About 30 pages into The Fighter, we know how it is going to end.  Our main character, Jack, knows how it is going to end.  Years of bare-knuckle brawling, gambling and pain meds are catching up with him at a pace his older, brittle body can no longer outrun.

Jack never had it easy. As a foster child, he barely had a home or a family.  Finally, he was welcomed in by Maryann.   However, a loving caretaker did not fix his adolescence issues as he still fought his way through school and eventually stepped into an amateur ring.  After the first match, he became addicted to the adrenaline.

Fast forward past his prime as a backyard fighter.  Dealing with headaches and memory loss of his own, he witnesses Maryann’s mental health deteriorate.  It is obvious to both the reader and Jack – he is witnessing his future.

Forced to deal with his unpaid debt, Jack must decide whether he can flee his problems or return one more time as The Fighter, even if it is sure to kill him.

Thank you Little Brown for the free advance copy of this novel.  Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me.  I really thought I would feel more of an emotional connection to Jack.  Michael Farris Smith builds a vivid scene and has very smooth writing, but I was still a bit let down by the climax.

Verdict: Skip It. (2/5 Stars)
Length: 256 pages

Buy The Fighter HERE

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