Pigeon-Blood Red

Pigeon-Blood Red #1

by Ed Duncan

For underworld enforcer Richard "Rico" Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job. Retrieve his gangster boss's priceless pigeon-blood red ruby necklace and teach the double-dealing cheat who stole it a lesson. A job like a hundred before it. But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu, where the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory when a couple of innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in the crime.

As Rico pursues his new targets, the hunter and his prey develop an unlikely respect for one another and Rico is faced with a momentous follow his orders to kill the couple whose courage and character have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Romance, Mystery Thriller

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2016

About the author

Ed is a graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University Law School. He was a partner at a national law firm in Cleveland, Ohio for many years. He is the original author of a highly regarded legal treatise entitled “Ohio Insurance Coverage,” for which he provided annual editions from 2008 through 2012.

Ed currently lives outside of Cleveland, OH. He has recently completed The Last Straw and Rico Stays, respectively the second and third installments in the Pigeon-Blood Red trilogy. All three novels are available in hardback and paperback at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores and retail outlets, and as eBooks from Amazon and several additional eBook sellers.

Meanwhile, Mahalo with a Bullet, a podcast based on Pigeon-Blood Red and featuring Dean Norris of Breaking Bad fame, is now available wherever Readers listen to podcasts.

Reviews

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action-packed, enjoyable, and fast-paced!

This book immediately grabbed my attention and held it right until the very end. Rico is quite the character who thoroughly kept me entertained, reading it in less than 24 hours which is quite the compliment from me. I have read other books that I have lost interest in and have taken me well over two weeks to finish. This one definitely kept my mind on the book.

PIGEON-BLOOD RED is a quick, easy straightforward read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Would recommend if you are looking for a brisk paced book that is packed full of non-stop action!

Thank you so much to Melissa and Kelsey from Book Publicity Services and the author, Ed Duncan for sending me a complimentary copy to read and review.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Duncan's Pigeon-Blood Red is a compelling, enjoyable crime novel with a fascinating protagonist.

His name was Rico...(I’ll bet there are some other Barry Manilow fans out there who want to sing “Copacabana” with me.)

Rico is an enforcer for Litvack, a gangster in Chicago. Litvack asks him to hang on to a priceless pigeon-blood red ruby necklace. Seems like an easy job, right? But somehow he manages to lose it to a guy who owes Litvack a ton of money. (Rico can't always seem to keep his priorities straight.)

So now all Rico has to do is track the guy down, get the necklace back, and make him pay. But in settling another score along the way, Rico misses his chance to take care of the thief in Chicago and has to follow the guy to Honolulu, where he's trying to reunite with his estranged wife. And then everything gets a lot messier and more complicated.

Before he knows it there are more people in the middle of the mess and Litvack orders Rico to take care of them, too. But are these just innocent bystanders, or is there more to them than meets the eye?

Pigeon-Blood Red was a really quick and enjoyable read, and it's the first book in a trilogy. Rico is definitely a character I’d love to see again—he’s a bit of a loose cannon but he also wants to do things his own way, which makes things fascinating and a bit messier than they need to be.

Book Publicity Services and the author, Ed Duncan, sent me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.

Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pigeon-Blood Red is urban noir set in Chicago with a real Chicago flavour.

A hit-man with a conscience, a loan shark who thinks he’s running the show and a smooth talking businessman turned petty thief, tangle together in a web of murder, revenge and second chances when a pigeon-blood red necklace goes missing.

The main character, Rico, is a likeable anti-hero. Duncan likes the reader to “know” his characters often going into background on them but don’t get too attached to any of them because he doesn’t baulk at bumping them off.

Duncan is definitely an author to keep an eye on. He can do humour and he can do heartbreak. This was more than just a crime thriller it was also about love, marriage and second chances.

Pigeon-Blood Red is a superb crime thriller debut and I’m looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 238 pages, this book is jam packed from beginning to end. The mobster mentality and fast paced read of this one is what makes it great and what also draws away from it a bit. It all starts with a sketchy husband... wrong place, wrong time... and stupidly takes what is clearly an expensive necklace that also clearly does not belong to him. Thus starting a chain of events that involve quite an interest set of characters.

There's everything you want out of this kind of book/movie. Unfaithful husband, snarky mistress, hooker girlfriend with her mobster boyfriend, killing of "innocent" people, back stabbing - this is what makes it so FUN! But with only being a little over two hundred pages, a lot is introduced without much back story. I think the author tries to fill in gaps here and there but ultimately, the plot moves fast but it can get quite confusing at times because of this and you just are left wondering WHY?

