The Best of Evil

“Spare your soul,” he ranted, “and turn your eyes from greed.…”The tattoos on his arms still reading “Live by the Sword” and “Die by the Sword,” Aramis Black is ready for a fresh start. Determined to set aside his violent tendencies, he opens an espresso shop in Nashville and begins to put his childhood memories behind him. The past isn’t finished with him, though. One ordinary day at the shop, a man is shot before his eyes, speaking dying words to Aramis that are all too familiar. Aramis realizes that his path to freedom will demand forgiveness–forgiveness from God and forgiveness of others. Along the way, he must uncover the conspiracy behind a centuries-old mystery and the shocking truth of his mother’s death. The question remains: Will Aramis be able to conquer his past, or will evil get the best of him? From the Trade Paperback edition.From BooklistAramis Black took a walk on the wild side in his youth, but now he is trying to make a go of conventional life in Nashville, not in music but as the proprietor and co-owner of a coffee shop. Unsavory types from his past stalk him, however, convinced that he knows the whereabouts of treasure buried long ago by Meriwether Lewis on the Natchez Trace. The Lewis material, speculating on whether Lewis' death was suicide or murder, gives some depth to what is otherwise rather a slight mystery. The Nashville setting is a plus, too, in this first of a trilogy. John MortCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReviewPraise for *The Best of Evil** “With The Best of Evil, Eric Wilson reveals himself as THE author to watch. His writing sizzles; his characters grab you and won’t let go; his story intrigues, entertains, and makes you think. This is a page-turner you’ll talk about with your friends.”–Robert Liparulo, author of Germ and Comes a Horseman“The world through Aramis Black’s eyes is mysterious, rich, and brewing with surprise.”–Brandilyn Collins, Seatbelt Suspense*™ “Eric Wilson masterfully weaves together mysteries from past and present in this gutsy thriller. Wilson is an extraordinary writer with one of the freshest voices in fiction today. The Best of Evil is first-rate suspense.”–Gina Holmes, Novel Journey/Novel Reviews** “A work of amazing maturity and skill.”–James Byron Huggins, author of Cain, The Scam, and Sorcerer “The Best of Evil is riveting reading–Eric Wilson at the top of his game.  He combines suspense, history, a reality-game show, full-blooded characters and yes, palpable evil, into one addictive read.  You’ll love his flawed but charismatic protagonist, Aramis Black, a man prepared to live by the sword and die by the sword.  Quite simply, The Best of Evil is the best of fiction.”–Randy Singer, author of The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney “In The Best of Evil, you get the best of Eric Wilson–the only novelist I know who can make you wish you’d paid more attention in your seventh grade history class.  Wilson manages to make Meriwether Lewis into a figure of contemporary fascination in this intriguing tale, set in modern-day Tennessee.  Aramis Black is serving up hot coffee and sarcasm when a customer gets shot dead, propelling us into a story with all the twists and turns of a Smokey Mountain road.  A stolen hankie, a pretty girl, a lock of hair, simmering family tensions, and a complicated hero with a dark past–The Best of Evil has it all.”–Melanie Wells, author of When the Day of Evil Comes and The Soul Hunter*