Faces of the Gone - Hardcover

Parks, Brad

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312574770 ISBN 13: 9780312574772

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2009

Synopsis

Four bodies, each with a single bullet wound in the back of the head, stacked like cordwood in a weed-choked vacant lot: That’s the front-page news facing Carter Ross, investigative reporter with the Newark Eagle-Examiner. Immediately dispatched to the scene, Carter learns that the four victims—an exotic dancer, a drug dealer, a hustler, and a mama’s boy—came from different parts of the city and didn’t seem to know one another.

The police, eager to calm jittery residents, leak a theory that the murders are revenge for a bar stickup, and Carter’s paper, hungry for a scoop, hastily prints it. Carter doesn’t come from the streets, but he understands a thing or two about Newark’s neighborhoods. And he knows there are no quick answers when dealing with a crime like this.

Determined to uncover the true story, he enlists the aide of Tina Thompson, the paper’s smoking-hot city editor, to run interference at the office; Tommy Hernandez, the paper’s gay Cuban intern, to help him with legwork on the streets; and Tynesha Dales, a local stripper, to take him to Newark’s underside. It turns out that the four victims have one connection after all, and this knowledge will put Carter on the path of one very ambitious killer.

Faces of the Gone won the Shamus Award for Best First Novel and the Nero Award for Best American Mystery--it is the first book to receive both awards. The book was named to lists of the year's best mystery debuts by the Chicago Sun-Times and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

About this title

Review:

"Brad Parks [has] delivered a first-rate crime thriller...."Faces of the Gone" is gritty and hard boiled, but with a sly sense of humor. This strong and confident debut is sure to make an appearance on many 'best of' and awards lists. Parks is a bright new talent whom readers will hopefully be able to enjoy for years to come."--David J. Montgomery, "Chicago Sun-Times"
"[A] commanding, entertaining debut..."Faces of the Gone" skillfully mixes a gritty hard-boiled mystery with swatches of broad humor that perfectly captures the newsroom culture....Parks' "Faces of the Gone" ranks with Michael Connelly's "The Scarecrow" in its depiction of the newspaper industry. Parks, a former reporter at the "Star-Ledger" in Newark, shows he's made the transition to becoming a novelist with this impressive debut."--Oline H. Cogdill, "South Florida"" Sun-Sentinel" "This is the most hilariously funny and deadly serious mystery debut since Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money." Former journalist Parks has learned the art of making words flow and dialog zing. Fans of the NFL's Cleveland Browns will find the Brick City Browns street gang an added delight."--"Library Journal" (starred review) "The story and characters make "Faces of the G"one a success; the plot plays out with twists, and the characters are drawn with realism. Parks has begun his projected series with a bang."--"Richmond Times-Dispatch" "This terrific page-turning debut features a likeable protagonist, engaging supporting characters and some witty and amusing dialogue. Readers will want to see where this compelling tale takes them."--"RT Book Reviews" (4 stars)"" "Parks' writing is graceful and often gripping, and he creates a handful of vivid characters, both journalists and their sources. His portraits of the city and its drug trade, the newspaper, and Carter's journalistic techniques all sound knowing....this could develop into a solid series."--"Booklist"

"Brad Parks [has] delivered a first-rate crime thriller...."Faces of the Gone" is gritty and hard boiled, but with a sly sense of humor. This strong and confident debut is sure to make an appearance on many 'best of' and awards lists. Parks is a bright new talent whom readers will hopefully be able to enjoy for years to come." --"David J. Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times"

"[A] commanding, entertaining debut..."Faces of the Gone" skillfully mixes a gritty hard-boiled mystery with swatches of broad humor that perfectly captures the newsroom culture .Parks' "Faces of the Gone" ranks with Michael Connelly's "The Scarecrow" in its depiction of the newspaper industry. Parks, a former reporter at the "Star-Ledger" in Newark, shows he's made the transition to becoming a novelist with this impressive debut." --"Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel"

"This is the most hilariously funny and deadly serious mystery debut since Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money." Former journalist Parks has learned the art of making words flow and dialog zing. Fans of the NFL's Cleveland Browns will find the Brick City Browns street gang an added delight." --"Library Journal (starred review)"

"The story and characters make "Faces of the G"one a success; the plot plays out with twists, and the characters are drawn with realism. Parks has begun his projected series with a bang." --"Richmond Times-Dispatch"

"This terrific page-turning debut features a likeable protagonist, engaging supporting characters and some witty and amusing dialogue. Readers will want to see where this compelling tale takes them." --"RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"

"Parks' writing is graceful and often gripping, and he creates a handful of vivid characters, both journalists and their sources. His portraits of the city and its drug trade, the newspaper, and Carter's journalistic techniques all sound knowing....this could develop into a solid series." --"Booklist""

