Faces of the Gone

Carter Ross, Book 1

By: Brad Parks

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Four bodies, each with a single bullet wound in the back of the head, stacked like cordwood in a weed-choked vacant lot: Thats 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 is a Nero Award Finalist and has been named to lists of the year's best mystery debuts by the Chicago Sun-Times and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Treading the same literary turf as Harlan Coben, and writing with a fresh Jersey voice, Brad Parks makes an energetic, impressive debut.

©2009 Brad Parks (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"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." ( Chicago Sun-Times)

"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)

2010 Shamus Award, Best First P.I. Novel

Very Good Start of Series

I started this series primarily because of MacLeod Andrews, whom I absolutely ADORE! His Sandman Slim work is AMAZING, and that's what led me to these Carter Ross books.
While I was not blown away, MA's rendition does not disappoint. He's so skilled at different voices and he makes the characters come alive.
The story develops well, but the ending is a bit too rushed and a bit too pat. But I definitely appreciated the main character's sympathies and compassion to those people who were killed. I felt that bringing in this emotional quality really helped make Carter Ross a fully realized character.
And I did also, as some other reviewers mentioned, notice the seeming lack of feeling for his cat, but I believe it was meant as a front---pretending you don't care about someone, but underneath you really do. MINOR SPOILER ALERT: After all, the author ends the book with the cat.
I will definitely get the next book in the series.

Humorous listen, many good characters

What did you like best about Faces of the Gone? What did you like least?

The humor was the best. The thing I liked least was, if the people that you mention in your articles die after you mention them, take note. the first few people you get killed is questionable but after that you are a murderer. When he mentions the name of a drug informant to the guy that he thinks is the mastermind drug king who kills with out hesitation ..........

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Satisfying

Which character – as performed by MacLeod Andrews – was your favorite?

The main character, however he does the side characters well. Tina was a great character, the intern, and the prostitute was endearing.

Could you see Faces of the Gone being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, I don't know. Not any of the actors out now. Someone not too good looking.

Page turning mystery with surprising depth

Would you consider the audio edition of Faces of the Gone to be better than the print version?

I often enjoy an audible book more than the print edition because it brings the book to life through the expressions of the reader.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Faces of the Gone?

The scenes of ghetto life were sensitive and disturbing. Parks is able to get to the humanity of people living in difficult situations and 'feel their pain.'

What does MacLeod Andrews bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The New Jersey/Phillie accent is always enjoyable to hear in an audio book. It reminds me of the differences in culture etc. between that region and where I live in Virginia.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The scenes of ghetto life made me very sad and I wonder how we allow such things to happen in this country.

Any additional comments?

Brad Parks is an excellent sensitive writer and it is a privilege to know him.

Yawn

If you're looking for a book where the serial killer is brilliant and the newspaper reporter is dogged and the plot rockets along at a blistering pace...look somewhere else. This yawner reeks of "first novel BLAH" with an unevenly written completely uninteresting lead character that isn't even good enough to be considered a copy of a good character.

We forget about the killer for hours at a time as the intrepid -- or should that be 'insipid' character plods about a life just slightly more interesting than watching grass grow.

A horrid waste of time.

If, however, you are one of those people who listens to audio books because you have trouble sleeping........

Boring - didn't make it through the book.

Would you try another book from Brad Parks and/or MacLeod Andrews?

Maybe, but I would read the reviews closely before I did.

Would you ever listen to anything by Brad Parks again?

Maybe.

What didn’t you like about MacLeod Andrews’s performance?

It's too monotone, never know when something different happens or a different character is speaking.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom.

awful book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

better writing, better narrator

What could Brad Parks have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

stop using tired cliches and dialogue a high schooler would try to pass off as clever.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

comical, over the top voices

What character would you cut from Faces of the Gone?

Carter Ross talks and sounds like a high school student's ideal of a cool witty protaganist in a mystery.

So bad I couldn't finish it

I listen to 3-4 books on tape each week and I always finish them. Not this one. What a horrible writer. Somehow he manages to turn multiple murders into a ho-hum who-cares event. Don't waste your time. I wish I hadn't wasted my money. This is the first review I"ve written, although I always read them before I buy.

OK

Rather interesting at times. But rather stupid at more times. There is an edge to Carter Ross sometimes but it never develops and does not last.