Blood Is the Sky (Alex Mcknight Mystery) - Hardcover

Hamilton, Steve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312301154 ISBN 13: 9780312301156

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2003

Synopsis

Compelled by an old friend to investigate the disappearance of a hunting group in the woods of northern Ontario, reluctant investigator Alex McKnight finds himself deep in the wilderness, lacking food and weapons and at the mercy of a killer who would prevent everyone's return. 60,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

One of the most promising secondary figures in Steve Hamilton's series about reluctant northern Michigan private investigator Alex McKnight has been his teetotal Ojibwa Indian pal, Vinnie LeBlanc. Vinnie mostly kept himself to himself in the first four McKnight adventures but Blood Is the Sky finally lets him loose, and it's both pleasurable and painful to see what results.

Vinnie's younger ex-con brother Tom has disappeared. In violation of his parole, Tom had guided a small contingent of moose hunters into the pacific forests of Ontario, but none of them had returned home on schedule. To assuage Vinnie's worries, McKnight agrees to drive with him into Canada and look for the men. No luck: the owners of a money-losing lakeside lodge where those sportsmen had stayed say they departed days ago. So where did they go? Who were the two other, unidentified guys who came looking for them in advance of McKnight and his friend? And why was the hunters' vehicle abandoned, with their wallets inside, near an Indian reservation? Looking for answers, the detective and Vinnie set off into the woods, where hungry bears are by no means the most dangerous creatures they'll have to face.

Despite its Deliverance-like moments, and an explosively violent conclusion that's not sufficiently foreshadowed, Blood Is the Sky is really a gracefully composed study of character, as focused on Vinnie's strengths and failings as Hamilton's previous novel, North of Nowhere, was on the story of another series regular, bar owner Jackie Connery. Yet McKnight shines here, too, his self-effacing humour keeping readers amused, when they aren't amazed--again--by the lengths to which this supposedly lonerish sleuth will go to help a friend in trouble. --J. Kingston Pierce, Amazon.com

Review:

"Steve Hamilton writes the kind of stories that İone¨ can't resist." -The New York Times Book Review
"The best mysteries are about the past coming up out of the ground and grabbing the present by the throat. Steve Hamilton knows this. "Blood is the Sky" fills that bill and then some. This is his best yet." -Michael Connelly, author of Chasing the Dime
"Overflows with an element lacking from too many mysteries: a genuine sense of mystery... "Blood "boldly crosses genre boundaries as it turns into a thrilling outdoor adventure, then a heartfelt small town tragedy. All along, Hamilton's prose...remains an unselfconsciously terse pleasure." -Entertainment Weekly
"Heartily delivers on suspense, atmosphere, and riveting action."-Denver Post
"Hamilton never misses a beat."-Rocky Mountain News
"Hamilton won an Edgar and an Anthony in 1998 for A Cold Day in Paradise. This smart, brisk, twisty tale is even better."-Kirkus Reviews (starred)
"A reader's delight: a fast-paced, breathtaking adventure for which a night's sleep gladly will be sacrificed. Blood is the Sky is a stunner."-Romantic Times
"A grand-slam tale."-Midwest Book Review
"A fine writer, İHamilton¨ excels at describing the lonely locale as well as depicting such memorable characters." -Publishers Weekly
"Blood is The Sky is brilliant. Some books you can't put down because the story is so compelling. Some books you can't put down because the prose is so spellbinding. And then, every once in a while, you read a book that combines both. Steve Hamilton has written the best private eye novel-heck, maybe the best novel-I've read this year." -Harlan Coben, author of Left for Dead
"Steve Hamiltonwrites tough, passionate novels with a strong emphasis on heart and humanity. His latest flat-out smokes. This is crime writing at its very best."
-George Pelecanos, author of Hell to Pay and Soul Circus
0"Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far-therefore an automatic book of the year. Everything is here-his trademark sense of place, vivid, resonant characters, and a plot that will break your heart." -Lee Child, author of Persuader
"Blood is the Sky takes us into the dark and brooding heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's got everything-tension, action, surprises. Alex McKnight is a believable hero who can also tell a good story."-T. Jefferson Parker, author of Silent Joe and Black Water
"Steve Hamilton writes the kind of stories that [one] can't resist." -The New York Times Book Review
"The best mysteries are about the past coming up out of the ground and grabbing the present by the throat. Steve Hamilton knows this. "Blood is the Sky" fills that bill and then some. This is his best yet." -Michael Connelly, author of Chasing the Dime
"Overflows with an element lacking from too many mysteries: a genuine sense of mystery... "Blood "boldly crosses genre boundaries as it turns into a thrilling outdoor adventure, then a heartfelt small town tragedy. All along, Hamilton's prose...remains an unselfconsciously terse pleasure." -Entertainment Weekly
"Heartily delivers on suspense, atmosphere, and riveting action."-Denver Post
"Hamilton never misses a beat."-Rocky Mountain News
"Hamilton won an Edgar and an Anthony in 1998 for A Cold Day in Paradise. This smart, brisk, twisty tale is even better."-Kirkus Reviews (starred)
"A reader's delight: a fast-paced, breathtaking adventure for which a night's sleep gladly will be sacrificed. Blood is the Sky is a stunner."-Romantic Times
"A grand-slam tale."-Midwest Book Review
"A fine writer, [Hamilton] excels at describing the lonely locale as well as depicting such memorable characters." -Publishers Weekly
"Blood is The Sky is brilliant. Some books you can't put down because the story is so compelling. Some books you can't put down because the prose is so spellbinding. And then, every once in a while, you read a book that combines both. Steve Hamilton has written the best private eye novel-heck, maybe the best novel-I've read this year." -Harlan Coben, author of Left for Dead
"Steve Hamilton writes tough, passionate novels with a strong emphasis on heart and humanity. His latest flat-out smokes. This is crime writing at its very best."
-George Pelecanos, author of Hell to Pay and Soul Circus
0"Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far-t

