishing someone would just shake some sense into him. The author also does an amazing job at keeping you guessing about who the "dangerous man" actually is. A mystery that becomes quite obvious in the final pages.
Overall, A Dangerous Man is a well written suspenseful story that dives deep into the psychology of one man and provides us voyeuristic opportunities to watch him unravel. Definitely a four star read.
