Racing the Devil - Softcover

Jaden E. Terrell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0979916771 ISBN 13: 9780979916779

Publisher: Night Shadows Press, 2009

Synopsis

Nashville private investigator Jared McKean has a weakness for women in jeopardy-until one frames him for murder. His DNA and fingerprints are found at the murder scene. His voice is on the victim's answering machine, and the victim was killed by a bullet from his gun. The situation is further complicated by an ex-wife he can't seem to fall out of love with, a son with Down syndrome, a best friend with AIDS, and a teenaged nephew who comes out of the closet and runs away to join a dangerous fringe of the Goth subculture. As Jared tries to clear his name and hold his family together, he is forced to confront the possibility that the killer may be someone close to him, someone he trusts. This time, an unsolved case could cost him his life.

About this title

About the Author

JADEN TERRELL is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Tennessee Writers Alliance. The former special-education teacher is the executive director of the Killer Nashville crime literature conference and a SEMWA Magnolia Award winner. A graduate of the Citizen Police Academy and the FBI/TBI Citizen Academy, he has a red belt in Tae Kwon Do and is certified in equine sports massage therapy.

Review

''Terrell's voice on the page has the sound and pace of great mystery writers like Dashiell Hammett and Lawrence Block but does it with originality and avoids clichés. I don't know of a single current writer who has both that perfect ear for the genre and the ability to make it seem fresh and new at the same time.'' --Michael Orenduff, critically acclaimed and award-winning author

''This is a first-rate PI novel that opens with one of the best-constructed frame-ups I've ever read . . . Written in spare, note-perfect prose, with a knockout plot and characters who don't go away when you close the cover, this is a terrific book. I hope there's going to be a lot more of Jared McKean.'' --Timothy Hallinan, Edgar Award nominee

''The stuff Hollywood movies are made of. Suspense, intrigue, hi-fi action--all the ingredients of a staple thriller are there in the correct proportions in Racing the Devil. . .Terrell delivers a punching thriller that's pure Hitchcockian in suspense.'' --New Mystery Review

''Racing the Devil is a fast ride through modern-day Nashville. Terrell's got a real ear for dialog, the characters are compelling, and the plot nicely twisted. What a terrific start for a talented new writer. I recommend it highly.'' --Sallie Bissell, critically acclaimed author of In the Forest of Harm

''I read Racing the Devil in two evenings--kept me up past midnight. I was hooked from the first page to the last page and the ending was most satisfactory---a fun read [with] a lot of good twists and turns. Wow. I know we don't have to live the scenes to write them--God help romance writers if we did--but Terrell's knowledge and command of the language of the seamier side . . . was totally real and added much to the story.'' --B. J. Mountford, author of the Shackelford Island Mysteries

''Jared McKean is one of the most emotionally developed new private eyes . . . The successful merging of the personal side of Jared's life and the murder mystery made this an absolute favorite for me.'' --Jochem Steen, Sons of Spade blog

''[A] promising debut . . . Jared comes across convincingly as a savvy and sympathetic good ol' urban detective who, despite his own difficulties, is ever ready and able to defend people or animals in trouble.'' --Publishers Weekly

''A smart story, well constructed and well told. Jared is a solidly designed lead character, and, given that the novel is billed as a Jared McKean mystery, it seems likely the author intends the private eye to anchor a series. Not a bad idea, if subsequent novels can keep this one's nice balance of character and story.'' --Booklist

''This character-driven PI debut is intriguing because of the protagonist's complicated family. Their presence is important to the story line and makes for a memorable read. Watch for a sequel soon.'' --Library Journal

Edition details

• Publisher: Night Shadows Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0979916771
• ISBN 13: 9780979916779
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288