The Neon City is the first book in the In the Gutter Looking at the Stars series of 7 novellas by different authors.
What’s this Novella about?
Candy Wong, PI, is hired in Hong Kong to find Maye, a young Filipino girl caught up in human trafficking. Candy and local Mongkok PI Mickey Zhou take on Fu and his henchman and an evil Triad leader known only by the number 489.
Their only goal is to free and bring home Maye, the kidnapped Filipino Housemaid, brought to Hong Kong by Fu. Candy and Mickey kick ass, get beaten down, fight all comers, but never surrender.
Can they save Maye and bring her home before she is lost forever?
The Neon City is a fast-paced, fun read.
This novella was short, sweet, and got right to the point. No fluff or frills, no long-winded chapters about the characters’ back stories. O’Leary just drops us into the middle of Hong Kong and hopes for the best. Much like Maye’s experience throughout the book.
The novel offers a clear view of all angles of the Sex Trafficking underworld through the eyes of the victim (Maye), the players (Fu, Gang, and Stefan), and the heroes (Candy, Odesa, Dylan, and Mickey).
The Compelling Story Arc
Maye is special, and all who encounter her can see it. She is smart, strong, and above all, patient.
Lured by the promise of a well-paying housekeeping job, Maye instead finds herself kidnapped and held captive by a gang trafficking women across China. Her first attempt to escape is brief and unsuccessful, but failure does not break her. Neither does the drug addiction forced upon her. Instead, Maye adapts to her situation.
She does what is asked of her, all while groping for her sense of self. Even in a heroin induced haze, she remains observant, calculating, and quietly determined. Over time, she earns the trust of her captors. Eventually, she manages to get clean and is even promoted within the criminal organization.
Maye’s strength lies not in brute force or dramatic defiance, but in her willingness to endure and to survive without losing sight of the possibility of something beyond her circumstances.
Though there are many characters in the story, Maye’s arc is the most gripping. Especially since the reader gets to see what it is like for the victims of Human/Sex trafficking. The mental and physical abuse, along with the drugs and the isolation. Though the story is fiction, it does touch on a real-life issue most don’t even see or feel.
Atmosphere Under the Neon Lights
O’Leary’s choice to set the story in Hong Kong’s red light district is incredibly effective. He creates a gritty, uncomfortable atmosphere that pulls the reader into a dark underground world of slum-like apartments where girls are held captive, and men come for quick pleasure.
Although he does not go into graphic detail, he provides just enough for our imaginations to fill in the blanks. I could almost hear the crackling neon lights and the flicker of fluorescent bulbs, and I could feel the thick, suffocating wrench of sweat and sex in those cramped ”massage” apartments. It’s disturbing and even gross at times. But that discomfort feels intentional; it forces the reader to fully experience the setting rather than remain detached.
Some Things Should be Left to the Imagination
As readers, we know not every book will be perfect. Although The Neon City satisfies overall, there were moments where the author loses focus. In particular, the sex scene between Candy and Odesa felt both too long and unnecessary. Rather than adding to the plot or deepening our understanding of the characters, it came across as random and disconnected from the story’s momentum.
The scene also felt inauthentic, as if it weren’t written with a true understanding of the characters’ perspectives. It felt like the author had just discovered the word clit and was a little too excited about it, dropping it into the scene so often that it became so distracting. Because of this, it pulled me out of the narrative at a point where the story had been building strong engagement. The scene ultimately disrupted the pacing and weakened the overall impact.
Squad Goals and an Unlikely Hero
Our heroes are a compelling blend of tough, fun, and endearing. The trio of P.I.s each hold their own when it matters most, whether in a fight or while tracking down Maye.
Candy leads the group with determination and grit. Odessa is her partner, both professionally and personally, bringing balance and loyalty to the team. Mickey is the seasoned pro, street smart, efficient, and fully at home in the criminal world. Then there’s Dylan, the unlikely addition, a school teacher and Candy’s neighbor. He’s no professional, and he often takes the brunt of the chaos, but he never backs down and helps however he can.
Their teamwork and trust make them easy to root for. Their goal is simple and unwavering: Maye is going home, and no gang will stand in their way. Their interactions strike a balance between friendly and professional. Candy is tough, but her feelings for Odesa and her bond with Dylan clearly matter to her. Her drive to bring Maye home feels personal, more than just another job. Mickey, on the other hand, is strictly business. He keeps his distance and cuts ties easily, but his word is solid. Give him a job, and he’ll see it through.
Overall Experience
It’s gritty, it’s fun, and it’s an easy read for anyone looking for a quick crime thriller to add to their bookshelf. As a reader, I was entertained and locked in. I was truly invested in Maye’s ending. As a reader, I enjoyed the atmosphere, and I cared about the characters. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who likes Noir Crime thrillers, or anyone who is new to the genre and wants to dip their toes in it.
I am a writer of crime and literary fiction from Melbourne, Australia. I have published five short story collections, two novellas, and four novels, as well as over fifty individual short stories in journals both literary and crime.
Outside of writing, I like to travel, walk everywhere, take photographs like crazy, watch a lot of films, and firmly believe that test cricket is the greatest game of all.
I write crime novels that are fast-paced, action-filled stories featuring relentless protagonists who never give up.
I also write crime and literary short stories and collections filled with small slices of life that will make you laugh and cry and possibly even break your heart.
My crime novels are also translated into Spanish and Portuguese.
Angela Amador from El Paso, Texas, is a former chef and retired roller derby skater who now channels her adrenaline into something far more chilling: horror writing. She’s been obsessed with the macabre since childhood, immersing herself in everything from blood-soaked slasher films to unsettling manga and psychological thrillers. Today, she is working in short fiction and graphic novels that explore the brutal, the eerie, and the darkness in people (the real Boogeyman). Her favorite masked killer? Michael Myers. Her favorite subgenre? Home invasion—because true horror doesn't knock, it breaks in.
