I'm maybe marking this up a star based on the quality of the writing even if the story ultimately didn't quite deliver with a thread too many and an ending that didn't live up to the jounrey.

Starr writes electric prose that is impossible to put down and the opening chapters of this one are absolutely brilliant. The third character of Saiquan is introduced about a third of the way through and gives the book a totally new dimension and the writing is of such quality that you sink into his story too.

There's plenty to love in this novel even if it ultimately doesn't hit the heights it sets out for itself.

If you want to feel better about your state in life read a Jason Starr book. You will shine compared to his loser and conniving characters. This one centers around Ryan and Jake two guys who grew up together, Jake becomes a baseball star and Ryan becomes nothing. They both want Christina. Who really knows what Christina wants? Then, there are gang members they get tangled up with. Lights Out, while a pretty good read, took too long to get moving to some actual action. I also had a problem that the leads are very unlikable but there aren't "bad" or "evil" mostly just dumb and very selfish, which made me not really care one way or another about what happens to them. I've read better by Starr that makes better conclusions than this one so I'll keep him on my shelf and recommend one of his other books.

Lights Out (2006) by Jason Starr...Jason Starr, King of the Neo-noirs! Another kick ass crime fiction novel from the boroughs of NYC...this time taking place in Brooklyn. Star baseball player Jake comes home to Brooklyn to propose to his High School sweet-heart, Christina, who is having an affair with Ryan...This three way goes absolutely devolves into the CRAZY pulling in family, gangsters, cops and more. Although there are many characters, the story never feels cluttered and moves right along. Like Starr's other books, Light Outs is a page-turner which makes for a quick & fun filled read. Yeah....If you like crime fiction I highly recommend Lights Out! (and all Jason Starr's books!).....4.0 outta 5.0