This IS the first in a trilogy so I think we may learn more as the book continues. I DO appreciate that this doesn't leave you hanging and you still get a sense of closure while there are still two more books to come. Let's see what Duncan brings forth in book two.

Thanks so much to Book Publicity Services for this copy in return for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review



A gritty nail biting suspense thriller!!! Pigeon Blood Red is a cunning and duplicitous suspense thriller that meticulously weaves fourberie, crime, and a bit of mystery. Ed Duncan crafts a quick action packed thriller that will have you riveted. Every detail are taken into account in order to heightened the progression of this crime thriller. Overall, I did enjoy the book. Definitely a good weekend read though I wished the author provided more angst and drama in order to build up the anticipation. The writing was good and so if you are looking for a crime thriller escape this book might be the one for you.

[ReadsSometimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

For underworld enforcer Richard "Rico" Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job. Retrieve his gangster boss's priceless pigeon-blood red ruby necklace and teach the double-dealing cheat who stole it a lesson. A job like a hundred before it. But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu, where the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory when a couple of innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in the crime. As Rico pursues his new targets, the hunter, and his prey develop an unlikely respect for one another and Rico is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the couple whose courage and character have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?


The blurb read good, the cover was enticing but, I struggled with this book slightly. I was very confused for the first 100 pages, There was no real introduction to the characters and how they all related to each other. The characters are very one dimensional and I got the impression the author was going through a tick box list to include every aspect of a good thriller.

Besides all the above, I'm glad I stuck with it as it did improve towards the end. It's a good theme for a good story. And once the characters all fitted into place, it became a more entertaining read. I can't fault the writing itself, in fact, I thought it was intelligent and clever, but not that brilliant at conveying a story to the reader. Again, ticking boxes to include cliched moments.

I don't like leaving negative reviews, but I've explained my reasons respectfully.

At a push, 3*

[Saylor Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard "Rico" Sanders, underworld enforcer, is given a job like hundreds before. What once looked like an ordinary job quickly turns sideways as he's faced with new circumstances and his own conscience. Retrieving his gangster boss' pigeon-blood red ruby necklace from a thief becomes a much more challenging feat when a couple of seemingly innocent civilians get caught in the cross-hairs. Rico is the antihero archetype that everyone loves to hate, but he gets the job done.

This book jumps straight into the life of Rico without hesitation. Hardly an introduction before they're throwing the reader into the first part of the inciting action- and isn't that the best way to hook a reader? While it did take me a little bit to really get into this book, I'm glad I stuck with it because it was entertaining. The characters themselves were also fun to read about and get to know, many of them being entertaining, also. A quick, easy read that has the crime genre readers trying to think one step ahead of what they're reading.


Thank you to Ed Duncan and book publicist Kelsey Butts for the copy of this book, I enjoyed reading and reviewing it!

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rico and his friend Jerry work for a very dangerous man Frank Litvack and they are given one job - to keep a blood red Ruby necklace safe. But Rico manages to lose it and he is tracking it. That is when things get messier because of Rico's estranged wife.
The story was thrilling with very well etched characters. Enjoyed it.

[Sam (Clues and Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found on Clues and Reviews
www.cluesandreviews.wordpress.com

Richard “Rico” Sanders, a hit man from Chicago sets off for a normal job. He must recover a pigeon blood red ruby necklace from a double-crosser and teach him a lesson. When Rico follows his target from his hometown to sunny Honolulu, some bystanders get embroiled into the situation and soon mayhem ensues. Rico is faced with a decision: does he follow his order and kill all those involved (even if they are innocent) or does he refuse and endanger the woman he loves?
Pigeon Blood Red, a gangster style thriller from Ed Duncan, was something completely outside of my comfort zone. I don’t usually read military or gangster style thrillers so I was excited to step outside of my box and see what this one had to offer.
The novel opens in the midst of the action. Robert is down on his luck, an alcoholic and gambling addict, he’s racked up quite the hefty bill with gangster Frank Litvak. Robert, struggling to figure out a way to bide time, and come up with the money he owes before he’s taken out by Litvak’s henchman, Rico, steals a necklace from home and flees to Honolulu with his wife. This is all within the first five chapters!

