Reviewer: Sharon Brunner
Michael Carrier’s “Liz” reveals a world filled with illegal drugs, murder and kidnapping. Our story happens in San Francisco and Sault Ste. Marie, a community in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.) and the time period of the story is current time. The main characters were Jack, Kate, Spyder, Liz, Angel, Red and Robby. The last two were 14-year-old boys who risked their lives to save two young women. One of the young woman’s poor choices probably saved the lives of many people by preventing many from the harmful effects of illegal drugs. Dangerous and careless people, who break the law to line their own pockets exist, even in Sault Ste. Marie.
Notable themes include: illegal behaviors, poor choices and supportive and caring parent figures. Spyder, one of the main characters in the story, was a dealer of illegal drugs who killed people and kidnapped his victims in the story. Liz, another main character, hence the title, stole a large amount of drugs from Spyder which ended up causing a lot of problems. Angel made the mistake of moving to San Francisco and living a rather unsafe life instead of staying with Jack and his family. Jack and Kate cared a lot about Angel and wanted her to be safe. A twist occurred when Liz and Angel arrived at Jack’s home. Law enforcement officers stopped by at the same time and walked in with the young women into Jack’s home. They wanted to meet with Jack to discuss their concerns about drug trafficking in the Sault Ste. Marie area. Unknowingly to the officers and Jack at the time, Liz had some illegal drugs stored in Angel’s car. Liz was caught red handed by Jack when she was inspecting the drugs and he reported the drugs to the law enforcement officers. Jack and Kate questioned if Angel knew about the drugs.
What I liked about the book and the similarities concerning how the book relates to me will be mentioned at the same time. A good portion of the story took place in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the city I live in. I was familiar with some of the roads and areas Carrier mentioned such as Three Mile Road and the gravel pit. Angel and I have something in common. I am quite naïve about illegal drugs. It has been noted on several occasions that illegal drugs have been prominent in the U.P. But it’s not part of my world. Angel was clueless regarding drugs. Given Jack’s background as a law enforcement officer in the past, I understand his need to abide by the law. I have the same belief. I would also report the drugs like Jack did. My life would probably appear to be quite boring to a character like Spyder. I have had the chance to read several of Michael Carrier’s books and I enjoyed all of them. This one did not disappoint.
On the same line as this book, the movie that came to mind was the 1983 “Scarface” movie starring Al Pacino, a portrayal of Cuban criminals and drug traffickers. The movie was known as one of the greatest gangster films ever made. The book that came to mind was “Chasing the Scream” by Johann Hari. Hari examined the impact of drug criminalization. His book was a New York Times Best Seller. He uncovered a range of remarkable human stories such as the war on drugs beginning with Billie Holiday and about a scientist who discovered the key to addiction. The world of illegal drugs can be dangerous and filled with a lot of heartache which Carrier brought out in his book.
I recommend Michael Carrier’s novel Liz for its suspense; because it served as a reminder of the world of drug trafficking; for its realistic and scary characters; and for its enduring qualities about people who really care about other people. Liz’s desire to earn more money is something anyone can probably relate to. There were periods in the book in which the characters were in dangerous situations. Jack’s role with law enforcement provided a reminder about the prevalence of illegal drug trafficking, how profitable it can be, and the damage it can cause for many people. I have learned that Fentanyl has been a major problem in this country. Robby and Red demonstrated how much they cared about Angel when they put their lives in danger to save her. This book also served as a reminder that most everyone has made stupid mistakes in their lives when younger and parents and parental figures need to help young people pick up the pieces, learn from their mistakes and move forward. Carrier has brought to life precarious situations and Jack Handler’s tenacity to handle anything that comes his way.
Title: Liz
Author: Michael Carrier
