Songs of Innocence

A John Blake Mystery

By: Richard Aleas

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

While investigating the apparent suicide of a beautiful college student with a double life, detective John Blake finds his own life in danger when he makes a startling discovery that could blow the lid off New York City's sex trade.©2007 Richard Aleas (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“[Its] devastating final scenes elevate the novel to an instant classic. The painful climax of this novel, as unexpected as it is powerfull, will move you in ways that crime fiction rarely can.” (Washington Post)

“Excellent… [a] machinegun-paced debut.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

Winner of the 2008 Shamus Award.

A Noir Standout

I consider this sequel to Richard Aleas' excellent debut, Little Girl Lost, to be a modern day noir classic. It's a well-paced, character-driven mystery that goes to very dark places but is never less than riveting. Narrator L. J. Ganser is a perfect match for the material. Highly recommended.

Another Dead Woman

I bought this book because the description said it was set at a college. Nope. It starts in an English department but quickly slides into the same dull thudding film-noire-type murder mystery, wherein, as usual, a beautiful woman gets killed. The dry droll jaded voice of the male perpetual investigator tracking down all the usual suspects in all the usual places, usually getting beaten up but bravely persevering . . . this same book gets written over and over and over again, with slightly different details. Think of the energy that could be saved if that brainpower were fed back into the grid!

Insane Ending!

I read the preceding book by this author and it was pretty good, so I gave this one a chance. I'm glad I did and I did not really know what direction it was going throughout most of the story. to say that the ending is a surprise is an understatement. The story is read professionally and entertainingly so by the reader. As for the author, what a nutcase! Completely sadistic and depraved writing at the end and I mean that in the best possible way. After reading this I have to feel that there is no way Richard Aleas should be left alone around any woman.

Ending

An unexpected ending. A nice alternative to the usual thing we find in thriller books.