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Hardcover
William Morrow
January 2007
Paperback
Harper Fiction
February 2008
Disillusioned newspaper reporter-turned-private detective Ray Dudgeon doesn't want to save the world; he just wants to do and honest job well. But when doing an honest job threatens society's most powerful and corrupt, Ray's odds of survival make for a sucker's bet . . .
A simple bodyguard job for a Hollywood locations manager uncovers a rats' nest of sexual blackmail, murder, and high-level political corruption . . . and Ray Dudgeon is caught in a war between the FBI, the Chicago police, and the mob. With the line between good and bad blurring, Ray doesn't know who he can trust . . . or if he can even trust himself.
BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD takes readers on a white-knuckle ride . . . from the back alleys of Chicago, to the mansions of Beverly Hills, to the corridors of power in Washington DC.
"Thrilling. **** (4 out of 4 stars)" -- Detroit Free Press
"BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD is Sean Chercover's love letter to Chicago, and it is every bit as complex and conflicted as Ray Dudgeon, the private eye who travels its streets. Chicago comes alive in this book."
-- Chicago Sun-Times
"The best detective novel you will read this year. A realistic, scorching read."
-- Jackson Clarion-Ledger
"A knockout . . . Chercover's atmospheric, violent, taut tale is easily a candidate for one of the best crime novels of the year."
-- Lansing State Journal
"An impressively talented crime novelist . . . Chercover [takes on] two vicious and deadly industries: the Chicago Outfit and the Hollywood film business. He satirizes and savages both, while finding time to capture Chicago neighborhoods with a cold, often hilarious eye."
-- Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune
"Not only a great crime novel, but also a great Chicago novel. I absolutely love this book."
-- Rick Kogan, WGN Radio
"Spectacular is just the word for this wonderful debut novel."
-- Midwest Book Review
"Authors such as Laura Lippman, Robert Crais, Steve Hamilton and S.J. Rozan continue to refresh this sub-genre. To that list, add Chicago author Sean Chercover, whose debut BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD signals a true talent . . . Chercover doesn't just give a thrilling plot . . . he also looks at his city, its past and present, movers and criminals, its beauty and its chaos. Chercover's conflicted, complex hero perfectly matches his plot . . . BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD will rank high on the list of the year's best debuts."
-- Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"Excellent . . . A very slick and original plot . . . Chercover keeps the story running smoothly, the characters gripping and the atmosphere tense."
-- The Globe & Mail
"You’re hooked from page one. Shorts of added literary color boost an already robust read."
-- Hamilton Spectator
"Dudgeon's Chicago becomes as vivid and personal as Spenser's Boston or Elvis Cole's Los Angeles."
-- Toronto Star
-- Kitchener-Waterloo Record
"[Chercover's] varied life experiences no doubt contribute to the gritty romanticism with which he portrays both his characters and the Chicago streets they inhabit. Best of all, Chercover can really write."
-- Associated Press
"Worthy of being held against and compared with work by Steve Hamilton, Lawrence Block, Dennis Lehane, Robert B Parker and Robert Crais."
-- Ali Karim, SHOTS (UK)
"Like the buzz of reading your first Lehane or Connelly, you know it’s something special. Sean Chercover's debut novel comes at you kicking and screaming and demands attention. It's attention well deserved . . . Ray Dudgeon is my kind of protagonist and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book."
-- Jon Jordan, Crimespree Magazine
"Dudgeon's darkness adds welcome depth and complexity to this hardboiled debut, a likely series kickoff."
-- Kirkus
"A sharply written debut novel, with a tough protagonist and gritty crime drama that captures the essence of Chicago. It is highly recommended."
-- Gapers Block
"Chercover writes Chicago like Ed Dee writes New York and Loren D. Estleman writes Detroit – gritty, dirty, scary, bold."
-- BookBitch.com
"Impressive. . .The author's considerable storytelling and characterization gifts compare favorably to those of Loren D. Estleman and other established masters of the crime genre."
-- Publishers Weekly
"The author’s very tangible detective, Ray Dudgeon, leaps from the pages . . . Ray is to crime fiction what Daniel Craig is to James Bond: cocky, unpredictable, tender-hearted, unscrupulous, lean and mean. Chercover delivers the goods - as real, bloody and in-your-face as only a former private eye can."
-- PINow.com - Investigation News
"This book is everything I hoped for, and I clamor for more."
-- Sarah Weinman, Confessions of an Idiosycratic Mind
"Chercover's debut novel swaggers with as much storytelling bravado as it does character depth and warmth, making it stand out in the crowded field."
-- Mystery Scene Magazine
"Looking for the next great voice in detective fiction? Sean Chercover has ended your search with BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD."
-- ThugLit Magazine
"The success of this saga is guided by Chercover's confidence as a writer. He makes no apologies for his flawed detective . . . Once you start with Dudgeon, you won't let go until the last page."
-- David Rothenberg , WBAI 99.5FM (NYC)
"Dudgeon may join V.I. Warshawski as a classic Chicago P.I."
-- LAKE Magazine
". . . shares a great deal in common with Lawrence Block and Robert Crais at their best . . . tensely gripping . . . a fantastic read."
