Long Way Out, The

Set in contemporary, small-town Florida, The Long Way Out by Michael Wiley is a novel in which the lives of an ex-con wrongfully incarcerated in prison for eight years for crimes he didn’t commit, a group of undocumented migrants, and a psychopathic serial killer are inextricably bound by a series of murders. It’s an intense character study of a man in crisis, a bleak tale of someone running from his troubled past toward an equally perilous future, and Wiley maintains the tension about his character’s fate throughout.

Franky Dast, recently released from prison after spending eight years there for a pair of murders he didn’t commit, is trying to put his life back together. But it isn’t easy. After prison, he successfully found and identified the killers who committed the murders a court wrongfully convicted him of. But the aggressive detective who arrested and framed him still has it in for Franky, and many in the community still regard him with suspicion. He lives permanently in a low rent motel and works as a gofer at an exotic animal rescue facility. Picking up dead chickens at a local commercial chicken farm to feed to the big cats at the animal rescue is one of Franky’s daily duties. That brings him into frequent contact with undocumented migrants who work at the chicken farm. When the fourteen-year-old daughter of a migrant family that Franky knows disappears, her mother begs Franky to look for her. The woman has heard about Franky finding the actual killers from the murders the authorities had pinned on him and believes Dast can help. But Franky refuses. A few days later, boaters find the girl’s body floating in a river. Partly because of the regret he feels for refusing to help the migrant family and partly because he is struggling to find meaning in his own life, Franky embarks on a private crusade to uncover the girl’s killer with shocking consequences. He digs into the murder and finds out the circumstances are far more convoluted than expected. While the premise of a former death row inmate investigating a murder as sort of an amateur private detective strains credibility, it makes for an interesting and quite imaginative story, as long as you don’t think about it too much. Wiley skillfully gives play to Franky’s shifting voice over its full emotional range―compassionate, disillusioned, cynical, desperate, and more. In Franky Dast, the author offers a precisely drawn portrait of a classic antihero living a life of near futility while attempting to come to grips with the personal trauma he has experienced. Franky’s heart-wrenching story is palpable and the type to stick with readers long after they turn the last page. Wiley balances the plot twists and turns with the weighty and complicated issues surrounding desperate economic migrants flowing across the country’s southern border hoping to find a better life. Instead, they too often find, on one hand, people openly hostile to them and, on the other, individuals eager to exploit their desperate circumstances to gain cheap labor. As the novel progresses, it picks up a propulsive energy that compels us to keep reading straight through to the end when the rising sense of tension comes to a shocking head.

Franky Dast isn’t an ideal protagonist but he offers a fresh outlook on the crime thriller in this 2nd murder mystery set in Northern Florida around Jacksonville. Having been released from prison for a murder he didn’t commit; having served some 8 years he is struggling to adjust to normal day life.

Michael Wiley captures that wonderfully and it is a recurrent theme here that often is deliberately interjected into the story to show his broken humanity. He has very few checks and balances. He is driven but his motivation is confusing as he lurches between right and wrong. He is unable to follow normal social rules, at times honest and empathetic, on other occasions self-destructive and blurring boundaries. Both in terms of braking the law and getting into someone’s face.

In this second incarnation, still receiving counselling and working out his anger and personal injustice he is drawn into the issues of immigration and illegal aliens
A difficult storyline for any author but Wiley has addressed it head-on with bravery and great clarity. Free from stereotypes and liberal dogma the writing presents an insight into the complexity of relationships, associations and internal struggles.

When a Mexican family’s young daughter goes missing the parents approach Franky to ask around and help find her. When she is later found murdered Dast feels compelled to become involved, especially as the police as in his case quickly pinpoint an easy suspect and lose sight of perhaps wider motives. Needless to say the ‘ex-con’s’ approach to private investigating is a little unorthodox.

This is the very essence of these books. Franky is more scatter gun that surgical; prod enough bee’s nests and you will get stung. When so many people have a grudge against him for his actions and behaviour you are unable to determine if it related to the crime or just personal.

Fast paced and packed with thrills and unexpected twists. It is another compelling read that carries important social elements within a very entertaining story.

“The odds are against you, Franky. You can’t run away from your past, and you can’t run toward the future. You need to deal with the present with your feet planted squarely on the ground.”

Maybe this series will run and run. Franky is a “runner.”

Wiley is a great storyteller and a remarkable author who brings a new take on American crime mysteries. Check out his other books and see what you think, but for originality check out this series. The Long Way Out confirms Franky Dast is a believable and likeable character hopefully here to stay.

Franky Dast was wrongly convicted of murder. Eight years he remained in prison, now pardoned. He lives in a run down Motel in Florida. He has a girl friend Cynthia who had been badly burned in a fire started by her father.
Franky sees a reintegration Counselor Dr. Patel. It was the doctor who got Franky a job with Safe Haven which rescues big cats and is run by Judy and Diane. Franky's job is to collect meat for the animals donated by various places.
Franky has a dificult relationship with the police. Detective Bill Higby framed him for the murder he didn't commit. However Lieutenant Detective Deborah Holt he gets on with well.
Franky because of his history is very damaged and is trying hard to fit back into society. When a young Mexican girl goes missing and is found murdered, Franky wants to find the person or people responsible. There are many locals who hate illegal Mexican immigrants. They also hate anyone who have been inprisoned. Can Franky keep out of trouble and make a difference?
This is the second book from the author to feature Franky. The author has three other series featuring different people.
A good and at times difficult read. Recommended.

A bleak, dark, and gripping story that kept me on the edge and turning pages. It's not a light mystery and it's a multilayered story with a main character, Franky, trying to stay on the right side of the law and to discover who is the real culprit for a killing he went to prison.
There's plenty of twists, some lighter moment, and I was surprised till the end.
An excellent noir/thriller that I liked.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Franky is back - and this noir novel sees him once again untangling complex crime and righting wrongs. He's not the usual protagonist nor are these the usual crimes but it's topical, it's layered, and it's engrossing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Excellent read.

Franky Dast has been in prison for eight years. For a double murder he didn't commit. No, he really didn't and, as we first catch up with him, he has finally been released, having given up with the authorities and found the true perpetrators of his crime himself! Obviously this has not stood him in good stead with the lead Detective who got him killed so there is still a lot of bad blood there, as well as in the wider community, some who still doubt his innocence. But he is trying to move on. Living out of a motel room and working for an exotic animal charity. One of his main tasks is picking up the food they need to feed the big cats and it is at one of these farms where he comes into contact with undocumented migrants, and it is one of these families that comes to him for help when their teenage daughter goes missing. Fearful of the authorities and having heard about Franky's success at his own exoneration, he seems like the only choice.
And so begins a harrowing tale starting with that of Franky himself and ending in tragedy for others, we follow Franky as he eventually gets on board and, sacrificing much personally, tries to get to the bottom of things.
The premise of Franky as a main character is an intriguing one. His baggage alone could fill a book without the addition of the shenanigans around the migrant workers. A veritable anti-hero with a heart of gold, once he realises that! All leading it to be a very character driven novel. And a mystery and plot which twists and turns all the way to the end. It's also a bit political given the storyline of the migrants but nothing shoved down your throat. And it also includes my favourite place of employment in a book ever - the exotic animal rescue charity.
All comes together as the end approaches exploding in a rather shocking conclusion.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.