My original Simple White Trash audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Simple White Trash was a surprise package. After reading the summary, it sounded like a simple premise if not a little dangerous; however, by the time you get to the end of this book you have a whole cast of characters that you meet along the way of this story that come together in the climactic last scenes. As the book opens up with Carl O'Donnell being released from prison, the picture of simple white trash is definitely painted as the listener hears about being in and out of jail, rusty old trailers, and drug-related careers. You definitely try to get on Carl's side though as the story progresses and we hear of how he cares for his mentally-challenged brother, Jimmy, and being raised by an alcoholic father. An unfortunate set of circumstances, although this seems to be the way of life for Carl, leads to Carl and Jimmy being on the run from a Mexican drug cartel. The second half of the book, is full of a crazy characters and even crazier circumstances that will not leave you disappointed. I was definitely impressed with how well developed the characters and the story came together in this shorter book and completed the story for Carl and Jimmy for the listener.

The narrator, DJ Holte, was perfect for this book bringing a harsh, raspy voice and a hint of a southern drawl. It was a ideal match for the severe nature of the story and the rigid characters that portrayed the grim events of this story. I was impressed with his abilities from start to finish and I could easily distinguish characters without losing any of the roughness in his voice. I would definitely listen to both the author's stories and narrator's books again in the future.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator. ( )

I realized while reading this book (after one of the authors’ fans mentioned it) that Simple White Trash is a companion novel to Robert Brumm’s “DESOLATE.” However, you don’t have to read the first to enjoy the second. Simple White Trash is a standalone novel packed with action, tension, humor, and engaging characters. I was hooked from the first page, and the dialogue (I’m extremely picky on the dialogue) is perfection.

Simple White Trash is a wild ride that begins with bad luck, worse decisions, and mostly good intentions, and ends with you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages faster than your poor eyes can read. This is going in my top reads of 2015 list. ( )