Book of the Week: Sean Chercover's "Big City, Bad Blood"

I reviewed this book when it was released in hardcover last year, but now that it's being published in mass market paperback, I wanted to give it another plug. I just read it again last week and I liked it even more than the first time. Chercover makes a standard hard-boiled PI story come alive with crisp writing and a winning protagonist. If you missed Big City, Bad Blood last year, don't make that mistake again. Chercover is one of the rising stars of the mystery genre, and PI Ray Dudgeon is one of my favorite new characters.

Comments

[Tasha Alexander]

This is such a great book---kept me up late into the night. Do yourself a favor and buy several copies!

[Seansagent]

I heard it was full of P.I. cliches.

[JDRhoades]

It's a good 'un, all right.

[Rob]

Yeah. This book is the shnizzle. I'm a PI novel junkie, but it's been a while since I've read one this good (and his first book, too.)

Consider me a groupie.

[Elaine Flinn]

Oh, to be young again so I too could be a groupie. I guess I'll just have to sigh from afar.

[Cameron Hughes]

Marcus Sakey told me Chercover is a hippie.

[Mark]

Yeah, and he doesn't even live in Chicago. Doesn't he live in Canada or some other weird foreign country?

Seriously, BCBB is the real deal. Confident is how I would describe it. Hard to believe it's a debut. And we have to wait until August or some damn thing for follow-up.

[Guyot]

I heard he lives in a stove on Venice Beach.

[Sean Chercover]

Wherever I lay my head, is my home.

I'm a travelin' man, that's what I am.

Marcus Sakey jumps to conclusions, but he's usually right.

I'm a hippie with Venice Beach muscles.

Thanks for the love, everybody.

And thanks for the plug, David. You are very kind.

[Keith]

I, um... still haven't read my copy. I plead life insanity.

Just didn't want to be conspicuously silent.

But I bought it!

[Sean Chercover]

You should see the size of my TBR pile, Keith. I can only imagine how big it would be if I had twins.

[David J. Montgomery]

When you get right down to it, buying the book is the main thing. After that, you can use it as a doorstop if you'd like.

[Finnigan]

The PLBW arc is at the top of my TBR pile.

I doubt Keith has read that one either.

[Keith]

I've been drafted into a marketing scheme.

With a link to an anti-circumcision group.

Whatever PLBW is, I'll make a point of avoiding it.

[Elaine Flinn]

PLBW? You've an ARC already? Oh, how exciting! I mean, just everybody is talking about this book! When will it be out? I checked with Amazon and it isn't listed yet. So, Finnigan - how about sending me your copy when you're done?