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Big City, Bad Blood (Ray Dudgeon #1)
A disillusioned newspaper reporter turned private detective, Ray Dudgeon isn't trying to save the world. He just wants to do an honest job, and do it well. But when doing an honest job threatens society's most powerful and corrupt, Ray's odds for survival make for a sucker's bet. . . .
While working on a movie in Chicago, Hollywood locations manager Bob Loniski saw somethi
...moreHardcover, 304 pages
Published
January 9th 2007
by William Morrow
(first published January 1st 2007)
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Jan 23, 2008
Jennifer A.M.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who like thrillers/mob stories
Recommended to Jennifer by:
Helen Plum Library
This book is what I have been referring to as the "Rich Man's James Patterson" Don't get me wrong, I love J. Patterson and I read every book of his that comes out. They are fast paced and exciting, but........many of the characters are not fleshed out. Sean Chercover writes in the same fast paced way, but his characters are meatier. You really get to know the main character, Ray, and you get to understand what he is about. The book is definately a murder mystery/ thriller, though more thriller t...more
Real P.I. novel with a bit of humour. Ray, the main character has massive failings as a human being but he still wants to save the world. He takes you into places and situations that are uncomfortable but then gets you back out of them in creative ways. Youc an't help but like him. A very fast paced read. You have to keep those pages turning
This is Sean Chercover's debut novel about a private investigator, Ray Dudgeon. Ray takes on a case to protect a Hollywood locations manager from a mobster he has to testify against in court.
I'm hoping Chercover gets better with practice? There's potential in this book, but overall, I wasn't that impressed. The main reason being I didn't like Ray Dudgeon. His view of violence and his egocentricity are just unbecoming a protagonist in this setting.
Ironically, I LOVED the supporting cast: Gravedi...more
I'm hoping Chercover gets better with practice? There's potential in this book, but overall, I wasn't that impressed. The main reason being I didn't like Ray Dudgeon. His view of violence and his egocentricity are just unbecoming a protagonist in this setting.
Ironically, I LOVED the supporting cast: Gravedi...more
If you like classic noir, then Big City, Bad Blood is a book you should read. I am a huge fan of both Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlow mysteries and Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer books. Sean Chercover follows in their footsteps in this gritty noir novel that takes place in modern day Chicago.
Ray Dudgeon, a private investigator, is hired to protect a location manager from Hollywood who has opened up a can of worms with the Chicago Outfit. He rented a warehouse location for a big movie shoot from Fr...more
Ray Dudgeon, a private investigator, is hired to protect a location manager from Hollywood who has opened up a can of worms with the Chicago Outfit. He rented a warehouse location for a big movie shoot from Fr...more
Sep 26, 2009
Kathleen Hagen
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2009-audio-books,
2009-mysteries
Big City, Bad Blood, by Sean Chercover, B. Narrated by Joe Barrett, produced by, and downloaded from audible.com.
I realized, when I started this book, that it comes before “Trigger City” which I actually read first. I liked “Trigger City” much better. In this book we meet Ray Dudgeon, who became disillusioned as a news reporter and resigned to become a private eye. He is hired as a bodyguard for a man on a movie location in California, and he becomes involved in a Chicago mafia war between two f...more
I realized, when I started this book, that it comes before “Trigger City” which I actually read first. I liked “Trigger City” much better. In this book we meet Ray Dudgeon, who became disillusioned as a news reporter and resigned to become a private eye. He is hired as a bodyguard for a man on a movie location in California, and he becomes involved in a Chicago mafia war between two f...more
Excellent addition to the private eye genre. Smart, thoughtful, and well paced, the book embraces the necessary genre elements without dropping into too much convention.
One of the biggest obstacles that all private eye (and police) novels must overcome is the fact that in most stories, the reason the hero is involved in the case is due to money. A private eye is hired to do a job. A policeman is paid to do their job. So either through character or action, the author has to bring the story to the...more
One of the biggest obstacles that all private eye (and police) novels must overcome is the fact that in most stories, the reason the hero is involved in the case is due to money. A private eye is hired to do a job. A policeman is paid to do their job. So either through character or action, the author has to bring the story to the...more
Jul 25, 2011
Larry Hoffer
added it
Here's a tip from me to you: if you love books with private investigators, a good amount of action, some twists and turns and great character development, go out and get yourself a copy of Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover. This is a great book in one of the genres I love, and I'm excited to have found a relatively new author with some great storytelling skills.
Ray Dudgeon is a former journalist who left the newspaper world after realizing he couldn't really solve the problems of the world,...more
Ray Dudgeon is a former journalist who left the newspaper world after realizing he couldn't really solve the problems of the world,...more
Apr 07, 2008
Jodi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes a good mystery and likes detective stories
Recommended to Jodi by:
Met the author at a signing
This is a first book by Sean Chercover. The main character is a conflicted Chicago PI named Ray Dudgeon. It is very well written with lots of action. Dudgeon does some things that aren't exactly kosher. He takes on the mob in Chicago in an effort to protect a client. Great Chicago scenery. Well worth reading!
