Mickey Collins by Kevin Forde is a compelling coming-of-age story surrounding an Irishman and his family that built a life of crime. Told in the form of transcribed recorded interviews, Mickey Collins from Cork City, Ireland narrates his story. He tells of how crime becomes deeply rooted in his life as well as that of his family, as his mother, Tanya, gives him an early start by giving him and his siblings errands like picking up drugs. His Uncle Con, on the other hand, taught him and his siblings how to shoplift. But that old adage that crime does not pay gradually inches into Mickey as he and his older brother, Cillian, get into trouble. As the family’s list of transgressions increases, Mickey and his siblings are sent to different foster homes before they reunite with their mother. As an adult, Mickey often finds himself at odds with the law, and it puts a considerable strain on his relationship with his mother in that they will be ratting on each other to save their own skin.

Kevin Forde gives a strong sense of realism in this tale as his transcript-style narrative allows you to get into the mind of Mickey Collins. His unfiltered thoughts, however, tend to branch out, yet it ultimately keeps a clear eye on the ball. Eventually, all the threads about Mickey’s family and criminal life come down to that moment when he makes an assessment of what truly matters to him. Time is of the essence in shaping the story arc, as it demonstrates that a life of crime may pay dividends at the beginning, but the huge leverage always takes a negative toll. As a criminal protagonist, you don’t reserve loathing for Mickey. Rather, you show him compassion and understanding because Forde has allowed you to get to know what Mickey’s life has been like. It’s a must-read story about how a criminal evolves.

Mickey Collins relates growing from childhood to near maturity within a group of people whose interests are on the wrong side of the law in Kevin Forde's Mickey Collins. Several notable occurrences in the book include shoplifting, pre-teen drinking, breaking into people's homes, smoking, selling and taking drugs, and other dubious behaviors. Mickey's first-person narrative touches on a variety of themes, such as homosexuality, deception, court issues, parties, mental illness, substance abuse, cancer, murder, imprisonment, foster care, and more. Mickey can't stay out of trouble with a deceptive and manipulative mother who sells drugs in the picture. Fortunately, he maintains a cheerful and sympathetic demeanor that contrasts dramatically with the chaotic surroundings and many of the questionable characters that surround him.

Kevin Forde's awesomely original story had me laughing uncontrollably, opening my mouth in disbelief, and yearning for more unforgettable experiences with its purposefully casual, extended sentences. The novel is full of fascinatingly strange individuals, all of whom are recounted from unique viewpoints by the insightful protagonist. Con is one of these characters, who never wore a coat even in the rain, and with whom no one messed. Almost every part of the novel is filled with dark comedy and artistic turbulence, such as the scene in which the protagonist is wounded and goes to show an opponent that he has been stabbed but looks to be flipping him off and is pursued by the antagonist's gang. Overall, Mickey Collins is ideal for fans of dark comedy and readers who find humor in every scenario. It's jam-packed with tragically funny events and characters that will make you laugh one minute and shake your head in amazement the next.