Although the idea was great and the plot had strong points, I struggled with the execution. So much happens and it is very character centered. However, we are not provided with much backstory or previous information to how these characters connect or what they are about. I found it very hard to keep characters straight or root for anyone. The novel is narrated in the third person, which I also felt added a bit of strain to the plot; if we are not given any back story and the characters are not given narrative voice to explain their motivations, it leaves the reader responsible for making these connections and, I, personally, was not able to.
That being said, this novel was very fast paced. I read it easily in a couple of sittings and it read like a movie. I could certainly see it being well received on screen.
I think that lovers of gangster style novels would welcome this novel into their repertoire or if connecting with characters are not important to you, you may enjoy this one!
Thank you to the publisher and the author for a copy of this book; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming, classically-told crime thriller is a must for noir fans. In many ways, Pigeon Blood Red is refreshingly old-school pulp, inhabited by a familiar cast of gamblers, con men and hustlers found in Dennis Lehane and Elmore Leonard novels. In that respect, barring a reference to Google, Duncan’s story could easily be set in 1916 instead of 2016. On the other hand, in Rico, Duncan has drawn an entirely contemporary character, full of emotional complexity and facing an identity crisis. When the mobster goes to Hawaii to hunt for the necklace, he’s a fish out of water. Seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time, he’s simultaneously captivated and homesick for the sturdy grit of Chicago. He also dares to wonder whether his girlfriend – who he treats rather badly at times – might want to share a life with him there. Even as the hunt for Frank’s jewels gains intensity, it’s Rico’s increasingly rich character arc – a conflict between the man he is and the man he wants to be – that makes this book well worth the time investment.

Check out the rest of my review onBestThrillers.com.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thought when I finished reading this gem was - this would make a fantastic tv series!

I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed and could very easily be read in just one sitting. The storyline is highly entertaining and the characters all fit the theme perfectly.

Highly recommend to those who enjoy a solid crime thriller! Plus I heard this is a triolgy!? Yes please! I can't wait to see what's next for Rico!!

Huge thank you to Book Publicity Services and the author, Ed Duncan for my gifted copy!

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I found the main character, Rico, to be ridiculous and extremely unlikeable until the last couple of chapters. This didn’t feel like a book or story where we should be rooting for him and wanting him to succeed.

With that being said, I loved the two characters that he was on a mission to kill, and I loved the way this story was built out with all of the side plots and side characters.

This was a fun (if absurd) crime chase novel.

*** thanks to Book Publicity Services for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***

[Book Haunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Pigeon-Blood Red” is a phrase coined by the gem dealers of India many centuries ago. It’s the most desirable color a ruby can have. Legend says that the first two drops of blood that come from a freshly killed pigeon are this same rich red color. In the case of this book, it refers to a necklace with 16 perfectly matched pigeon-blood red rubies.

We are introduced to partners in crime, Rico and Jerry as they begin searching their car for this priceless ruby necklace that was entrusted to them by their boss, Frank Litvak. Frank is a Chicago loan shark, an aging ex-street fighter nearing 50. He has a very intimidating presence and demands absolute loyalty and obedience. Rico and Jerry are two of his enforcers.

Rico is handsome in a foreboding way with an air of danger that attracts women. Big and solidly built, he is also a distant, brooding, brutally honest character who is loyal to a fault and as deadly as they come. If you want someone to have your back in a fight, he’s the one you’d pick. If you need sympathy and a shoulder to cry on, forget it! Rico has one true belief, “anybody can cross the line.” Rico may be the only person that doesn’t always do things Frank’s way, but since Frank put the necklace into Rico’s hands he knows that Rico won’t rest until he gets it back. It’s a matter of professional pride to him.

Rico’s partner Jerry is shorter and more slender. Things don’t come naturally to him the way that they do to Rico. Jerry is always overcompensating and trying to impress somebody. He’s never been a big guy and he’s never really excelled in his endeavors. He mostly plays sidekick while Rico does most of the planning and execution.

When they don’t find the necklace in their car, Rico and Jerry backtrack and come to the conclusion that Robert McDuffie must have stolen the necklace from them. Robert is a proud member of the black upper middle class. He owns several stores but he expanded too rapidly. He’s also an uncontrollable gambler. He’s now into Frank for $50,000.00 and counting. Rico and Jerry picked him up for a conversation with Frank but when they were driving him home, Robert discovered the necklace and decided to pocket it.

