Synopses & Reviews
Fresh off the critical acclaim of his Los Angeles Times Book Prize--nominated Envy the Night, Michael Koryta returns with a blistering new installment in the Lincoln Perry series.
Whisper Ridge
Home to Dreams
October 2, 1992--April 12, 1996
So reads the strange epitaph carved beside the door of the home called Whisper Ridge, a multimillion-dollar piece of architectural majesty that once housed the beginnings of a unique program for paroled murderers. The program never got off the ground, however, despite how passionate a woman named Alexandra Cantrell, daughter of a notorious Mafia don, and her husband, Joshua, had been about it. Still uninhabited twelve years later, the house remains as a strange monument to dangerous secrets, falling into ruin as the forest grows up around it.
While the couple's abrupt exit was unusual, it was also not regarded as suspicious--until the bones of Alexandra's husband are found buried in the woods.
Private investigator Lincoln Perry isn't thrilled about the situation, or his client: Parker Harrison served fifteen years for murder but claims Alexandra's intervention saved his life. Now he wants to find her---and he's not the only one.
What seems at first like the simplest of jobs proves to be an undertaking that will challenge both Perry's abilities as a detective and his commitment to that calling. With a new partner to train and a case that leads straight to the heart of the Cleveland organized crime scene, Perry finds himself glancing over his shoulder at every turn, pushing the bounds of safety even as he backs away.
Once again Michael Koryta has crafted an intricate, lightning-paced thriller, ratcheting up the tension as he explores just how dangerous the offer of a second chance can be. The latest installment in the Lincoln Perry series, which the Chicago Tribune calls addictively readable, marks another step forward in his incredible career.
Review
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR MICHAEL KORYTA
The Silent Hour
“Koryta spins a dark tale of broken dreams and second chances in his stunning fourth mystery to feature PI Lincoln Perry.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The inventive plot surprises right up to the end, and in Perry, Koryta has created a classic tough detective—a man with enough dark passages in his own past to recognize them in others, a bulldog who just cant let go until the ending of the story is told, no matter how close to hell it takes him.”—St. Petersburg Times
“Feisty plotting and the most memorable prose since Chandler. Koryta belongs on every genre readers bookshelf.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Koryta writes with maturity and grace, delivering clipped, crisp prose and crackling suspense.”—Booklist
“Koryta is definitely one of the best of the new generation of U.S. mystery writers.”—The Globe and Mail (Canada)
“The plot is intricately woven and moves forward slowly with intuitive leaps of faith. As a protagonist, Perry is completely human, with knowledge, ability and insecurities. The twists in the story are so unexpected that the reader can only scratch his or her head in awe and wonderment.”—Crimespree magazine
Envy the Night
Winner of the los angeles times book prize
NOMINATED FOR A BARRY AWARD
“Gallows humor leavens this heart-pounding thriller...Take yourself to an island, pull up an Adirondack chair, and scare yourself silly with this one.” —Boston Globe
“Revenge drives this superb stand-alone...Koryta's dialogue is as sharp as the knives his characters wield, and his plot twists at the most unexpected moments. This thriller places Koryta solidly in the company of the genre's most powerful voices.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Koryta's skill as a writer—and as a crafter of complicated plots —will fascinate.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“A great new stand-alone novel. Envy the Night is a story full of family history, with a likable protagonist and a strong sense of place...Koryta's characters are irresistible.” —Charlotte Observer
“Superb writing and storytelling from Michael Koryta...Envy the Night represents his best work to date.” —New York Times bestselling author George Pelecanos
“This diabolical novel, laid out in simple but eloquent prose and pitch-perfect dialogue, heralds a changing of the guard. I have seen the future of 'The Best Mystery Writer in America' and its name is Michael Koryta.” —New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson
A WELCOME GRAVE
A Shamus Award Nominee
“A nuanced, mature novel that proves both the depth of Koryta's talent and the vitality of the PI genre.” —New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman
“Sentence for polished sentence, no one in the genre writes better.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Addictively readable.”—Chicago Tribune
“Stylish...well observed.”—The New York Times
“Edgar-finalist Koryta stakes a claim as one of todays preeminent crafters of contemporary hard-boiled mysteries...Despite Korytas youth...his haunting writing and logical, sophisticated plotting rival that of established stalwarts like Loren Estleman.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“If you havent already discovered Michael Koryta…nows the time. A Welcome Grave is his best book.” —Toronto Globe and Mail
“The Rust Belt never looked so scary...a nightmare chess game.” —The Rocky Mountain News
“The story is graced by Korytas humor and style...” —Cleveland Plain-Dealer
“A Welcome Grave...is proof that after only three novels it is possible to become a ‘must read in crime fiction...one of the best P.I.-against-the-world books I've read in a long, long time. Korytas dialogue remains vivid and his characters sharp as a diamond drill bit.” —Crimespree magazine
“In his third efficiently plotted mystery, Koryta lands most of his punches...” —Entertainment Weekly
“Korytas story-telling is enhanced by a fluid prose style...” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“An exciting novel with carefully rendered characters, even secondary ones, who will remain with the reader long after turning the last page.” —Bookreporter.com
“This is the book that will put Koryta on everyones ‘must read list...The action is relentless.”—The Kingston Observer
“The best entry yet in the Lincoln Perry private-eye series” —Library Journal (starred review)
“Its time to stop referring to Michael Koryta as a boy wonder and just focus on the sheer wonder of his storytelling...A Welcome Grave is a nuanced, mature novel that proves both the depth of Korytas talent and the vitality of the PI genre.”—New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman
“For a while now Michael Koryta has been called one of the rising young talents in crime fiction. I say enough of that. A Welcome Grave proves the promise. Koryta is one of the best of the best, plain and simple. With stories like this, his Lincoln Perry is going to be around for a long, long time.”—Michael Connelly
Synopsis
Fresh off the critical acclaim of his Los Angeles Times Book Prize-nominated Envy the Night, Michael Koryta returns with a blistering new installment in the Lincoln Perry series: The Silent Hour.
