The Blade Itself: A Novel - Hardcover

Sakey, Marcus

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312360312 ISBN 13: 9780312360313

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2007

Synopsis

How far would you go to protect everything you love? On the South Side of Chicago, you're only as strong as your reputation. Danny Carter and his best friend, Evan, earned theirs knocking over pawnshops and liquor stores, living from score to score, never thinking of tomorrow.
Then a job went desperately wrong, and in the roar of a gun blast, everything changed. Years later, Danny doesn't think about his past. He's built a new world for himself: a legitimate career, a long-term girlfriend, and a clean conscience. He's just like anyone else. Normal. Successful. Happy. Until he spots his old partner staring him down in a smoky barroom mirror. The prison-hardened Evan is barely recognizable. Having served his time without dropping Danny's name, his old friend believes he's owed major payback---and he's willing to do anything to get it. With all he loves on the line and nowhere to turn, Danny realizes his new life hinges on a terrible choice: How far will he go to protect his future from his past? A debut novel that's drawn comparison to Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, and Quentin Tarantino, The Blade Itself is the story of a good man held hostage by circumstance; a riveting exploration of class, identity, and the demons that shape us, where every effort to do the right thing leads to terrifying consequences and one inevitable conclusion:
 
The more you have, the more you have to lose.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"Sakey's brilliant debut is a must-read."
---Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
"The Blade Itself is a terrifically good debut---streetwise, heartfelt, and exciting. I loved this book."
---T. Jefferson Parker, author of The Fallen
 
"Taut, involving, and memorable. Marcus Sakey is an authentic, original new voice in crime fiction."
---George Pelecanos, author of The Night Gardener
 
"A truly excellent debut---like vintage Elmore Leonard crossed with classic Dennis Lehane."
---Lee Child, author of The Hard Way
 
"Simply put, Marcus Sakey has penned one of the most stunning and appealing works of fiction I've ever read. It's quite possible that The Blade Itself will be recognized as the crime debut of the decade."
---Victor Gischler, author of Gun Monkeys

About the Author:

Marcus Sakey is an award-winning advertising writer. While researching The Blade Itself he shadowed homicide detectives, toured the morgue, and learned to pick a dead bolt in sixty seconds. Born in Flint, Michigan, he now lives in Chicago with his wife. Visit his Web site at www.MarcusSakey.com for contests, behind-the-scenes info, and an excerpt of his upcoming novel.

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0312360312
• ISBN 13: 9780312360313
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320