Rico pursues Robert from Chicago to Hawaii, where Robert gives the necklace to his wife. The chase goes awry when Rico kills Robert and another woman, only to find out that the woman he killed wasn’t Robert’s wife. Following the trail of the Robert’s wife and the necklace, Rico finds that his mind has wandered from the task at hand. He dreams of taking his girlfriend to Hawaii and living a new life. Although he continues his efforts to get the necklace back, he faces some life-altering decisions, for himself and those he pursues.

The author gives us great, in-depth character outlines and an interesting story that kept me reading to the end. I did think it was strange when the story was being told from one character’s POV and in the next sentence or paragraph, it would shift to another character in that scene’s POV. This happened several times. It’s not that I had a hard time following it and there’s nothing wrong with that. It was only strange to me because it’s not something I usually come across in books. This method made it seem as if I was reading a screenplay. The book is less than 200 pages and a very quick read. After having invested the reader in a couple relationships, I felt the end wrapped them up rather abruptly but in the author profile it says that this is the first of a trilogy so there will be more to come.

I want to thank the publisher (Zharmae) for providing me with the ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

[MeMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An employed shooter with a still, little voice, a credit shark who accepts he's overseeing everything, and a smooth-talking money supervisor turned unimportant lawbreaker, tangled together in a snare of murder, retribution, and restored openings when a pigeon-dark red extra vanishes. This dumbfounding generally told bad behavior spine chiller is an irrefutable necessity for noir fans. From different perspectives, Pigeon Blood Red is a refreshingly old-school squash, controlled by a characteristic cast of players, deceivers, and pranksters found in Dennis Lehane and Elmore Leonard books. In such a manner, tolerating a reference to Google, Duncan's story could without a very remarkable stretch be set in 1916 as opposed to 2016. On the other hand, in Rico, Duncan has drawn a totally contemporary character, stacked with energetic multifaceted design and going up against a character crisis. Right when the mobster goes to Hawaii to pursue for the jewelry, he's a powerless soul. Seeing the Pacific Ocean surprisingly, he's at the same time amazed and pining to return home for the intense coarseness of Chicago. He furthermore embarks to think about whether his significant other – who he treats rather genuinely from time to time – ought to confer an everyday presence to him there. For sure, even as the pursuit for Frank's diamonds gets influence, it's Rico's evidently rich character round fragment – a dispute between the man he is and the man he should be – that makes this book unquestionably defended paying little heed to the time adventure. You get everything in this read from mobster to hitman to crime to thriller. You get a cheating man trying to save his marriage the whole time he's crossing the line by sleeping with his wife friend. You get on the edge of your seat I have to get to the end and see how it ends. One thing I can say this book holds a message beyond the eye god works In mysterious ways and also be careful of having your friend around your man. A woman's intuition is always correct if you feel it within in then it trues. Also, be careful who you trust and consider as a friend because a friend can cross you in the worst way. It's just business then ending set it off it was banger from start to finish and most importantly you reap what you sow. An always remain ten steps ahead of anyone. Nothing personal just business omg I can go on and on about why you should grab your self a copy go head grab you one.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

actual rating 4.5 REVIEW TO COME ASAP!

I highly enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was paced perfectly, and had just the right amount of action. The amount of backstory given was just enough. I loved that the point of views changed within the chapters and not every other chapter. It helped to see what each character was feeling in each situation thrown at them at the same time.

I loved the character development throughout the story, I feel like I knew each and every one of the main characters. For some odd reason I was really drawn to Rico. I know he wasn’t a “good guy” but he was just so loyal throughout the book. I wasn’t shocked at any characters actions, but I though that was a good thing because I felt that I really knew each character and their though process.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good crime thriller. It also would be a nice start if you want to get into crime thrillers. It was so easy to read and keep up with what was going on.  I haven’t read the most crime thrillers, but this was definitely the best one I have read. I can’t wait to check out more of Ed Duncan’s books!

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pigeon-Blood Red is the first installment of the trilogy and it did not disappoint.

Richard (Rico) Sanders is a hitman for hire and is the go-to person when ruthless loan-shark and crime boss, Frank Litzak needs a job done. When Litzak’s rare pigeon-blood red ruby necklace is stolen, Rico is tasked with recovering the necklace and punishing the sleaze ball that stole it. An easy enough job. But it soon becomes complicated when innocent bystanders become entangled in Rico’s hunt for the rare necklace.

Mr. Duncan’s storytelling skills shine through in this novel. Who would think that anyone would admire a hitman? But Duncan has managed to weave a story with characters not unlike those in the series, The Sopranos. An excellent crime thriller, Pigeon-Blood Red is a page-turner for sure. You’ll find that your latest hero is none other than Rico Sanders — the hitman. Five stunning stars.

