THE FIRST VICTIM
"Impeccably paced, beautifully observed and moving with a crescendo of suspense..." —Publishers Weekly  READ MORE PRAISE
From the bestselling author of The Pied Piper and Beyond Recognition—a writer who consistently receives rave reviews—comes a new Lou Boldt thriller. The New York Times has said about Ridley Pearson, "[his] grasp of investigative knowledge is truly impressive," and Publishers Weekly commented, "A rare humanism and attention to procedural detail have marked Pearson's thrillers featuring Seattle cop Lou Boldt."
In this gripping new novel, Lou Boldt is back and entering dark new territory. A shipping container washed ashore leads Seattle television news anchor Stevie McNeal and her reporter friend, Melissa, on the trail of a scam involving the importation of illegal aliens. A career stepping-stone for McNeal, the investigation puts her at cross-purposes with the Seattle Police Department's Lou Boldt and Sergeant John LaMoia. When Melissa disappears, perhaps at the hands of the Chinese Triad, McNeal turns from foe to ally and teams up with the detectives on an investigation that takes them from Seattle's docklands to the offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. With a storyline that mirrors today's headlines, meticulous research, and fascinating forensic details, this latest crime novel confirms Pearson's place at the top of the genre.
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Praise for The First Victim… "Impeccably paced, beautifully observed and moving with a crescendo of suspense, this is another thoughtful and exciting Seattle-based police thriller from Pearson, whose skill at maintaining a balance between the narrative thrust of his plot and the personal lives of his characters makes him a top-notch practitioner of the genre.... Atmospheric descriptions of Seattle and some fascinating forensic evidence add texture to a riveting story." —Publishers Weekly "Pearson's Lou Boldt series continues to meld the small-scale, detail-driven precision of the best procedurals with the large-canvas, screw-tightening suspense of such high-concept thrillers as Silence of the Lambs.... As always, Pearson builds suspense incrementally, brilliantly amassing details until his plot reaches critical mass at just the right moment." —Booklist "The First Victim is more a thriller than a psychological mystery and as a thriller, it sure delivers the goods. I know that the next time I drive past the Seattle waterfront on a stormy night I'll shiver, wondering if somewhere out there a battered freighter has detoured from the shipping lanes to deliver a terrible cargo." —Karen G. Anderson, JanuaryMagazine.com (full review) "Once again, Pearson combines violent action with careful attention to detail and fascinating glimpses of cutting-edge forensic science to craft a story that moves from the dark territory of dockside gangs and casual violence to the domain of corruption in high places and the murderous significance of 'the first victim.'" —Robert C. Jones, BookPage.com (full review) "Ridley Pearson is a triple threat writer with a reputation for interesting, involving characters, in-depth background research and page-turning plots. He freely admits that the most enjoyable part of the process is the research, which not only lends authenticity to the project at hand, but frequently stirs his imagination for books to come.... Authentic locations, chases through rusting hulks in a flotilla of junked ships, and a ticking clock plot, propel the book to its exciting finale." —Roz Shea, BookReporter.com (full review)  |
                                  
  
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