This was a great book. I had heard a lot about the book and bought it but didn't get around to reading it until I received Trigger City for review. I wanted to read Big City Bad Blood first and I'm glad I did and was equally glad I had Trigger City to begin next.
Pat R.
Pat R.
It's hard to keep the P.I. genre fresh. Sean Chercover does it and does it brilliantly. He brings his Chicago investigator Ray Dudgeon to life with a deft, understated style. Can't wait for the next one.
Welcome to Chicago, Illinois. Ray Dudgeon is a former newspaper reporter and now a private detective. He's been assigned to protect Bob Loniski from the Mob, before he goes to trial. Not an easy job for Ray. While he's on protection duty, we're introduced to him and his relationship with his girlfriend, Jill, his friend Terry, and his assorted associates. We watch him interact and get out of sticky situations. Here's an interesting guy with a shaded past history. There's plenty of non-stop actio...more
great example of the tough-guy PI genre, hard-boiled detective confronts the mob in present day Chicago.
Went back and retrieved this from my to be read pile after actually reading the second book in the series. As a character I quite like Chercover's PI Ray Dudgeon and the sense of humour portrayed well in the book. It actually introduces the character well and gives just enough of his back story to explain some of his actions though I would say the apparent ease with which he is able to gain access to senators and judges does seem unlikely and their subsequent intervention on his behalf is crucia...more
A pretty solid, effortlessly readable debut for Chercover, and pretty much exactly what I'm looking for in a Chicago PI book. I appreciated that Ray Dudgeon wasn't beyond putting his own self-interest above virtue at times, a trait which gave the character a good dose of mystery. Chercover also fills the novel with plenty of noir-ish detective prattle, without being obnoxious like some writers (Michael Harvey comes to mind). My only gripe was that we didn't really see much of the bad guys, who e...more
I liked this book!
Good hardboiled PI story with lots of action, some pretty good sleuthing, a bunch of pretty colourful characters - not all likeable but that fit well with the story, enough humour, a few times almost ROFL, and a satisfactory ending to make this the kind of a mystery novel I really enjoy.
I noticed some reviewers comparing Ray Dudgeon to Lew Archer and I agree that I noticed the similarity except there is more humour in Sean Chercover's book than in Ross MacDonalds!
I've already a...more
Good hardboiled PI story with lots of action, some pretty good sleuthing, a bunch of pretty colourful characters - not all likeable but that fit well with the story, enough humour, a few times almost ROFL, and a satisfactory ending to make this the kind of a mystery novel I really enjoy.
I noticed some reviewers comparing Ray Dudgeon to Lew Archer and I agree that I noticed the similarity except there is more humour in Sean Chercover's book than in Ross MacDonalds!
I've already a...more
Extraordinary debut novel! Ray Durgeon is a familiar yet original private eye with all the requisite baggage, wit, and excesses such characters are heir to. Chercover's strong voice, vivid characters, gritty, authentic Chicago backdrop and can't-put-it-down plot will be sure to earn this one a spot on the award ballots. First novels are usually a bit wobbly, but there is no evidence of training wheels on this one. It'll fit nicely on the darker side of your shelf next to Raymond Chandler, Lawren...more
Generally, pulp fiction stories focused on man struggling with dark, powerful and often, evil forces. This debut offering from Sean Chercover is pulp fiction with a capital “P”. His P.I., Ray Dudgeon is an unapologetic yet somewhat sympathetic character caught up in a scenario that takes him from the streets of Chicago to the phony backslapping glitz of Hollywood. The narrative is descriptive and the books themes are universal in nature; no one and nothing is what they/it seem to be, greed and s...more
I started this book two months ago when my book club read it, but wasn’t able to attend the meeting and so put it down after 40 pages or so. Something about the book didn’t work for me. Never one to give up easily on a book, I picked it back up this week and found it to be much more interesting.
Big City Bad Blood follows the adventures of awesomely named Ray Dudgeon, a hard hitting Chicago P.I. with a cranky streak that reminds me a lot of Chandler or Hammett characters. He’s grouchy. He’s hired...more
Big City Bad Blood follows the adventures of awesomely named Ray Dudgeon, a hard hitting Chicago P.I. with a cranky streak that reminds me a lot of Chandler or Hammett characters. He’s grouchy. He’s hired...more
Some more Windy City noir. With a little tweaking, this one might have made it to five stars. Overall, I enjoyed it but thought the ending got wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly. Too many things are resolved out of the reader's sight.
