The Burden of Innocence (Paperback or Softback)

Investigation is continuing with the return of PI Ray Infantino in a crime thriller written by "a bold new poet of American noir - This is the book Chandler would have written if he'd been a real-life private eye." - Ellen McGarrahan, Author of NYT Editor's Choice Two Truths and a Lie.

The Burden of Innocence earned a 2022 Shamus Award nomination by Private Eye Writers of America for Best PI Paperback.

Innocence is pain-when you're locked in a cage.

Private investigators Ray Infantino and Tania Kong take on the case of Sam Langford, framed for a murder committed by a crime boss at the height of his powers. But a decade later, Boston has changed. The old ethnic tribes have weakened.

As the PIs range across the city, witnesses remember the past in dangerous ways. The gangsters know that, in the new Boston, vulnerable witnesses they manipulated years ago are shaky. Old bones will not stay buried forever. When a vicious gangster and a corrupt cop team up to derail the investigation, the stakes are higher than ever.

Can Ray and Tania solve the case in time to free an innocent man?

If you enjoy Robert B. Parker's Spenser, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone, and James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux, you will want to join the thrilling investigations of Ray Infantino.

Content Warning: Please note that this is a crime novel and contains content that may disturb some readers, including scenes of violence, sexual assault/rape, and emotional/physical abuse.

John Nardizzi is an award-winning writer and investigator. His crime novels have won praise for crackling dialogue and pithy observations of detective work, and earned a 2022 Shamus Award nomination for Best PI Paperback. He speaks and writes about investigations in numerous settings, including World Association of Detectives, Lawyers Weekly, Pursuit Magazine and PI Magazine. His work on innocence cases led to the exoneration Gary Cifizzari and James Watson (he was awarded the Arc of Justice for the Watson case in 2021), as well as million dollar settlements for clients Dennis Maher and the estate of Kenneth Waters, whose story was featured in the film Conviction. Prior to his PI career, he failed to hold any restaurant job for longer than a week. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.