Gun Monkeys is a crime thriller exploring complex human condition themes, including loyalty, betrayal, and morality. The novel presents a morally ambiguous world in which characters are motivated by their desires to survive and prosper and where the lines between right and wrong are often blurred. Through the characters' actions, the novel highlights the potential consequences of making difficult choices to pursue one's goals. Loyalty is a significant theme, with characters being forced to choose between self-interest and loyalty to others. This theme is complicated by the prevalence of betrayal in the novel, as characters turn on one another in pursuit of power and money. The book also explores the consequences of violence and crime, showing the toll it takes on those participating. The overarching theme of Gun Monkeys is that actions have consequences and that choices can shape one's life unexpectedly.
The novel follows the story of a hitman named Charlie Swift, who is tasked with retrieving a stolen suitcase full of cash. The novel is set in New York City and is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish.
The story begins with Charlie Swift being hired by a shady businessman named Lew McEwan to recover the stolen suitcase. The suitcase contains a large sum of money that belongs to McEwan's boss, a powerful underworld figure named Trinacria. Swift teams up with another hitman named Louie "The Lost" Malone to find the suitcase, but they soon realize that they are not the only ones looking for it.
As Swift and Malone get closer to the suitcase, they become embroiled in a complex web of deceit and betrayal. They are pursued by a psychotic killer named Harvey, who another criminal organization hires to get his hands on the suitcase. Meanwhile, the FBI is also on its trail, trying to bring down Trinacria's criminal empire.
At the end of Gun Monkeys, Swift can recover the stolen suitcase containing the money and kill Trinacria, the main antagonist. However, Swift is gravely injured and forced to flee the scene before the police arrive. Malone, who had been working with Trinacria, is arrested and taken into custody. Swift manages to make his way to Mexico, where he meets up with his former lover, Nora, and they plan to start a new life together. However, Swift's injuries prove too severe, and he dies in Nora's arms. The novel ends with Nora burying Swift and reflecting on the choices they made and the consequences that followed. The book's final message is that actions have consequences and that the pursuit of money and power often comes at a great cost.
