Father's Footsteps

Rating:
Summary: A must read novel
Review: After I finished reading the book, I put it down and got to thinking about the emotional ride that I had just experienced. Father's Footsteps goes from the 1930's all the way to 1975 with accurate descriptions and dialogue. James the main character goes from childhood to death during the course of the book. After reading it you will feel like the characters are your close friends. I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed reading this book!

Rating:
Summary: This is a good read!!!
Review: After reading some of the other so called crime books out there like B-More Careful and True to The Game, it was nice to come across someone who was actually telling a good story. The characters were developed and the language was clear and not slang orientated so the average reader can understand what is happening without having to know hardcore street lingo. And the fact that it was set up in the 70's makes the story even more interesting. The central part of the book focuses on a father and his two sons and is written well. I hope to see more work from Tony M. Cheatham.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book
Review: Father's Footstep was so good I did not want it to end. The story is centered around Jimmy who preferred to be called Bianco. Jimmy followed in his father's footstep dealing in crime.

You will not want to miss this shocking story about Bianco and his friend Casino, his wife Kimberly and his sons Bryon and Monroe.

Rating:
Summary: It was a good book.
Review: Father's Footsteps had lots of action that kept the story moving. I can't stand when a book startes off fast then picks up along the way. The writing was really good.

Rating:
Summary: Tight book!!
Review: I saw Mr. Cheatham in Washington D.C. at the CBC conference authro's pavillion with a lot of other writers. Mr. Cheatham stood out and caught my attention because of the poster of the book cover behind him. When I saw it I asked him about it and bought the book. I finished reading it in two days! Father's Footsteps was a page turner from beginning to end. The scenes were very desciptive and felt like something out of a movie. I hope Mr. Cheatham is working on more novels like Father's Footsteps. There needs to be a new voice in the writing world.

Rating:
Summary: Suspense filled first effort!
Review: James Thompson, a young boy in 1935, watches his father slowly drink himself to death in the years following the great depression as times got harder and harder. And James vows to himself that he will never have to depend on anyone else for his living and that his children will have the security that money brings. When he and some friends knock over a fruit peddler's stand, James is forced to go to work as a numbers runner for the Italian mafia when the Italian leader informs him that the fruit peddler worked for him. Seven years later, he is able to go out on his own and start up his own businesses.

Within a few short years, he is one of the wealthiest and most feared men in the neighborhood. But when his wife leaves him, he realizes that money can't buy everything. Thirty years later, he is ready to let his son, Monroe take over more and more of the family business, only to discover that his son doesn't want any part of the crime empire that he has spent 30 years to build.

Cheatham skillfully takes us back and forth between the past and the present to watch events unfold that made young James become the man he did, see the impact of his lifestyle on his son, and see Monroe come to the realization that he wants the security of legitimacy, not money. And when a long-buried secret comes to light, the relationship between father and son is stretched almost to the breaking point. Filled with vivid imagery, brutal descriptions of the criminal lifestyle and complex relationships between all the characters, Cheatham has created a world that will both repulse and fascinate you.

Rating:
Summary: Like Father Like Son?
Review: James Thompson, affectionately known as Bianco, was brought up on the streets. As a teenager, he began working as a numbers runner for the mob. He did that for six years until he branched out on his on and ultimately became one of the biggest numbers runners in his town. James, ended up marrying and having two sons with his wife Kimberly. His oldest son, Monroe, didn't want any part of street life, because at a young age he saw death and the dangers of life on the streets. But James wanted Monroe to be just like him, one of the fearless leaders on the streets; however, Monroe had his heart set on going to school and becoming successful the right way. James youngest son Byron would have done anything just to have his son acknowledge him. James treated Byron like a stepchild, and barely said anything to him during his childhood. Byron is eager to take over his father's business, if only his father had paid him any attention. Will Monroe make his father happy and lead a life of crime? Will James finally acknowledge Byron and treat him like a son? Or is there a reason Byron is treated the way he is?

Father's Footsteps is a story of survival of the fittest. A father desperately wanting a son to follow in his footsteps and lead a life of crime. A story full of revenge, lies, deceit, family secrets, betrayal and murder, all about obtaining that almighty dollar. This story has so many twists and turns and is full of suspense you have no choice but to want more.

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Like Father Like Son?
Review: James Thompson, affectionately known as Bianco, was brought up on the streets. As a teenager, he began working as a numbers runner for the mob. He did that for six years until he branched out on his on and ultimately became one of the biggest numbers runners in his town. James, ended up marrying and having two sons with his wife Kimberly. His oldest son, Monroe, didn't want any part of street life, because at a young age he saw death and the dangers of life on the streets. But James wanted Monroe to be just like him, one of the fearless leaders on the streets; however, Monroe had his heart set on going to school and becoming successful the right way. James youngest son Byron would have done anything just to have his son acknowledge him. James treated Byron like a stepchild, and barely said anything to him during his childhood. Byron is eager to take over his father's business, if only his father had paid him any attention. Will Monroe make his father happy and lead a life of crime? Will James finally acknowledge Byron and treat him like a son? Or is there a reason Byron is treated the way he is?

Father's Footsteps is a story of survival of the fittest. A father desperately wanting a son to follow in his footsteps and lead a life of crime. A story full of revenge, lies, deceit, family secrets, betrayal and murder, all about obtaining that almighty dollar. This story has so many twists and turns and is full of suspense you have no choice but to want more.

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Read!
Review: Mr. Cheatham's book was very exciting to me. I normally do not care for crime stories, but Father's Footsteps kept me reading to find out what happened next, and I was always surprised! Surely this book could easily be a movie. Great read! Looking forward to more releases by Tony Cheatham. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action, suspense and the element of surprise.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Read!
Review: Mr. Cheatham's book was very exciting to me. I normally do not care for crime stories, but Father's Footsteps kept me reading to find out what happened next, and I was always surprised! Surely this book could easily be a movie. Great read! Looking forward to more releases by Tony Cheatham. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action, suspense and the element of surprise.