I received a paperback copy of the book from Ed Duncan through Book Publicity Services. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Charlene (pageandplace) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in a thrilogy, this is a quick and action pack read about “Rico”, an underworld enforcer. His job - to retrieve his boss’s stolen goods and teach the responsible a lesson.

The book takes you from the streets of Chicago to serene Honolulu as innocent bystanders get caught up with the Hitman. This crime thriller was a complete movie in your mind as you read and learned about the story title, Pigeon-Blood Red… the rare and prized ruby color!

There is enough back story and character development to get you going for book one and books two (The Last Straw) and three (Rico Stays) are already out to be devoured. No waiting to find out what’s next for Rico!

Thank you to the author, Ed Duncan, and Book Publicity Services for the opportunity to read this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert McDuffie is a businessman addicted to gambling and is in over his head with a loan shark. He owes a lot of money and has two weeks to settle his debts. When he is being driven home he seizes the opportunity to steal a necklace that it is priceless. It is a Pigeon blood-red ruby necklace that the loan shark "owns." Rico Saunders is an "enforcer" who has been tasked with getting back his bosses precious pigeon-blood red ruby necklace and teach Robert a lesson for stealing.

Rico follows Robert to Honolulu where Robert has met up with his wife and his mistress who are vacationing together. Sticky, right? When Rico attempts to bring Robert to justice and bring home the necklace, some "innocents" get in the way. As Rico attempts to pursue his next victims, secrets, lies & revelations come out. What will Rico do? Does he have a conscious?

Rico is a no-nonsense enforcer who is likable in the way that he does not take crap, does not back down, and is comfortable in his own skin. He is okay with what he does and makes no excuses for himself, yet at the same time, he does have a conscious. Robert is a cheating, lying, failing businessman who is willing to do whatever it takes to save his own skin. Evelyn and Paul were likable but I felt their characters could have been flushed out a little more. I figured out Rachel's angle right away.

I wish this would have been cat and mouse, more suspense, more thrilling. This was pretty straightforward crime/gangster book.

I received a copy of this book from Book Publicity Services in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Autumn | bookishandblissful · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5

Have you ever watched The Sopranos? If so, you'd probably enjoy this one. This is your classically told crime thriller. It's quick paced, has minimal background, and multiple, but easy to follow POVs.

We follow crime partners, Rico and Jerry, who begin searching their car for their recent stolen gem, The "Pigeon-Blood Red" necklace. Rico has a hunch who stole it and follows the suspect from Chicago to Honolulu with his glock .45 where he goes on quite the chase.

I really liked the side characters. Although this story didn't go quite in depth, I felt connected to each of the characters. However, I didn't realize until the end of the story that this book is about much more than mobsters and crime. It's about a man's rocky journey between the man he is and the man he wants to become.

Huge thank you to Book Publicity Services and author, Ed Duncan, for my gifted copy!

[Uma | Books.Bags.Burgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from the author and the publicist Kelsey Butts in exchange for an honest review.)

Actual Rating - 3.5

CHARACTERS

While the story isn't a long one, we still get to see the personality of each character come through. I enjoyed getting to know Evelyn. She's a woman who believes in herself and at the same time isn't scared to accept her own mistakes. While the summary of the book on Goodreads talks of Rico as the main character, for me it was Evelyn. Through our glimpses into her past, I enjoyed getting to know the person she used to me and the person she'd grown into.

Paul too was an equally interesting character with a past that haunts him. It was interesting to see how he lets go of that and learns to move on even while they're caught up in a dangerous plot. Rico sure is not the kind of character we normally see in books. He is not really a bad guys but not really a good guy either. He's one of those gray characters who always make interesting decisions.

PLOT

Truth be told, I expected the plot to be a lot more complex but I do understand that's not possible when the book isn't long enough. For me the best twist was around the middle of the story when we learn about a certain someone. But I think the little blurb on the backcover would give away this little twist and make readers guess before they get to the part. Thankfully I read the blurb only after finishing the story. The most interesting parts of the story for me was learning about each person through their past. I also liked how the plot was character driven most of the time. It's the kind of book you know would also make for a good gangster thriller movie. At the beginning of the story, I felt a little confused as to what was happening but the author clears up things soon enough

WRITING

The writing is clear and to the point, making this a really fast read. At certain points, I felt the dialogue wasn't natural enough. I think the best part of writing was when we learn about Paul's backstory. The dialogue between him JoAnne was written wonderfully.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK

- The character driven plot
- Evelyn and Paul
- The fast pace
- The cover

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK

- how the story feels confusing at first
- certain characters whose personalities weren't explored much.

