Publishers Weekly
05/20/2024
Bandmates Jessie Steen, Brea Steen, and Flo Bello, the protagonists of this turbo-charged outing from Youers (No Second Chances), play bars and clubs across America while secretly working as assassins for Trace, an underground hacker network dedicated to tracking down criminals who’ve slipped through the cracks of the justice system. When a routine assignment takes the Bang-Bang Sisters to Reedsville, Ala., to deal with a serial killer, they unwittingly walk into a trap. The women’s target is nowhere to be found; instead, they’re abducted by thugs working for crooked politician Chance Kotter, who holds a grudge against the trio for killing his nephew. Turns out Chance has constructed a sadistic game of revenge: Jessie, Brea, and Flo will be released in separate parts of Reedsville and tasked with assassinating each other. If anyone refuses to participate, Chance will murder a member of her family. As the game gets underway and the bandmates fight to stay alive, signs emerge that they might be involved in a larger plot than any of them realize. Youers sketches three distinct, well-rounded heroines and gets a lot of mileage from their impossible situation. The finale drags on too long, but for the most part, this is a high-octane good time. Readers seeking fast action and strong female characters should check it out. Agent: Howard Morahim, Howard Morahim Literary. (July)
From the Publisher
If you’re looking for a fun, thrilling read, look no further. The Bang-Bang Sisters is a rip-roaring delight of a novel – pulpy, fast-paced, and absolutely unputdownable.”
— Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author
“This is the high-octane, rock band vigilante novel you never knew you wanted - but definitely need. The Bang-Bang Sisters reads like a lost Tarantino classic, with the verve and body count to prove it. A one-of-a-kind adventure that doesn’t slow down.” — Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity
“Buckle up for The Bang-Bang Sisters. The story rocks, the characters pop, the writing sizzles. You won’t forget Brea, Jessie, and Flo. This rock-band vigilante novel turns it up to eleven. Strap in and hold on.” — Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"A high-octane, action-packed read . . . . You should make this action thriller your next summer read. — CrimeFictionLover.com
“A rip-roaring Hollywood noir that smashes the pedal to the metal and keeps it there. The best villain since Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels . . . This one is hot.” — Stephen King on No Second Chances
"A high-octane good time. Readers seeking fast action and strong female characters should check it out." — Publishers Weekly
"No Second Chances is a one-sitting read. Rio Youers writes with both muscle and heart, and his latest noir-meets-thriller is a literary sports car, loaded with style and speed. Jump in—and buckle up."
— Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author
“[A] dizzyingly plotted thriller . . . the novel motors on at blinding speed, incorporating broken families, bottomless desire for revenge, and a denouement that makes the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre seems like mere trifle. What sticks with me, though, are the quiet moments, where the wounds of long-ago personal sacrifices have room to heal.” — New York Times Book Review on Lola on Fire
“Lola on Fire sizzles and scorches like fresh steak slapped on a red-hot grill. And while you might know Lola’s cousins—that girl with the dragon tattoo, the twin nemeses of Killing Eve, master assassin John Wick, even Kill Bill's Beatrix Kiddo—none of them can rival her bruised soul and bulletproof heart. How often does a ferocious action thriller gather your emotions in a net and haul them to the surface writhing and shiny? What was the last novel to kick-start your brain and your pulse at the same time? Cross Elmore Leonard with Lisa Gardner and you get Rio Youers. More Lola, please, aflame or otherwise.” — A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
"[A] rocket-fueled crime thriller . . . . Fans of full-throttled cinematic action-fests of the Long Kiss Goodnight variety are in for a treat." — Publishers Weekly
“Lola on Fire serves up all the gonzo action, quotable lines, and unforgettable characters a reader could want, in a novel that rivals Killing Eve in intensity and atmosphere.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill
"Youers has spent years developing his style, perfecting his voice, and with No Second Chances he has produced a book that feels like something Elmore Leonard might have written: a dark and ballsy story that, once you’ve started it, you absolutely cannot stop reading." — Booklist (starred review)
“John Wick meets Jane Hawk in Lola on Fire, a wild, relentless read. The action is terrific, the writing crisp, the characters unforgettable.” — New York Times bestselling author Michael Koryta
“What a ride! Lola on Fire is a witty, impeccably crafted, and deliriously fun thriller with a furiously beating heart. Rousing action and killer pacing, powered by characters you’ll love who possess the ass-kicking skills of the John Wick universe yet are still grounded with real humanity. Don't miss it.” — Taylor Adams, author of No Exit
SEPTEMBER 2024 - AudioFile
Sisters Jessie and Brea, and bandmate Flo, all portrayed by narrator Kristen Sieh, are tight as a cover band and even more so as a crew of vigilante hit women with verve and style. Youers writes action scenes like a house afire, but the real enjoyment of this audiobook is the women's sisterhood, which is depicted with love and affection. A serial killer called The Wren pops up on the sisters' radar, and they're determined to stop them. Sieh pours on the tension and grit. When the women fall into a fiendish trap, they must band together to survive. There's blood, gore, violence, and humor in this fun pulpy crime novel. R.O. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