That said, it was a very good book, the debut for its author Sean Chercover. His protagonist Ray Dudgeon is a typical noir character-cynical, jaded, with a disappointed sense of idealism. He started as a journalist, but hated the moral compromises he was fo...more
That said, it was a very good book, the debut for its author Sean Chercover. His protagonist Ray Dudgeon is a typical noir character-cynical, jaded, with a disappointed sense of idealism. He started as a journalist, but hated the moral compromises he was fo...more
BIG CITY BAD BLOOD (PI, Ray Dudgeon, Chicago, Cont) –G+
Chercover, Sean – 1st book
William Morrow, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN:9780061128677
First Sentence: In the shadows of the John F. Kennedy Expressway, surrounded by warehouses, factories and auto-body shops, stands Villa d’Este, a family-run restaurant that serves generous portions of decidedly untrendy Italian-American food at reasonable prices.
Ray Dudgeon is a former newspaperman turned PI. Bob Loniski is a movie location’s manager who saw som...more
Chercover, Sean – 1st book
William Morrow, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN:9780061128677
First Sentence: In the shadows of the John F. Kennedy Expressway, surrounded by warehouses, factories and auto-body shops, stands Villa d’Este, a family-run restaurant that serves generous portions of decidedly untrendy Italian-American food at reasonable prices.
Ray Dudgeon is a former newspaperman turned PI. Bob Loniski is a movie location’s manager who saw som...more
Solid debut novel, capably narrated by Joe Barrett. Chercover captures the noir genre and updates it for the 21st century by leaving behind the distracting sexism, racism, and homophobia of some of the original noir writers. Don't worry, you still get a full dose of weapons, skulduggery, stakeouts, conspiracies, violence, and torture. Most of the characters are well drawn and have realistic relationships with each other. Chercover's P.I. is based in Chicago and occasionally recommends his favori...more
Solid mystery / noir. The series has potential, although there were some stray plot tendils that went unexplained.....for example a character introduced into a meeting for no apparent reason and with no explanation,certainly not in furtherance of the plot(did not even seem plausable even as a set up for the next book). If you can get past the small quirks, the book is enjoyable and lovingly evocative of Chicago. The author knows the PI and newspaper business. All in all, an enjoyable read.
WOW. Less stylized than many Chicago PI type books, and while so many of your typical PIs and cops are "troubled", Ray Dudgeon takes it to new, delicious extremes. He isn't vicious. He isn't a martyr, he isn't bleedingly altruistic. He wants to see the truth told, not hidden, and he secretly likes to kill. Not anyone, just bad guys. And I like it. Enough action, enough suspense, and a new favorite protagonist. Even if the name Dudgeon is way too contrived.
Recommend Mike Harvey novels.
Okay. The story had an interesting premise and the main character, a burnt out Chicago reporter, seemed interesting as if it would provide an insider's view of Chicago, but did not as much as I hoped.
The author wants LA/Hollywood and Chicago to be characters in the novel, but at times his descriptions just come off as preachy and superficial.
May read later novels as this was kind of disappointing, it was promising for a first novel.
Okay. The story had an interesting premise and the main character, a burnt out Chicago reporter, seemed interesting as if it would provide an insider's view of Chicago, but did not as much as I hoped.
The author wants LA/Hollywood and Chicago to be characters in the novel, but at times his descriptions just come off as preachy and superficial.
May read later novels as this was kind of disappointing, it was promising for a first novel.
Not one to typically read a crime thriller, but ran across Chercover from interviews on the web. This is his first novel; his newest in the series just came out–Trigger City. Really enjoyed Big City, Bad Blood. This detective has street smarts, rough around the edges, yet knows the proper boiling point of water for green tea. (Remember fish eyes–that's the key.) Highly recommended.
Conventional private eye novel, especially once his gun-loving, violent, loner, childhood friend shows up to cover our hero's back by any means necessary. How many times have we seen that before? Best part was his struggle reconciling his idealism with his pragmatism. Decent story, good writing, particularly some of the dialogue. Good enough to keep reading, but not blow me away.
For pure escapism... A hard-boiled detective story featuring all the conceits of the genre, here re-imagined in contemporary Chicago. In the pages of fiction, the City of Big Shoulders has never packed so hard (or so cynical) a punch. - Thomas J. Miles
A Chicago author who's setting is Chicago. As a Chicago native, I particularly liked "going back" to a place I used to live in. PI Ray Dudgeon is a very likeable character who lives by a certain code of personal ethics.
This was my first read for this author and I am looking forward to reading more.
This was my first read for this author and I am looking forward to reading more.
This is an excellent thriller by Sean Chercover, set in Chicago and featuring Ray Dudgeon, a former reporter now working as a private investigator. My full review on Yahoo Voices http://voices.yahoo.com/big-city-bad-...
A generous 2 stars. A very distracting style, including these italicized ramblings of Dudgeon thinking to himself. He has the obligatory girlfriend, fascination with music (jazz, of course). The characters were one dimensional, the violence overdone.
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His debut novel, "Big City, Bad Blood" won the Shamus, Gumshoe, Crimespre and Lovey awards for best first novel.
Formerly a PI, in Chicago and New Orleans.
Currently lives in Chicago and Toronto.
More about Sean Chercover...
Formerly a PI, in Chicago and New Orleans.
Currently lives in Chicago and Toronto.
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Jan 07, 2011 12:30pm