Molls Like it Hot by Darren Dash

I reviewed a book for the author Darren Dash (aka teen horror author Darren Shan) back in 2018, the wonderful Midsummer’s Bottom (Goodreads review here). I was more than pleased when he reached out again last year with another review request. This time, it was the very different Molls Like it Hot, a London-noir novel about a taxi driver who picks up the wrong fare. Unlike the borderline urban fantasy that was MB, MLIH was firmly rooted in the here and now, a tale of gangsters and unlikely heroes.

Disclaimer – I read this in August, so forgive me if I’m a little hazy on some of the details.

So, what’s it all about?

Eyrie Brown, retired from the army after a personal tragedy, has joined the platoon of taxi drivers that patrol London City. One evening, during a traditional London downpour, Eyrie is planning on packing it in for the night due to the lack of business. As he heads home, he witnesses a gunfight, and in a moment of questionable ethics, picks up the winner. Not long after dropping him off, he gets an offer of an “easy” job from the man, looking after a woman friend of his while she visits the city. He struggles with the idea of dealing with gangsters, but the amount of money offered tips Eyrie over and he accepts. His charge turns out to be no mere tourist, and Eyrie finds he has to dig deep into all his resources to survive the weekend.  

Is it any good?

Simple answer – yes. The book starts fast and hurtles downhill, and you’ll likely find that you read the book in a couple of days. The action, even the wordplay between characters is incessant, and there’s rarely a dull moment. The main characters, Eyrie, Toni (the titular Moll) and Lewis (the gangster) are all likeable and well-drawn. There are a lot of side characters, some of whom seem surplus to requirements. While Eyrie’s merry band of taxi drivers seem like stereotypes, they are probably stereotypes you could apply to your own friends – the funny one, the dodgy one and so forth. Like your own friends, they rise up when Eyrie asks for their help. The action is good if a wee bit cartoonish at times, but when it starts rolling you’ll be too busy remembering to breathe to really care. The climax is standard, but definitely fits the story, and there is a whiff of potential sequel about it. On that note, while I theoretically would like to read more of Eyrie’s adventures, I also like how the story ended and I think I prefer it as a standalone. A separate book on the conniving Lewis would be fun though.  

Verdict

A roller coaster ride of a gangster tale. 

• Format: E-Book
• Obtained from: Author
• Print length: 243 pages (pb)
• Publisher: Independently published
• ISBN: 9781671444928