This is one of my favorites for 2025; a down home rip of a yarn. An entertaining heist of a story that is pulled along by the strength of family ties and a man’s need to understand and better himself. Rob D. Smith is a highly accomplished short story writer and Good Looking Ugly is a pretty good looking debaut. If you like offbeat crime capers with a downtrodden protagonist seeking to bust out from his past, this book is a can’t miss.

The link to my full review in Goodreads is right here – check it out! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7309229781