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From: Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
Date: Mon, 5 May 2025 18:20:20 -0500
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
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"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
    https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/

A standalone science fiction book, no prequel or sequel.  I read the 
well printed and well bound trade paperback published by Tor Books in 
2023.  A sequel would be cool.  There is a very nice short story at the 
end of the book.

Charlie is down and out on his luck.  He lives by himself with his cat, 
Hera, in his Dad's old house.  His three older half siblings are 
constantly after him to sell the house so they can get their shares of 
the proceeds.  Charlie used to work as a reporter for the Chicago 
Tribune but he was laid off and then his Dad got sick.  After his Dad 
passed away, he now works as a substitute teacher.  Paying for the 
utilities and taxes on the house are difficult at best with his limited 
funds.  Especially since he and Hera like to eat occasionally.

But, Charlie sees on CNBC Morning Squawk Box that his billionaire 
reclusive uncle Jake, a major owner of parking garages across of the 
USA, has passed away.  His uncle was his mother's older brother, his 
mother who passed away in a strange car wreck when Charlie was five 
years old.  And then Charlie's life goes wild as a beautiful woman 
contacts Charlie about him hosting the viewing and burial of his uncle 
in their hometown.  The viewing of his uncles body is very contentious 
with several obvious henchmen showing up to view the body.  One guy even 
tries to stab his uncles body to make sure that he is "dead this time".

I love the cover of the book.  It conveys a mysteriousness about the 
book immediately.  I showed the book cover to my 83 year old mother who 
promptly said that she wanted to read the book next so she has it now.

The author has a fairly active website / blog at:
    https://whatever.scalzi.com/

My rating:  5 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars (13.025 reviews)

Lynn