Review: Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

(I'm on vacation this week, so here is an extra book review...)

After high school football player Keir Sarafian injures another player in a tackle that gives his team possession of the ball, he earns the nickname "Killer." In his mind, he has everything he could ever dream of-- fame, popularity, an acceptance letter to college, and a night with Gigi Boudakian, the girl of his dreams.

The only problem for Keir is-- things aren't always what they seem. He believes in his own good intentions... but his actions may prove otherwise. He tells the story for you to judge.

Ever since I read Raymond's Run in elementary school, I've had a fascination for unreliable narrators. The way the story unfolds in one direction, while the subtext leads you just the opposite. Inexcusable is a great example of just such a tale. Keir's firm belief that he is a good guy, his desire to continue believing it, even as he slides backward down an ugly path, compelled me to turn every page. I read this book in one sitting.

Chris Lynch has written several award-winning novels, but this is the first I've read of his work. I enjoyed it, and recommend it. There is some mature content. But if I had a teenage boy, I'd want him to read this.