WAKING WITH ENEMIES
Eric Jerome Dickey
Dutton
Fiction
ISBN-10: 0525950389
ISBN-13: 9780525950387

The novel opens with the main character's flashbacks to when he was 7. All he knew was the life he had with his mother, who made a living as a prostitute. But it was only after she had him kill for her that he realized he didn't like her. Always on the run, they fled from city to city, to a place where the two of them could feel safe just for a little while.

In his current life he calls himself Gideon, named after the Bible that is left behind in motel rooms, an inspiration he had while killing off a high-profile minister. In the opening of the story, Gideon, now a contract killer, is in London and ends up in bed with two very beautiful women. But he is also hiding out because someone out there is trying to kill him. The ladies aren't aware of who he is; all they know is that they're having a great time sharing this man in his bed and enjoying extraordinary sex all day and all night long.

While a good chunk of the book is taken up by sex scene after sex scene, there is indeed a plot. It involves the murder of a famous rapper known as Big Bad Wolf, a job that Gideon took care of before he left the States. In turn, the man who paid Gideon to kill the artist is now dead. Gideon knows he's next if he's not careful in doing his best to outrun his assailant. He is aware that a mysterious man, who had been on the plane to London, is following him. But so far he has been able to dodge the "man with the broken nose."

Gideon is having a good time with Lola Mack and Mrs. Jones, but another woman, Arizona, is on his mind. He has given his heart to Arizona, who is as tough as they come, but she will not give her heart to him. She is the one woman he would commit to if he could, but there is something that is stopping Arizona from taking their relationship to any higher level.

Eric Jerome Dickey makes his characters come alive in this violent and steamy novel. The two main killers, Gideon and "the man with the broken nose," come across as real people who the reader will empathize with and care about, despite their gruesome profession. In fact, we learn that the "man with the broken nose" is a family man who loves his kids, especially his learning-disabled son. He buys souvenirs for them while hunting down Gideon and killing off other people he's been paid to take down. The "man with the broken nose" is just making a living, but what's more, he feels that Gideon keeps one-upping him. He is trying his hardest to be a better hit man than Gideon, who has the reputation for being the best.

Fans of Dickey will notice the increase in sex and violence in this book. Some may be turned off by it, while others will enjoy the novel for what it is. I felt there was too much emphasis on the sex between Gideon and the two women, scenes that didn't add to the overall plot in any significant way. However, Gideon's relationship with his mother and his search for her did reveal a lot about his personality and explained why he became the contract killer he is today. The contrast between Gideon's love for the two women and his hate for his mother showed a diverse range of emotions coming from one man. No fan of Dickey's novels will want to pass up WAKING WITH ENEMIES.

   --- Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton (Ratmammy@lofton.org)

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