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(More customer reviews)Clarence Kittles aka Clear runs his New York crew "The Black Mob" with a tight rein. Running a barbershop as a front to his other "activities", he is known for giving back to the hood and is well-respected as well as feared for Clear believes in following rules and if the rules are broken, then punishment--sometimes death may follow. Magic Jr is new to town and after a chance meeting with Clear, soon begins to hang with him. Magic reminds Clear of his deceased brother Brandon and to Magic, Clear is the father he never had. Clear begins to teach Magic the tricks of the game in hopes of turning things over to him one day but when Magic Jr's father Magic Sr shows up after finally becoming clean and getting off drugs, trouble follows as he begins to set up shop on Clear's territory. This leads to unexpected betrayals and conflict in where Magic Jr may be forced to choose sides.
Mastermind has all of the elements of a great urban drama but the ending may you leave confused and asking yourself is that it? I went back and reread some pages thinking I had missed something but maybe the author plans a sequel to wrap up loose ends and unanswered questions. I give this book 3.5 stars. Reviewed by Shay C of PeoplewholoveGoodBooks.
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Clarence Kittles a.k.a. ‘Clear' is the mastermind behind his New York crime-crew, The Black Mob.But, he's more than just street-smart. Clear knows exactly how to organize and keep his biz on the down-low, disguising his true identity through a legitimate business, a barbershop.Growing up in poverty, he vows never to go back to that life again.Anyone trying to hook-up with him better understand one thing -- Clear is a stickler for rules!Understanding that most hustlers get caught by not following them, he has no patience for rule-breakers and quickly turns into the most ruthless man when dealing-out punishment.On the flipside, most people in the community have come to know Clear as the ‘Ghetto Robinhood', an up-standing businessman who gives away free haircuts to kids of women on welfare and donates money to churches.Magic Jr. is a smart-youngster who basically grew-up without a father just like Clear.When they meet, Clear can't help but think about how much Magic Jr. reminds him of his deceased brother, Brandon.He begins to treat Magic Jr. like a younger brother, even hooking him up with his sister (Dayja) while schooling him on the game.Dayja is Clear's little hot-mama sister that he's trying to wrestle free from the grips of the Child Protective Services system that he'd originally had her placed into because of her wild ho-like behavior. She's also the main reason that he works so hard at the game, so that he can provide her with anything that she wants.Magic Sr., was a drug-addict during Magic Jr.'s early childhood.It wasn't until Magic Jr.'s teen-years that he even knew the man that he was named after.Having endured the bad-side of the game, Magic Sr. cleans himself up and decides to now profit from the very same game that had him strung-out by becoming a dealer.When he chooses to set-up his operation on drug-turf that belongs to Clear, that action could lead to a deadly conflict.Big Mac is the co-founder of The Black Mob and Clear's boy from way back.But, just because he was there at the beginning doesn't mean that he's immune from the rules that he helped to create – Clear ain't having it!Porsha is Clear's ride-or-die chick that is like a mother to Dayja.She is no stranger to thugs and the drug-game.She says that she's down for whatever and will do anything for Clear, but has never been tested.Candy is a booty-shakin' stripper turned conniving strip-club owner.Despite her name, there ain't nothin' sweet about her, as her only goal is to take care of #1 – herself!And she's so grimey, that she'll do it in anyway possible.As Clear becomes frustrated by some of his crew's lack of discipline that can threaten his freedom, he begins to systematically reduce the size of The Black Mob, one-by-one.He knows that even though he's got cops on his payroll -- that may not be enough to overcome careless mistakes.At times, Clear feels like he's the only one who truly understands that ‘The Game' is chess, not checkers!
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