“Great books, great films, and all kinds of art, they can make the troubles of the world seem less harsh, sometimes they disappear altogether.”

Summary

Jake is a loner who works nights in a Darwin motel and lives at the YMCA. He’s in love with Angel, a Thai prostitute who works out of the low-rent Shark Motel.

A vicious murder turns Jake’s life into a nightmare. He must fight for his life on the heat-soaked streets of Darwin and Bangkok in the wet season to get revenge, and to get his life back.

My Review

I was confused after having read the book precisely because the end was abrupt. It shows readers a very different world. One we do not often glimpse in our daily lives. 

I cannot really point to what I loved about the story other than saying that it was an emotional roller coaster. I think The Heat gave me three messages. Whatever profession a person is in, they have a history, and they have a reason. Angel was in her profession for her daughter and her mother. 

Another lesson was- there is still a lot of good in the world. Although schizophrenic and a man with limited resources, Jake decided to fight for Angel’s cause and do the right thing.

Third, it is almost improbable to change a person’s fundamental nature. Despite getting almost killed, Jake sets out on another righteous path for a total stranger, not caring about the consequences of his actions.

The book is a quick read, and the style of writing makes it very easy to follow. But what I always look in a book for, whether fiction or non-fiction, is the author's purpose for writing the book. I felt like this story lacked its purpose.

Jake was endearing. Angel seemed cold. After several years of separation, the meeting with Jake’s mom did not have any strong emotions to it. Also, the murder mystery is not really a mystery because from the start it's pretty clear who was responsible. 

The book contains themes of  violence, use of drugs, sex and foul language.

Final Verdict

I thought the end was dissatisfying. Left questions unanswered. I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars for the takeaways I think it has.

Who Should Read This

Not suitable for young adult readers owing to the adult themes. 

Thank you dammpebbles book tours for a copy of this book. Happy reading!