-- Crime Scene Scotland
"Riveting. . ."
-- Spinetingler Magazine
"Spot-on in its description of the shrouded world of organized crime . . . suspenseful . . . full of twisting plot lines and vivid scenes set in the gritty streets of underground Chicago. [Chercover’s] characters and settings are so richly visualized and well-defined that one easily becomes immersed in this engaging, satisfying novel.."
-- DEMO Magazine
"Good pacing, tight storyline, a likable protagonist just aching for a sequel—Chercover is well worth watching (and reading)."
-- BookPage
"Sean Chercover has hit one out of the park on his first try, with BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD. . . a dark, gritty foray into the Chicago underworld."
-- Bruce Grossman, Bookgasm
"Notable Title" -- BookPage
"Noteworthy New Release" -- Chicago magazine
"Thug Pick of The Month " -- ThugLit magazine
"Pick of The Week " -- Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind
Bookseller Reviews...
"February Main Selection" - The Mysterious Bookshop - NYC
"Killer Book" - Independent Mystery Booksellers Association
"Notable Book" - Book Sense (American Booksellers Associtation)
"Sean Chercover, a former real-life Private Eye, has written an outstanding first PI novel. . .His PI experience gives this novel an authenticity that most crime novels fail to capture. . .gritty street realism, with great Chicago and Hollywood ambiance. I loved this book, and collectors take note, this is a hot title."
-- Richard Katz, Mystery One - Milwaukee WI
"Big City, Bad Blood is a winner. Chercover's experience as a PI gives the story real tension and believability. Ray is a fascinating character, tough and loyal, and I look forward to many more (I hope) mysteries featuring him. I highly recommend it."
-- Wendy's Picks, Sleuth of Baker Street - Toronto ON
"A well-written and compelling debut with heart. Chercover introduces some terrific characters including a not always friendly police captain and a crime boss of the old school. An excellent choice for fans of Estleman or Block."
-- Mystery Lovers Bookshop - Oakmont PA
"I enjoyed getting to know [Ray Dudgeon], and by the end of the book he seemed so real to me I was worrying about his love life and whether someone might slash the tires of his nice new car. He’s just the kind of character you want to know more about."
-- Robin Agnew, Aunt Agatha's - Ann Arbor MI
"Ray Dudgeon is a fantastic character - slightly flawed, afraid to reveal a softer side, occasionally doing the wrong things for the right reasons - he's a guy that I can relate to. Chercover's Ray Dudgeon has the potential to become Chicago's answer to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch."
-- J.A. Cornett, Borders - Chicago IL
"The new voice in Chicago crime fiction. This great novel has it all - suspense, crime, the Oufit and Chicago! This eargerly anticipated novel is getting great buzz in the publishing world."
-- Deborah Liebow, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers - Chicago IL
"The story is tight, the voice self-assured, and the characters as hardboiled as they come - especially the protagonist, Ray Dudgeon. Chercover really delivers the goods here, in as solid a debut as I've seen in a long, long time."
-- Steve Hamilton, Edgar Award-winning author of A STOLEN SEASON
"This is James Crumley for a whole new generation, with the spirit of Nelson Algren walking point. Not only is Sean Chercover the new kid on the block, he may well be the only kid on the block."
-- Ken Bruen, author of THE GUARDS and AMERICAN SKIN
“Cross Robert Crais' Elvis Cole with Loren Estleman’s Amos Walker, and you’d have Sean Chercover’s Ray Dudgeon. Wonderful descriptions of the Windy City’s under-belly, and beautifully paced action. Expect a Shamus Award nomination for Big City, Bad Blood."
-- Jeremiah Healy, author of THE ONLY GOOD LAWYER and TURNABOUT
"Chercover delivers the goods; his rapid-fire style paints every page with hardboiled authenticity."
-- G.M. Ford, author of BLOWN AWAY.
"Sean Chercover writes P.I. fiction the way Buddy Guy plays Chicago blues: he takes the classic forms and infuses them with fire and soul. Chercover portrays both the grit of the Chicago streets and the glitter of Hollywood with the sure hand of a veteran storyteller. Ray Dudgeon, the book's tormented and complex protagonist, is a definite candidate for the P.I. Hall of Fame."
-- J.D. Rhoades, author of THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND
"A P.I. for the 21st century! Big City, Bad Blood is fast-paced, authentic, and a reader's delight."
-- Barbara D'Amato, author of DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS.
"Sean Chercover's hardboiled-with-a-heart voice grips you from the first sentence and never lets go in this fine, tough story of crime in Chicago."
-- Neil McMahon, author of TWICE DYING and LONE CREEK
"Spellbinding. You must read this!"
-- Libby Hellmann, author of the Ellie Foreman series
"It's amazing how real this book feels. Sean Chercover's P.I. experience serves him well as a writer. He pulls no punches, exposing Chicago and how things really work here. I love this book!"
-- Legendary Chicago P.I. Ernie Rizzo
This just in...
I'm happy to report that Big City, Bad Blood has received an unexpected endorsement from a very smart guy...
