The Carriage Master by Jake Hayes (Book Review #2117)

Jake Hayes delivers a wildly original and darkly hilarious ride in The Carriage Master, a vigilante thriller comedy that reads like a mashup of Kick-Ass, Dexter, and a late-night fever dream you didn’t know you needed.

At the heart of the chaos is Alex Wagner, a 30-year-old art student and part-time bowling alley employee who just wants a fresh start in the town of Hampton. Instead, he ends up drafted—under duress—into chronicling the exploits of a vigilante lunatic named Randy, a rogue ex-intelligence agent who poses as a homeless man by day and terrorizes the criminal underworld by night with a golf bag full of improvised justice.

Hayes creates a layered, high-energy plot that’s both action-packed and laugh-out-loud absurd. As Alex navigates Randy’s eccentric underground world (complete with counterfeit bills, surveillance gear, and DVD roleplay sessions), he also becomes the target of a gang led by the enigmatic “Gucci Man.” With detectives, gangsters, a corrupt mayor, and an entire city seemingly falling apart around him, Alex is caught in a spy-vs-spy tangle he never asked for—and can’t escape.

But beneath the sharp satire and stylized mayhem is a smart critique of corruption, loyalty, and power. Hayes deftly balances the comedy with real stakes, giving readers a protagonist who’s as reluctant as he is relatable. Alex’s voice—equal parts sarcasm, skepticism, and slow-building admiration—anchors the chaos, making for a genuinely compelling read.

The Carriage Master is equal parts irreverent, clever, and explosive. With razor-sharp dialogue, unpredictable twists, and characters you’ll both laugh at and cheer for, Jake Hayes has crafted a debut that’s as bold as it is bizarre—in all the best ways.

Written by Jeyran Main

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