*WINNER OF A 2018 EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT NOVEL**WINNER OF AN ALEX AWARD FROM THE ALA* NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2017 BY St. Louis Post-Dispatch • BooklistA propulsive, gritty novel about a girl marked for death who must fight and steal to stay alive, learning from the most frightening man she knows—her father.Eleven-year-old Polly McClusky is shy, too old for the teddy bear she carries with her … frightening man she knows—her father.
Eleven-year-old Polly McClusky is shy, too old for the teddy bear she carries with her everywhere, when she is unexpectedly reunited with her father, Nate, fresh out of jail and driving a stolen car. He takes her from the front of her school into a world of robbery, violence, and the constant threat of death. And he does it to save her life.
Nate made dangerous enemies in prison—a gang called Aryan Steel has put out a bounty on his head, counting on its members on the outside to finish him off. They’ve already murdered his ex-wife, Polly’s mother. And Polly is their next target.
Nate and Polly’s lives soon become a series of narrow misses, of evading the bad guys and the police, of sleepless nights in motels. Out on the lam, Polly is forced to grow up early: with barely any time to mourn her mother, she must learn how to take a punch and pull off a drug-house heist. She finds herself transforming from a shy little girl into a true fighter. Nate, in turn, learns what it’s like to love fiercely and unconditionally—a love he’s never quite felt before. But can their powerful bond transcend the dangerous existence he’s carved out for them? Will they ever be able to live an honest life, free of fear?
She Rides Shotgun is a gripping and emotionally wrenching novel that upends even our most long-held expectations about heroes, villains, and victims. Nate takes Polly to save her life, but in the end it may very well be Polly who saves him.
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She Rides Shotgun is one of those you pick up and keep chewing on it long after you’ve put it down. Great tight writing. Some wonderful character work with a father-daughter dynamic you won’t soon forget. As a student of crime fiction and the thriller genres, this one breathes some new life into some old tropes and offers a fresh voice on the scene. Well done, Mr. Haper.
Terrific thriller. Skillfully written. Evocative. Just plain great.
I LOVED this book; it was unlike ANYthing I’m used to reading. It was gritty and rough and choppy and as real-life descriptive as I’ve ever read. I thought the two and three and four word sentences would get on my nerves, but they didn’t; they served their purpose well. Even though I didn’t like what had to happen in some instances, the author made me love Nate and Polly, regardless. Loved seeing their relationship take shape. He didn’t know her any more than he knew me, but he knew his responsibility, and he embraced it and became a father. TAKE NOTE, men. He took joy in her happiness; he hurt when she was in pain; it killed him when he had to be a part of it. I’m a sensitive person and there were parts that made me cry, but I thank the author that, although he COULD have ripped my heart right out of my chest, he chose to ease me past an especially bad place, instead. Just as a good meal leaves you thinking about it on and off for a long time, and leaves you wanting it again, so too does this story. I’ll be catching myself thinking about it for a LONG time to come. And I already know I’ll reread it one day.
A terrific crime novel, and also a moving story about the relationship between an estranged father and daughter, who are thrust together in order to avoid deadly consequences. A suspenseful and exciting story. Highly recommended.
I picked up SHE RIDES SHOTGUN on a whim. It’s one of those rare books that–when I was forced to put it down–had me itching to pick it up again to see what would happen next. I’ve recommended it to many friends. Expect a fantastic plot, stellar writing, and characters who will intrigue you.
Propulsive writing made this book a standout for me, along with deep characterizations and a careening plot.
Dark, quirky, and a fun ride. Loved this story.
I learned a lot about prison culture.
Loved it!
One of the best books I have read in many many years. Somewhat gory but the main character, eleven yr old Polly, is absolutely captivating.
I really did love this book. Harsh realities.
A great read, very entertaining.
I have never read a novel that speaks to illegal drugs as does this book. The protagonist is a young girl who tries to survive in the drug world. A very fast-paced, sometimes gut-wrenching novel that is hard to put down. Would definitely recommend!
It was well written, engaging, original. In my opinion a masterpiece of crime fiction.
An improbably story – an 11-YO assisting her ex con father defeat an Aryan prison gang that wants to kill both – becomes not only absolutely probable as told, but compelling. Nate, the father, is a bad ass con because of his older brother’s training and encouragement rather than natural inclination. Polly is shy and withdrawn, whose inner aggressive person is unleashed by her father. Their evolution from strangers to a cohesive family unit, albeit one facing monumental threats and challenges, is deftly unveiled as the story progresses. By the end of the story the reader is rooting unconditionally for Nate and Polly.
This author breathed life into the characters.
It was a good first book. It kept my interest through the whole book.
Love that f&$@ing teddy bear. Terrible people, in terrible places, doing terrible things. Some times with a teddy bear. Excellent effort from this author. I don’t want to imagine a sequel. There is a world I would prefer not to visit.
But I can’t wait to read his next!
Different! Sorry I finished it because it was so good.
Not your usual good guy/bad guy story. Most all were bad,very bad,including the main character who was under a death threat that included his wife and daughter.
A shockingly different story in unique language, plot, and characters. I have never read anything like it. I’m still surprised it so thoroughly drew me in. Try it.