One of a kind book. The story is very intriguing and addictive.
Have you ever met a person that was faced with many difficult challenges in life, but still made it? If you haven’t, allow me to introduce you to “Milton Lusser”. Milton is from a single parent home in a housing project where drug dealing is the norm and a way of life; he was kicked out of school for his retaliation to a racial slur and almost didn’t graduate; his father who he has never met or seen before just pops up one day out of the blue wanting to play daddy; and he’s easily influence when it comes to making important decisions. He leaves his home in Knoxville, TN to pursue a new life and a four year Business degree from the College of Alaska in Fairbanks, AK. After a couple of years of being there he was introduced to much, much more outside of his degree then one would expect. Through his determination to fit in and be apart of the in crowd he changed his name, character, personality, and persona. Ultimately transforming himself into something he wasn’t; a “Hustler”. By DESTINY he experiences a lavish and successful lifestyle. He lived the life that struggling and up in-coming drug dealers can only dream of, but just like in every illegal business something always goes wrong (Snitches). In “Money, Power, and Betrayal” you will see how grimy the dope game can get from a first hand viewpoint, and how quick so called friends and love ones will turn on you. You will also get the chance to follow Milton as he chooses “The Paths that Lie Ahead” for his life.
Excerpt
“Son life is full of choices, and there will be many different paths that will come in a person’s life that one must make a choice about, and that includes you. Some people will make good decisions while others will make bad ones. I want you to know that there are always consequences with every decision that you make good or bad. Son, whatever you do, I want you to choose the right path for your life, whatever it is you decide to do in life make good decisions?”
Professional Reviews
US Book of Reviews
The Paths That Lie Ahead
Part One: Money, Power, and Betrayal
by Melvin T. Luster Jr.
Trafford Publishing
reviewed by Karyn Saemann
Shit, hell yeah."
Luster talks the talk in this novel about a young black man's descent into, and later ascent out of, the drug world. An abundant, almost screenplay-like use of street language lends great authenticity. It's the language of young adult readers. And in-between the dialogue, the first-person account of scholar-turned-drug dealer Milton Lusser is coarse and edgy, as a twenty-something in his situation would tell it. Milton graduates from high school in Tennessee with great promise, with a full scholarship to a college in Alaska. But he soon veers off course. Lured by easy money, he begins dealing weed. Later, back in Tennessee, the business flourishes and he sinks into a heady lifestyle of nightclubs, women and indulgence. Then everything falls apart. Ultimately, he finds a new, healthier road. The book is short, just 130 pages, and Luster keeps the story focused and clipping along. The characters and plot are relatively thin, but that, in fact, works well here. A longer novel, which Luster appears to have the skill to write, would have required more dimension. But in this short form just letting Milton live works. Until the final pages, when there's a bit of reflection, moment-to-moment is about all there is. And precisely because of that, the book succeeds. Too much introspection would have felt false. Life, at this age and in Milton's situation, is about the here and now, not the why or how or what comes next. Milton is real. Luster nails that. Young adult readers will appreciate the authenticity.
