A review by suze_1624
Albert J. Sterne: Future Bright, Past Imperfect by Julie Bozza

4.0

Probably a 3.5* from me, as this is more like a series of linked vingnettes really, filling in background to the story told in [book:The Definitive Albert J. Sterne|16030818]. I will probably reread these again, and then I might read this one first!
The chapters are fairly short and Julie Bozza's writing make the stories move along quickly. I thought at first we were in chronological order but the stories do jump back and forward but the chapters are dated to make keeping up easier.

Young Albert does tug heard on the heartstrings at his parents funeral and after with no-one to hug and comfort him, listen to him or care about him. And the talk he and Elliot had when he was 15 was quite upsetting too.

When he is older, Albert becomes the less sympathetic character we met in book 1 and at times in his relationship with Fletch I do wonder what Fletch gets out of it. But having seen Albert's childhood, we can see how he is how he is.

We also get some of Ash's formative moments and a key part of Garrett's youth. But the thoughts I was left with were how much more would Albert relax over the years and would he have been much different had his parents lived.