FFB Review: "Sorrow’s Anthem" by Michael Kortya

Long ago, before he went supernatural with his recent books, author Michael Kortya had an excellent series featuring private investigators Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard. If you have not read these books, you should.
 
You should also check out the rest of the suggestions for Friday's Forgotten Books over at Patti Abbot’s blog.

Building upon the series that began in Tonight, I Said Goodbye author Michael Koryta brings back private investigators Lincoln Perry and his partner, Joe Pritchard in another excellent read. This time around, Lincoln Perry is driven to help an estranged friend and it could cost him in ways he never saw coming.

Years ago when Lincoln was on the Cleveland Police Force he was put into a very difficult position. He could ignore his old friend’s criminal activities or he could work him like any other suspect. Lincoln chose not to prevent his childhood friend Ed Gradduk from going to jail. That decision severed a friendship, marked Lincoln as an outcast in his old neighborhood, and changed both lives forever.  With Ed in the news and on the run from charges of arson, murder, and others, Lincoln sees an opportunity to try once more to save his friend from himself as well as assuage his own guilt.

Minutes after finding him, Lincoln is powerless to save him as Ed dies in a confrontation with police.  But, just because he died does not mean the case is over.  It just means Lincoln feels even more guilt and now he has to deal with a grieving mother, former friends that hold him responsible and a trail that has few answers now that the man that could give them is dead.

As the bodies began to stack up and houses burn in the old neighborhood, Lincoln is forced to relieve a childhood that he thought he understood completely.  Decisions made decades ago have come back to haunt those alive today and it becomes a real question as to whom will survive the repercussions.

As he did in the first novel, the author weaves another complicated and compelling read.  The pace moves along steadily without a wasted word or thought as Lincoln works the case.  Back story sections are brief, to the point, and provide not only information, but rich character detail.  Such transitions are done well and do not serve as information dumps as routinely happens with lesser authors.

While this is second in the series, it certainly could be read independently as a stand alone.  There are brief references to the earlier novel but the information shared would not harm the enjoyment of that read.  This is another excellent novel from the author and does not fall prey to any of the normal second novel weaknesses.

Sorrow’s Anthem

Michael Koryta

Minotaur Books

www.minotaurbooks.com

ISBN#0-312-34010-9

Hardcover

320 Pages

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2005, 2012