Wednesday, July 25, 2007

If you're looking for something good...


I read this book back in January, but due to an anonymous poster asking for more suggestions, I felt the need to let you all know about it.

This is Marcus' first book, but it doesn't read like you'd think a debut book would. It has everything I value in a book; believeable characters that you care about, unrelenting tension throughout, and best of all, a great plot.

From the front page of Marcus' site:

"On the South Side of Chicago, you’re only as strong as your reputation. Danny Carter and his best friend Evan earned theirs knocking over pawnshops and liquor stores, living from score to score, never thinking of tomorrow.

Then a job went desperately wrong, and in the roar of a gun blast, everything changed.

Years later, Danny doesn't think about his past. He's built a new world for himself: a legitimate career, a long-term girlfriend, and a clean conscience. He's just like anyone else. Normal. Successful. Happy.

Until he spots his old partner staring him down in a smoky barroom mirror."

Sometimes when I read certain scenes in some books, I feel like I can tell the author has completely made it up. You're saying, "Swanny, that's what they all do." I mean, that there are some authors who make their scenes so good, that you can imagine that they have been through these details. "Whiskey Sour" and the Halloween candy for example. There are times in "The Blade Itself", when I thought the only way Marcus could have written this, was to live it.

In closing, this book is fantastic. If you like more "traditional" suspense thrillers (as opposed to the "catch 'em if you can" thrillers) this book is definitely worth a read.

2 comments:

zztopdog said...

I agree! It's really good!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! I am looking forward to my next trip to the bookstore...I won't have to wander around aimlessly anymore!