Whisper Ridge
Home to Dreams
October 2, 1992--April 12, 1996
So reads the strange epitaph carved beside the door of the home called Whisper Ridge, a multi-million-dollar piece of architectural majesty that once housed the beginnings of a unique program for paroled murderers. The program never got off the ground, however, despite how passionate a woman named Alexandra Cantrell, daughter of a notorious Mafia don, and her husband, Joshua, had been about it. Still uninhabited twelve years later, the house remains as a strange monument to dangerous secrets, falling into ruin as the forest grows up around it.
While the couple's abrupt exit was unusual, it was also not regarded as suspicious--until the bones of Alexandra's husband are found buried in the woods.
Private investigator Lincoln Perry isn't thrilled about the situation, or his client: Parker Harrison served fifteen years for murder but claims Alexandra's intervention saved his life. Now he wants to find her--and he's not the only one.
What seems at first like the simplest of jobs proves to be an undertaking that will challenge both Perry's abilities as a detective and his commitment to that calling. With a new partner to train and a case that leads straight to the heart of the Cleveland organized crime scene, Perry finds himself glancing over his shoulder at every turn, pushing the bounds of safety even as he backs away.
Once again Michael Koryta has crafted an intricate, lightning-paced thriller, ratcheting up the tension as he explores just how dangerous the offer of a second chance can be. The latest installment in the Lincoln Perry series, which the Chicago Tribune calls "addictively readable," marks another step forward in his incredible career.
Synopsis
Following his critically acclaimed "Envy the Night," Koryta returns with a blistering new installment of the Edgar, Shamus, and Quill-nominated Lincoln Perry series. Martin's Press.
Synopsis
Stunning.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Whisper Ridge is a multimillion-dollar piece of architectural majesty that once housed a unique program for paroled murderers. The program never got off the ground, however, despite the passion of Alexandra Cantrell, daughter of a notorious Mafia don, and her husband, Joshua. Twelve years later, the uninhabited house is in ruins. It remains a strange monument to dangerous secrets…until Joshuas bones are found buried deep in the forest.
“The inventive plot of The Silent Hour surprises right up to the end.”
—St. Petersburg Times
Private investigator Lincoln Perry isnt thrilled about having to unearth this enduring mystery—one that continues to capture the medias attention. His new client is no picnic either: Parker Harrison served fifteen years for murder but claims Alexandra Cantrells intervention saved his life. Following a trail that leads straight to the heart of Clevelands organized crime scene, Perry finds himself immersed in a case that challenges his abilities as a detective and his commitment to that calling. Now hes glancing over his shoulder at every turn—and pushing the bounds of safety even as he backs away…
“Michael Koryta is one of the best of the best…his Lincoln Perry is going to be around for a long, long time.”—Michael Connelly
Synopsis
Whisper Ridge is a multimillion-dollar piece of architectural majesty that once housed a unique program for paroled murderers. The program never got off the ground, however, despite the passion of Alexandra Cantrell, daughter of a notorious Mafia don, and her husband, Joshua. Twelve years later, the uninhabited house is in ruins. It remains a strange monument to dangerous secrets…until Joshuas bones are found buried deep in the forest.
“The inventive plot of The Silent Hour surprises right up to the end.”
—St. Petersburg Times
Private investigator Lincoln Perry isnt thrilled about having to unearth this enduring mystery—one that continues to capture the medias attention. His new client is no picnic either: Parker Harrison served fifteen years for murder but claims Alexandra Cantrells intervention saved his life. Following a trail that leads straight to the heart of Clevelands organized crime scene, Perry finds himself immersed in a case that challenges his abilities as a detective and his commitment to that calling. Now hes glancing over his shoulder at every turn—and pushing the bounds of safety even as he backs away…
About the Author
MICHAEL KORYTAs first novel, the award-winning, Edgar-nominated Tonight I Said Goodbye, was published when he was just twenty-one, and was followed by Sorrows Anthem; A Welcome Grave; and the stand-alone thriller Envy the Night, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. He lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where he has worked as a newspaper reporter and private investigator. His novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Michael Koryta