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

Well Worth the Credit/Money

Faces of the Gone is a book full of twists and turns. It kept me guessing until the last 45 minutes when I realized, “Oh no, he’s dead for sure.”

It’s well written, the characters are well read by Andrews and you become quickly invested in them.

It starts off a little slow however, it’s needed to build the story. Don’t give up on it. Once it takes off it’s like B O O M! Then you can’t stop.

A humorous investigative reporter makes for a fine listen

An entertaining story told with humor and some quirky and likable characters. One of my favorite narrators, MacLeod Andrews, never fails to deliver with his insightful and astonishing talent. However, I was a bit confused a third of the way into this novel and the plot dragged a bit; I continued listening and I was glad I did. Still in all, this is a well-rounded story. Looking forward to another Parks' novel, as well as an Andrews-narrated book. Recommended.

Will Definitely Buy Another

Decent story although far-fetched. I don't usually like smart alecks but this reporter was readable despite that. I especially liked the thoughts he voiced to himself, followed by what he actually said. The narration helped when he changed from unspoken thoughts to the actual words.

Cute relationship between reporter and editor and intern. Not to make this sound like a cozy, because there are murders, arsons, bombings, etc., but just not very graphic.

Narrator managed to sound like a 'preppie' who is out now in the real world. Just the way I pictured him.

So in summary, this book isn't going to make my all-time favorites list, but is a pleasant enough read to make me buy another.

Carter Ross Rocks!

What did you love best about Faces of the Gone?

The attention to detail. I'm from Newark, and although I reside now in Middlesex County, my current profession ironically for a local TV station, takes me to the very places Carter Ross describes in his travels.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciated the characters, from Tommy to Tina.

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

Too many to list. I even applaud how MacLeod gave each character an identity. It was moments I forgot he was Tina or T, or the Director.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. My listening is often done while cycling.

Great story

Very fun read....would get another book in this series,loved the newspaper editor in chief! Nice insight to journalism

Well Paced. Enjoyable Characters. Simple Story.

What stood out for me was the dialogue. The characters help give a basic story a little depth. I'm not sure you would call it a full-on mystery in true Agatha Christie style. It was more like an episode of Law and Order, in terms of pacing, except without the murder trial. I'll pop back into Carters' world to see if lightning strikes twice. Nice distraction.

Really Dissapointing Book

This book set my teeth on edge and quivered my skin in repugnance. It was even more distressing to learn his debut novel garnered such excellent reader reviews on here on Amazon.

This mystery features as protagonist Carter Ross, a gormless generally self-satisfied sort from a prep-school and almost-ivy background who is semi-aware of his privileged background and that is, presumably, part of the, er, fun since Ross now is an investigative reporter for a Newark, NJ, daily newspaper which means, of course, he often is blundering about in the projects.

The plot involves deadly drug-dealing -- four black drug dealers who were skimming are executed, their bloodied bodies left as a warning to their brethren not to cheat the boss who is a figure of mystery and at the heart of Ross' investigation. Standard stuff, no surprises, nothing new or even interesting.

So, what is new about this debut? The white upper-class reporter is an ignoramus in the real world and is astonishingly, criminally clueless as to cause and effect. So much so that he actually manages, during his investigation, to cause the deaths of three community members who give him information. Another is left dying in hospital but the reader never learns what her fate since she's just the mother of one of the victims and of no account therefore, apparently. Yet the reporter's cat, Deadline (so cute), which had been thought to have been incinerated in a house explosion turns up in good shape in the last paragraph.

It seems the "humor" cast in the book revolves around this white reporter twit trying to investigate a case in a black community project. Oh, hah-hah, ain't that funny ... NOT.

I cannot fathom the enthusiasm for this egregiously opprobrious mystery novel. If the content didn't repulse then the writing should have given pause.

MacLeod Andrews was excellent with the delivery of the story and the only reason I finished the book

great book and funny too!

Love love love love this book! great mystery story with twists and funny! Highly recommend!

Reporter as a one-man band

Fast paced, funny, reasonably well-written and well-plotted. Good on traditional journalism, with some glaring omissions. The word for a managing editor who sleeps with a reporter he/she supervises is gone. Fired. Relationships with other reporters don't quite ring true either, and what about the stupidity of these police? Never mind. The characters who aren't in the newsroom or in the cop shop are well done and lively, and inside the newsroom, the narrator's intern is also pretty good. If Brad Parks is white, he needs to be congratulated for writing non-over-top black characters. Even the street hoods have nuance. Also, excellent narrator.

A lot of weak points

I was following along fairly comfortably for about the first half, in spite of some shortcomings; but then, it occurred to me that he was neglecting his pet cat, and really showed no concern for it until he decided to "play the cat card" to gain sympathy for himself. But even without my hypercritical arousal, the end fell flat all on its own. It almost seemed as if someone else wrote it. I'm not saying something like that couldn't happen, but it needed more foundation to make it plausible. Like, more than the cat was neglected. Anyway, as far as it goes, at least it's a story. I'm sure Mr. Parks has his fans.