Brad Parks [has] delivered a first-rate crime thriller...."Faces of the Gone" is gritty and hard boiled, but with a sly sense of humor. This strong and confident debut is sure to make an appearance on many 'best of' and awards lists. Parks is a bright new talent whom readers will hopefully be able to enjoy for years to come. "David J. Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times"

[A] commanding, entertaining debut..."Faces of the Gone" skillfully mixes a gritty hard-boiled mystery with swatches of broad humor that perfectly captures the newsroom culture .Parks' "Faces of the Gone" ranks with Michael Connelly's "The Scarecrow" in its depiction of the newspaper industry. Parks, a former reporter at the "Star-Ledger" in Newark, shows he's made the transition to becoming a novelist with this impressive debut. "Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel"

This is the most hilariously funny and deadly serious mystery debut since Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money." Former journalist Parks has learned the art of making words flow and dialog zing. Fans of the NFL's Cleveland Browns will find the Brick City Browns street gang an added delight. "Library Journal (starred review)"

The story and characters make "Faces of the G"one a success; the plot plays out with twists, and the characters are drawn with realism. Parks has begun his projected series with a bang. "Richmond Times-Dispatch"

This terrific page-turning debut features a likeable protagonist, engaging supporting characters and some witty and amusing dialogue. Readers will want to see where this compelling tale takes them. "RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"

Parks' writing is graceful and often gripping, and he creates a handful of vivid characters, both journalists and their sources. His portraits of the city and its drug trade, the newspaper, and Carter's journalistic techniques all sound knowing....this could develop into a solid series. "Booklist""

Brad Parks [has] delivered a first-rate crime thriller....Faces of the Gone is gritty and hard boiled, but with a sly sense of humor. This strong and confident debut is sure to make an appearance on many 'best of' and awards lists. Parks is a bright new talent whom readers will hopefully be able to enjoy for years to come. David J. Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times

[A] commanding, entertaining debut...Faces of the Gone skillfully mixes a gritty hard-boiled mystery with swatches of broad humor that perfectly captures the newsroom culture .Parks' Faces of the Gone ranks with Michael Connelly's The Scarecrow in its depiction of the newspaper industry. Parks, a former reporter at the Star-Ledger in Newark, shows he's made the transition to becoming a novelist with this impressive debut. Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

This is the most hilariously funny and deadly serious mystery debut since Janet Evanovich's One for the Money. Former journalist Parks has learned the art of making words flow and dialog zing. Fans of the NFL's Cleveland Browns will find the Brick City Browns street gang an added delight. Library Journal (starred review)

The story and characters make Faces of the Gone a success; the plot plays out with twists, and the characters are drawn with realism. Parks has begun his projected series with a bang. Richmond Times-Dispatch

This terrific page-turning debut features a likeable protagonist, engaging supporting characters and some witty and amusing dialogue. Readers will want to see where this compelling tale takes them. RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

Parks' writing is graceful and often gripping, and he creates a handful of vivid characters, both journalists and their sources. His portraits of the city and its drug trade, the newspaper, and Carter's journalistic techniques all sound knowing....this could develop into a solid series. Booklist

"

"Brad Parks [has] delivered a first-rate crime thriller....Faces of the Gone is gritty and hard boiled, but with a sly sense of humor. This strong and confident debut is sure to make an appearance on many 'best of' and awards lists. Parks is a bright new talent whom readers will hopefully be able to enjoy for years to come." --David J. Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times

"[A] commanding, entertaining debut...Faces of the Gone skillfully mixes a gritty hard-boiled mystery with swatches of broad humor that perfectly captures the newsroom culture....Parks' Faces of the Gone ranks with Michael Connelly's The Scarecrow in its depiction of the newspaper industry. Parks, a former reporter at the Star-Ledger in Newark, shows he's made the transition to becoming a novelist with this impressive debut." --Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"This is the most hilariously funny and deadly serious mystery debut since Janet Evanovich's One for the Money. Former journalist Parks has learned the art of making words flow and dialog zing. Fans of the NFL's Cleveland Browns will find the Brick City Browns street gang an added delight." --Library Journal (starred review)

"The story and characters make Faces of the Gone a success; the plot plays out with twists, and the characters are drawn with realism. Parks has begun his projected series with a bang." --Richmond Times-Dispatch

"This terrific page-turning debut features a likeable protagonist, engaging supporting characters and some witty and amusing dialogue. Readers will want to see where this compelling tale takes them." --RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

"Parks' writing is graceful and often gripping, and he creates a handful of vivid characters, both journalists and their sources. His portraits of the city and its drug trade, the newspaper, and Carter's journalistic techniques all sound knowing....this could develop into a solid series." --Booklist

About the Author:

Brad Parks is a Shamus and Nero Award winner. He spent a dozen years as a reporter with The Washington Post and The [Newark, N.J.] Star-Ledger. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he lives with his wife and two small children in Virginia, where he is currently working on the next Carter Ross adventure.

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0312574770
• ISBN 13: 9780312574772
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 330