"The best private eye novel--heck, maybe the best novel--I've read this year." --Harlan Coben
"The best mysteries are about the past coming up out of the ground and grabbing the present by the throat. . . . "Blood is the Sky" fills that bill and then some. This is his best yet." --Michael Connelly
"Steve Hamilton writes tough, passionate novels with a strong emphasis on heart and humanity. His latest flat-out smokes. This is crime writing at its very best." --George Pelecanos

"Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far. . . . Everything is here--his trademark sense of place, vivid, resonant characters, and a plot that will break your heart."--Lee Child "With a keen sense of place, memorable characters and relentless action, Hamilton pens some of the best crime novels out there. If you're looking for a stimulating reading experience, "Blood Is the Sky" by Steve Hamilton is it." --Fresh Fiction

Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far. . . . Everything is here--his trademark sense of place, vivid, resonant characters, and a plot that will break your heart.--Lee Child

The best private eye novel--heck, maybe the best novel--I've read this year. "Harlan Coben"

The best mysteries are about the past coming up out of the ground and grabbing the present by the throat. . . . "Blood is the Sky" fills that bill and then some. This is his best yet. "Michael Connelly"

Steve Hamilton writes tough, passionate novels with a strong emphasis on heart and humanity. His latest flat-out smokes. This is crime writing at its very best. "George Pelecanos"

Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far. . . . Everything is here--his trademark sense of place, vivid, resonant characters, and a plot that will break your heart. Lee Child

With a keen sense of place, memorable characters and relentless action, Hamilton pens some of the best crime novels out there. If you're looking for a stimulating reading experience, "Blood Is the Sky" by Steve Hamilton is it. "Fresh Fiction""

The best private eye novel--heck, maybe the best novel--I've read this year. Harlan Coben

The best mysteries are about the past coming up out of the ground and grabbing the present by the throat. . . . Blood is the Sky fills that bill and then some. This is his best yet. Michael Connelly

Steve Hamilton writes tough, passionate novels with a strong emphasis on heart and humanity. His latest flat-out smokes. This is crime writing at its very best. George Pelecanos

Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far. . . . Everything is here--his trademark sense of place, vivid, resonant characters, and a plot that will break your heart. Lee Child

With a keen sense of place, memorable characters and relentless action, Hamilton pens some of the best crime novels out there. If you're looking for a stimulating reading experience, Blood Is the Sky by Steve Hamilton is it. Fresh Fiction

"

"The best private eye novel--heck, maybe the best novel--I've read this year." --Harlan Coben

"The best mysteries are about the past coming up out of the ground and grabbing the present by the throat. . . . Blood is the Sky fills that bill and then some. This is his best yet." --Michael Connelly

"Steve Hamilton writes tough, passionate novels with a strong emphasis on heart and humanity. His latest flat-out smokes. This is crime writing at its very best." --George Pelecanos

"Easily Steve Hamilton's best novel so far. . . . Everything is here--his trademark sense of place, vivid, resonant characters, and a plot that will break your heart." --Lee Child

"With a keen sense of place, memorable characters and relentless action, Hamilton pens some of the best crime novels out there. If you're looking for a stimulating reading experience, Blood Is the Sky by Steve Hamilton is it." --Fresh Fiction

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0312301154
• ISBN 13: 9780312301156
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304