Against the Grain

by Freeze

Book Overview

"FREEZE IS THE COLDEST NEW AUTHOR ON THE COME-UP." -Nikki Turner Love him or hate him, Arkadian "Kay" Frost has made his mark on the streets of Baltimore as the leader of a close-knit group of friends- Mike, the ladies' man; Tank, the funny guy with a short fuse; Apache, the wild one with artillery expertise; Gee, aka Dread, a cold piece of work; and Dre, who doesn't drink, smoke, or cheat-and trusts no one. Bank robberies are their bread and butter...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345503619
• ISBN13: 9780345503619
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Best Book I have Read All Year

This book was great. I could not put it down. It is defintely a must-read. Great job Freeze representing Raleigh, NC

Couldn't put it down

Against the Grain: A Novel This book was by far, one of the best urban drama's that I have read in quite a while. Nikki Turner did an excellent job in giving Freeze a chance and I'm glad she did. My fiancee is, unfortunately, incarcerated but I am sending him this novel for entertainment to supplement his educational reading.

Whatever It Takes!

Arkadian Frost (simply known as "Kay") had a good heart and was a bona fide leader who helped those that were less fortunate and took care of his family. But Kay's career choice as a bank robber leads him to the pen. When a fool-proof plan with his close-knit friends go wrong, it leaves one of his best friends dead. Kay takes the fall for all his friends and does his time alone, leaving his family and child in the outside world. Kay has just been released from prison. With a heavy mind, Kay has a lot of decisions to make. With his friends making new moves, will he join them, or he will he do the right thing and go on the straight and narrow? Mike ("Go-Go") was Kay's other best friend. He is the man when Kay is released from prison. He owns various businesses and money is at his disposal thanks to his new business in the drug trade. Mike puts Kay on and everything is lovely, or so it seems. Mike has some inner demons within himself, and when the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose. Mike is the boss, and those who don't obey will see his wrath, but will that include his best friends too? Tank was the class clown who had jokes, but he also had another side that no one wants to see. He could go from jokes to deadly in ten seconds flat. Apache was the ride-or die of the crew who loved guns and set out to complete a job until the end, even if it included putting his own life on the line for his boys. Apache refused to go to jail, and no was a match for that...including the police. Gee (a.k.a. "The Dread") was a Jamaican who was smooth from his walk to his talk. He had inside connections that benefitted the close-knit clique. From money to drug connections in several states, if someone needed to disappear at a drop of a hat, it could be done. Dee was the mysterious person out of the crew. He was quiet and only associated with members of his crew. He was faithful to his woman and didn't partake in the regular drinking and smoking. But Dee knows a lot more than he leads on to, and this would serve to be his advantage in the long run. Shu-Shu was Kay's neighbor and they grew up together. He knew from the back in the day that Shu-Shu had a thing for him, but Kay had a woman and child. But since his release, Kay sees Shu-Shu in a new light. She's an independent go-getter who waits for no man. Kay and Shu-Shu come up with a plan to become partners. But sometimes things are not that easy, and the end result could lead him back into prison or an early grave. Against the Grain details the friendship and struggle of six friends. Loyalty and trust is something you earn. Everyone can't be the leader, and when trust is broken, all hell can break loose. I really enjoyed this book since it was gritty and real at the same time. It showed how Kay had an inner struggle within himself between his family and friends. Someone who says they are your friend may not be, and when the chips fall, they will throw you to the wolves to save themselves. I enjoyed how F

Some friends can be your worst enemies

Even though this is the first time I ever heard of this author I think he did a great job in putting this story together. Showing us readers that even though you think you have known a person all your life they are not always to be trusted. And also if you do the crime, be ready to do the time. Like the saying goes " snitching ain't easy ". I look forward to reading more books from this author, especially if has something to do with Nikki Turner I love all her books.