Andre Hardy was recently at The Poisoned Pen to talk about his debut thriller, Tear the City Down. It’s never a bad idea to buy a signed copy of a debut author’s first work. You can order a signed copy ofTear the City Down through the Webstore, https://tinyurl.com/2mnbt79e. You can also watch the recent event on YouTube.
But, before ordering the book, you might want to read critic Oline Cogdill’s review of Tear the City Down. She originally published it in the South Florida Sun Sentinel before sharing it here. Thank you, Oline.
Book review: Ex-NFL player Andre Hardy scores with debut thriller ‘Tear the City Down’
‘Tear the City Down’ by Andre Hardy; Grand Central; 432 pages; $30
Since retiring from the NFL, Andre Hardy has turned to writing in various genres — essays, short stories and nonfiction. Now Hardy, a member of the league’s Retired Players Association, turns to crime fiction with “Tear the City Down,” a rip-roaring, action-packed debut.
“Tear the City Down” works well as a story about parental devotion, the bonds between fathers and daughters, and how to break away from a criminal past, with jazz, football and tennis added in.
Hardy centers on Coltrane Davis, a self-admitted “hustler” who wants to leave behind his criminal past. But Coltrane has become rich and successful being “a fixer” for the wealthy, corrupt Saul Sollman, who’s become one of San Diego’s top crime lords. Saul also is a psychopath.
Coltrane has come a long way from his rough beginnings. It will not be easy for him to leave his partnership with Saul, the lucrative flow of money, the fancy lifestyle or the action he craves. Still, he wants to be a good father to his teenage daughter, Naima, whose talent at tennis is growing.
After he and his daughter return from a tournament in Boca Raton, Coltrane is determined to focus on Naima and her burgeoning career. First, though, he is pulled into the disappearance of the Los Angeles Chargers’ star running back, who vanishes before a big game. Saul and the player’s agent have much invested in the investigation that leads Coltrane into San Diego’s underbelly.
Hardy approaches “Tear the City Down” with an assured hand — keeping the plot tight and brisk, the characters realistic, and the action elaborate yet believable. Coltrane’s determination to be the kind of father that Naima needs and deserves fuels the story. Hardy also knows how to delve into darkness and violence without overwhelming the story.
It’s a terrific debut that richly deserves a sequel.