January 05, 2015

ARC Review: The Untouchables by J.J. McAvoy



One Secret. Multiple Casualties.

Everything Melody Callahan has ever been told about her past is a lie. Her father lied. Her husband lied. But like all secrets…they come out. Not only is her mother, Aviela, alive but she won’t stop until she tears down everything Liam and Melody have spent the past year building.

With a new target on their back and the media now focused on their family as the Presidential election approaches, Liam and Melody must fight on two battlefronts. Melody is torn between being in love with Liam and wanting to kill him for lying to her. Being in love and showing love are two different things in her world. Liam wants to do anything to protect his family even if that means hurting the people he loves.

Family is everything… but what happens when they’re out for your blood? Everything they have been through is nothing compared to what is coming...

Warning: This book contains adult language and subject matter including graphic violence and explict sex that may be disturbing for some readers. This book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.







MY REVIEW


The Untouchables by J.J. McAvoy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 this shit just keeps getting better and crazier STARS


“Just as I had suspected, something was coming out of Hell and straight towards us. And it was coming fast.”


Is it wrong that I would label The Untouchables as the funniest book I have read in a long time? 'Cause it really is. Hilarious and oh so wrong, but so damn right at the same time.

Here we go again, suspend your disbelief, unless you have no morals or empathy to begin with I suggest you read on with an open mind.

The second instalment of the Ruthless People Series is one hell of a page turner. Once I started I actually read the whole night through until I was done. I was a bit worried if Ms. McAvoy could pull it off again after so thoroughly entertaining me the first time around but I shouldn’t have doubted....all is well and Mel and Liam are crazier and bloodier than ever.

What a way to start my reading year!


“Why were our lives so fucking complicated? All I wanted to do was sell drugs, make love to my wife, and rule in peace.”


After that mother of a cliff-hanger (see what I did there? *wink wink*) at the end of Ruthless People we find us in the midst of a mafia controlled Presidential Election. But the Callahan's rather ambitious goals of world domination are in jeopardy.

For one there is that major secret Liam is keeping from Melody and keeping secrets from a trigger happy wife with a proclivity to shoot first and ask questions later is not a good idea in general.

On the other hand there are always bigger fish in the water and our favourite bloody duo has to find out the hard way that the now destroyed Valero Family was a minor evil and the big bad is still out there...gunning for their heads.

If only they knew who it was and why they appear to be under fire from all sides. And can someone please shut up/kill Olivia? Thanks. ;D





“None of this makes any fucking sense,” Neal groaned, rubbing his temple. “I mean I can't be the only one totally confused”


I have to confess it took me a few pages to get my bearings. I read Ruthless People last summer and as you might remember there are a few members in the family and I completely forgot who they all were.

But don't worry; Ms. McAvoy got us covered. We get a perfect first chapter where we meet almost all the players again, their roles are subtly explained and before you even notice there are all kinds of murder and mayhem going on.

The story is told from multiple POVs and I really appreciated seeing not only what Mel and Liam are up to but also to get a glimpse into the rest of the family. It creates a very broad picture of all that is going on. And believe me a lot of sh*t is going down, half of it even our dominating duo has no idea how to deal with.

“Rule number six: sometimes in order to win, you have to lose.”


Maybe that could work. ;P





“I wasn't sure when we had changed into this lovely couple, but with each passing day, he was becoming a bigger part of my soul. Part of me was still worried about it.”


Liam and Meldoy. I just love their relationship and the whole 'us against the world' mentality. We get to see them growing even closer and more in tune with each other, but most importantly I believe we can see some actual growth and maturity, as well as reflection in both of them. Don't get me wrong they are cold blooded killers, but The Untouchables shows layers.

“I'm Liam Fucking Callahan! I don't meet anyone halfway. They bend my way.”


And I'm pretty sure Liam got a little more ‘alpha’ this time around. Thanks god for small mercies. Didn't even know that was possible but I'm grateful never the less.

“She wasn't any woman, she was Melody. Even the devil pitied me.”


Of course his wife is just kick-ass. While I don't think the term does her justice, I'm just going to leave it there anyway. Yes, she is not right in the head, none of them are, but after reading so many damsel in distress books in this particular genre I really appreciate such a calculated, unapologetic and in no way helpless character. Killer or not.


“You're a motherfucking Callahan. We are never victims; we are the victimizers. The penalty for coming after us is, and will always be, death.”


The family. That's one of the main things I love about this series. La familia. Nothing is more important and more dangerous than family. You can't live them and you can't live without them and in the end they surly will be your downfall...or something like that.

Despite the fact that the Callahans deal with drugs and have god knows how many other illegal ventures operating at any given time, the biggest problems are created from within. But on the other hand family is the thing that keeps everything together and moving forward. Such an interesting way this all plays out and I'm going to stop here...just because...you'll see.

Yes, my whole review is very vague...you can thank me later. ;P


I simply love everything about this series. The characters, the crazy ruthless shenanigans. The twists and turns I didn't see coming had me gasping, oohing and ahhing ever so often and I honestly had a smile on my face the whole way through this bloody brilliant book. Ok, well maybe at the end there I was more shocked than smiling....but really, if you loved the first book you won't be disappointed with The Untouchables. The set up for the next book looks amazing. So many open questions and ARGH...

I for one would love to take a page out of Mel’s book and kill someone to get my hands on American Savages RIGHT NOW!



**posted before reading:

I'm the proud owner of an ARC for this little gem. *muahahahahaha*

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!!


**ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Net-Galley in exchange for an honest review


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