Devil's Cape is part of what I hope will become a trend in books--comic book stories delivered in novel form. Much like the recent Soon I Will Be Invincible, it deals with costumed heroes and villains.
And it is one great book. I would dare say one of the best that I have ever read. Seriously.
The title refers to the setting for the novel, a town in Louisiana. It is a town were evil has won. They control the police, they have their hands in all the businesses, nothing happens inthe town without their sayso.
Any hero that rises up against them loses, and usually is slaughtered mercilessly.
However, a trio of new heroes enter the scene. Each has their own ties to the violence of the city. Some lost family members to the villains that run the city, some have family members in the villains number, some were villains themselves.
This was Rob Rogers first novel. But you would never believe that by reading it. He weaves a unique and realistic world like he's been writing novels for years.
His characters are vibrant and realistic. He plays with the reader's expectations of them like a master. The ones you think will end up good guys turn bad, and vice versa. And never to any of them ring untrue.
He uses the passage of time excellently. The first eleven chapters span 35 years, providing the exposition in an interesting and effective way. And the way he jumps back and forth through time during the climax enhances the drama and suspense and makes it a real page turner.
If you are a fan of comic books, or just a fan of a good, easy to read page turner, then I can't recommend Devil's Cape highly enough. After reading this, I get the feeling that I am getting in on the ground floor of and author who will be a major talent in the future. Pick this book up and you can say you have been reading Rob Rogers before he hit big.
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