Book Review: Paper Targets by Steve S. Saroff

“Crazy is crazy, but lonely is lonely. I do not know which is the saddest.”

Steve S. Saroff, Paper Targets

Review:

I love a good art angle in a book be it fiction or nonfiction. Pair it with a mystery and you don’t need to tell me much more to convince me to pick it up. 

Enzi gets a rough start in life. Between bullying, dyslexia, a stutter, and troubles at home, he sets off on his own at fourteen. As he gets older, he discovers he has a knack for mathematics. This ultimately leads him to a life of computer hacking. 

Eventually, Enzi meets and falls for an artist named Kaori. He’s immediately drawn to her artwork and its ability to convey emotion. However, he fails to take her cries of loneliness as a warning.

It took me a little while to really get into this book. The writing style is abrupt and it took some time to get used to, but the plot ultimately took over and became an addictive read. There are some great quotes, too. Enzi is an interesting protagonist with a backstory that could be its own book. 

A huge thanks to the publisher for reaching out and offering to send me a review copy! Given the book is available on KindleUnlimited, I chose to read it there.  

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• The art plot.
• Interesting characters.

What I didn’t like:

• A little difficult to follow in places but I eventually got into the rhythm.

Afterthoughts:

Thanks again to the publisher for reaching out and bringing this book to my attention. It was an intriguing mystery and I will be keeping this author on my radar.

Where to buy the book: