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Implicated
Erdogan Denizli cleans up the messes other people make of their lives. Not their dirty houses or their dirty clothes - no, Erdogan gets a call when a bathroom is sprayed with arterial blood after a shamed pervert cuts his own throat, after a home-invasion-gone-wrong leaves bits of brain ground into the carpet, or when an undiscovered death drips putrefying body fluids into the apartment below. He's a crime scene cleaner in Ventura County, California and after forensics have done their job, he gets to work...
It's not his job to feel the pain of those left behind, or to feel sadness at a wasted and unmourned life, but he does. He can't help it. But he doesn't get involved; he can't afford to - he can't risk dredging up the shadows of his own past. But when, on a routine crime scene clean-up, he finds a piece of overlooked evidence, evidence that implicates the cops in an assassins-for-hire conspiracy, he can't look the other way, because now his own life's in danger. But who do you turn to for help when it's the cops that want you dead?
Implicated is a contemporary but noirish thriller with a "cast of characters straight out of an Elmore Leonard novel": Valerie, the femme fatale who wants to nail the cops who killed her husband... Maxim, the Azerbaijani mobster who wants in on a little bit of the American Dream ... ill-fated Sammy the Schmuck with his penchant for other people's lives (and other people's money). And Brad and Mikey, the cops who've long since thrown "Serve and Protect" out the window.
It's not his job to feel the pain of those left behind, or to feel sadness at a wasted and unmourned life, but he does. He can't help it. But he doesn't get involved; he can't afford to - he can't risk dredging up the shadows of his own past. But when, on a routine crime scene clean-up, he finds a piece of overlooked evidence, evidence that implicates the cops in an assassins-for-hire conspiracy, he can't look the other way, because now his own life's in danger. But who do you turn to for help when it's the cops that want you dead?
Implicated is a contemporary but noirish thriller with a "cast of characters straight out of an Elmore Leonard novel": Valerie, the femme fatale who wants to nail the cops who killed her husband... Maxim, the Azerbaijani mobster who wants in on a little bit of the American Dream ... ill-fated Sammy the Schmuck with his penchant for other people's lives (and other people's money). And Brad and Mikey, the cops who've long since thrown "Serve and Protect" out the window.
252 pages, ebook
First published December 10, 2011
20 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 22, 2017
An enjoyable read, with intriguing characters and fast-paced if not particularly realistic plot.
Four stars instead of five as there are aspects of the story which stretch my willingness to suspend belief a touch too far - Erdogan's approach and partnership with Valerie for one, and his lack of chasing up Frankie for so long, after she cuts loose.
But, at the same time, it's perfect reading for train and bus journeys, exciting, not too challenging, nicely written.
Four stars instead of five as there are aspects of the story which stretch my willingness to suspend belief a touch too far - Erdogan's approach and partnership with Valerie for one, and his lack of chasing up Frankie for so long, after she cuts loose.
But, at the same time, it's perfect reading for train and bus journeys, exciting, not too challenging, nicely written.
March 29, 2025
Erdogan is the clean up guy after a death. He's originally from Cyprus and now living in California.
In the past I've really enjoyed Rosenberg's books. I hadn't read this one so gave it a go.
It was ok but I wasn't very interested in the subject matter. Nothing wrong with it - just not my thing.
In the past I've really enjoyed Rosenberg's books. I hadn't read this one so gave it a go.
It was ok but I wasn't very interested in the subject matter. Nothing wrong with it - just not my thing.
July 12, 2020
Excellent read!!
September 19, 2025
Tale of what happens when an innocent person, just doing his job, gets implicated in corrupt police activities. And what happens when faced with the ultimate truth that the people who are supposed to protect are the ones out to kill you. Definitely a page turner.
November 11, 2012
“Implicated” is an entertaining police drama with a fresh look at an old storyline and the best novel about crime scene clean up since Charlie Huston’s “The Mystic Arts of Erasing all Signs of Death.” It is also the first book I ever read with a Cypriot as a protagonist.
Erdogan and his partner Emilio stumble into a nightmare, as if cleaning up crime scenes of the human offal wasn’t bad enough, when they unwittingly step into a conspiracy involving cops-for-hire as assassins.
Southern California suddenly is not so warm after all, and when Emilio is shot by these rogue cops right in front of him, Erdogan has to go into hiding—not so easy for a man running from his past anyway. Not even the peaceful Ojai in Ventura County can shelter him as Azerbaijani mobsters and cops battle it out.
In a gritty drama with forensic details galore, Erdogan turns for help to the widow of a slain reporter, another victim of the bad-cop hit squad. They make an unlikely pair of detectives, but fueled with righteous indignation and a little luck, they begin to put the pieces together.
Rosenberg, a film writer as well as novelist tends to insert his own heavy-handed view-points on Erdogan’s character, but if you can shake them off and ignore them, then the body of the novel stands on its own as a well-written suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and turns, leaving you second-guessing yourself until the final pages.
Erdogan and his partner Emilio stumble into a nightmare, as if cleaning up crime scenes of the human offal wasn’t bad enough, when they unwittingly step into a conspiracy involving cops-for-hire as assassins.
Southern California suddenly is not so warm after all, and when Emilio is shot by these rogue cops right in front of him, Erdogan has to go into hiding—not so easy for a man running from his past anyway. Not even the peaceful Ojai in Ventura County can shelter him as Azerbaijani mobsters and cops battle it out.
In a gritty drama with forensic details galore, Erdogan turns for help to the widow of a slain reporter, another victim of the bad-cop hit squad. They make an unlikely pair of detectives, but fueled with righteous indignation and a little luck, they begin to put the pieces together.
Rosenberg, a film writer as well as novelist tends to insert his own heavy-handed view-points on Erdogan’s character, but if you can shake them off and ignore them, then the body of the novel stands on its own as a well-written suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and turns, leaving you second-guessing yourself until the final pages.
June 21, 2012
It's no secret that I have fast become a huge fan of Peter Michael Rosenberg, and I'm slowly working my way through his novels. "Implicated" is set against the backdrop of Ventura County and Ojai, California.
Erdogan, the main character, is the man everyone calls when a crime scene needs cleaned up. To quote Mr. Rosenberg from his website, "After forensics have done their job, he gets to work". It's a nasty business, cleaning up all that leftover blood and gore, but character development tells the story of why he does what he does. When he finds a leftover piece of evidence at a hotel he is supposed to clean, it quickly becomes clear that there is more to the story than meets the eye. This leaves Erdogan questioning who he can trust, and wondering if his friends are really his enemies. The ending of the novel left me a bit disappointed, but overall another great narrative.
Erdogan, the main character, is the man everyone calls when a crime scene needs cleaned up. To quote Mr. Rosenberg from his website, "After forensics have done their job, he gets to work". It's a nasty business, cleaning up all that leftover blood and gore, but character development tells the story of why he does what he does. When he finds a leftover piece of evidence at a hotel he is supposed to clean, it quickly becomes clear that there is more to the story than meets the eye. This leaves Erdogan questioning who he can trust, and wondering if his friends are really his enemies. The ending of the novel left me a bit disappointed, but overall another great narrative.
July 9, 2012
An expatriate from Cyprus is a crime scene cleaner in Southern California. He has very little contact with anyone other than the people with whom he works. There are a series of murders in Ojai, a very upscale suburb of LA. He is shot following one and sees Police Officers as the perps. There are other crimes and convoluted descriptions about the what and why. Most of the people involved in either the crimes or the investigations are terrified of the culprits. The expat, Eddy, becomes angry and goes after the culprits. The rest is predictable, but also interestingly written. The second half of the novel is more gripping than the first. It is an interesting study of corruption and revenge.
March 29, 2012
I really liked this book. It is well writen and the charactors are great. The story flows from one twist to the other yet it is easy to follow. Its fast paced action keeps your attention and you don't want to put it down. I recommend this book to all readers.
January 11, 2012
Reminds me of the thrillers of a different era. One of those books that you can curl up on the couch and enjoy on a cold winter’s night. Interesting leading character, Erdogan. An exciting and suspenseful novel. Greatly enjoyed it. Recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good mystery and thrillers.
February 8, 2016
Erdogan Denizli has a morbid job of cleaning up after crime scenes in homes. He ends up with info that shows cops are dirty, his partner is killed and he is running for his life. It keeps you guessing to the end for the killer and held my attention.
January 14, 2012
A tense taut thriller. As good a crime thriller as any I've ever read. Gritty, honest, this was a real page-turner.
July 8, 2012
I would have given this one a higher rating but it started out kind of slow. Once it got going it was a really good book
August 19, 2012
The story kept my interest, but the (in my opinion) lame ending kept it from rating higher.
January 18, 2016
Slow to get going
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews