Dry Heat by Len Joy

Dry Heat by Len Joy is an excellent thriller, and this is the first one of the several novels by Joy which has been reviewed in this blog. Essentially, this is a tragic love story which takes place in Phoenix, hence the title. Joey Blade is an 18-year-old star football quarterback who just signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Arizona. He’s handsome and rather humble given his local fame. Joey, who comes from a disadvantaged family (poor), goes out to celebrate, hoping to score with a new pretty girl, Wendy Chang, who comes from the good side of the tracks. There’s a big party that’s happening to celebrate, and it got out of control. 

 

Joey is on the fringe of gang activity – never a part of a gang and not associated with one in any way. But, the gangs are everywhere and are something, at least in his neighborhood, that must be taken into consideration on a daily basis. Meanwhile, Joey had recently ended a relationship with Mallory, a girl with a loose reputation. Too late, Joey realizes that Mallory is really the girl for him, a down-to-earth woman who understands the poor side of town. As Joey is headed for the party, Mallory told him that she was pregnant and that he’s the father. 

 

Then the wild, out of control graduation party happened. The cops raided the party and as people were fleeing, Wendy climbed into the cab of a truck, and her ex-boyfriend Darville rapidly drove away. Joey and TJ Grimes jumped in the bed of the same truck. TJ, a drug dealer and gang member was carrying a handgun. Another vehicle that was escaping the party had some guys that stupidly challenged the truck Joey was riding in, and then TJ starting shooting at them. When the truck came to a stop, the Phoenix police appeared on the scene. TJ was able to escape and Wendy slipped away as well. Joey was charged with attempted murder, and the next day, the University of Arizona rescinded his scholarship offer.

 

TJ hid out and Wendy flew to Switzerland three days later, there was no one to vouch for Joey have been innocent of such charges, and soon he was convicted and sentenced to nine years in jail. He did his time and was finally released, and he resumed a working man’s life in Phoenix. It was much too late to attempt a return to his football life.

 

Joey found it was much too painful to think about Mallory who he had come to love. She had agreed with her dysfunctional father that she needed to have an abortion, a decision that Joey found to be very painful. After prison, the author did a great job describing Joey’s compromised life, and then there was a surprising reawakening of Joey’s feelings for Mallory. 

 

There was a thorough and comfortable resolution to all of the subplots. The story was well-developed and the characters were three-dimensional and believable. Now I’m interested in reading another of Len Joy’s books.