CONCLUSION

A noir drama that is character driven and fast paced making sure to keep readers interested till the very last page.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert McDuffie is a chronic gambler who, on a whim, steals a priceless necklace of pigeon-blood red rubies from loan shark Frank Litvak. Frank sends his goon Rico after Robert in an attempt to recover it. The action moves from Chicago to Hawaii, where Robert follows his estranged wife Evelyn who is on holiday with her friend Rachel. Also in Hawaii is Paul Elliott, who bumps into Evelyn, his old college girlfriend. A game of cat and mouse ensues as Rico chases them around Hawaii and then back to Chicago.

It's a pleasure to read a book with such excellent sentence structure, fine vocabulary, and near-flawless editing. Even though it is written in the third person, we can see inside everyone's head at one point or another. This is a bit disconcerting at first, but the author uses the technique very effectively. He has a great storytelling ability, creating not only an interesting plot, but providing us with extensive back stories for each character. While not all of it is relevant to the story, the characters are given so much depth that they feel like real people. The author keeps us guessing as to how all the disparate characters and events relate to each other, but it all comes together neatly in the end.

I would love to see this book made into a movie.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (19 November): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Kelly (Little.shropshire.reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I wasn't sure what I was going to think of it, but it gave me Elmore Leonard vibes and brought on a touch of nostalgia from when I read this type of urban noir many years ago.

Pigeon-blood Red is a character driven story from the get-go. They had interesting back stories, and I wanted to get to know more about them. Each one had its own uniqueness, even the lesser characters. The MC is Rico. He is the anti-hero with a conscience, I actually liked this guy, I found myself rooting for him to succeed.

Even though this story is barely over 200 pages, it packs a punch. The plot and dialogue are gripping and entertaining with perfect pacing. If this was made into a movie, I'd be watching it. The characters and the direction the story went in compelled me to keep reading. I can't wait to read the next book, I need to know what happens with Rico.

If you like a good crime story, based in an urban setting, full of gangsters, double-crossings, opportunists, and out smarting the bad guys, then I totally recommend this book to you.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story:
Rico has a simple life working as an enforcer for underworld moneylender Frank Litvak. He’s good at his job and he doesn’t make mistakes. But what starts out as a straight-forward job delivering a ruby necklace turns into a game of cat and mouse when one of Litvak’s unfortunate debtors makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to steal the valuable gems. The chase to retrieve them leads Rico to the beautiful island of Honolulu, and on the hunt for an unwitting couple who find themselves in possession of his target. Despite himself, Rico is impressed as the couple continues to evade him. But how long will they be able to keep one step ahead?

My thoughts:
This is a fast-paced crime thriller that grabbed my attention from the start. Rico makes a great ‘bad-guy-with-a-conscience’ anti-hero, and from the beginning we are thrown into his chase to track down the missing rubies.

The term ‘pigeon-blood red’ wasn’t one I’d heard before (sadly I don’t own too many precious gems!), but refers to a particularly rare and highly prized colour of ruby. You can therefore understand the temptation when the hapless Robert takes the necklace — could this be a chance to clear his mountain of debt? Dragging those around him into the path of Rico of course ends in disaster, and it made for an exciting and enjoyable read to see how this played out.

This is the first in a planned trilogy, and although this instalment reaches a satisfactory conclusion, I look forward to reading what comes next! Well worth a read for fans of classic noir and pacy crime thrillers featuring dangerous underworld villains!

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Note: I received this book from the author via Kelsey @bookpublicityservices, in exchange for an honest review. I am glad I got chance to read this book. ***

Books was centered on its gem ‘Pigeon Blood Red ruby necklace’ and how characters got involved directly or indirectly to this necklace. Basically this story was character driven set in Chicago, narrated in third person view and very gangster type.

Story was quiet straight actually. Robert was under neck deep debt, stole Pigeon Blood Red ruby necklace from Litvak’s man, ran away to Honolulu and indirectly involved his wife, Evelyn in this. All characters gathered at Honolulu with different purpose and get involved in the necklace chase. Now how they got involved with necklace, who will get it in the end and what will happen to them… Well, that’s the story.

Characters-
There were many characters in the book and all of them had almost equal role and importance. In short, all character were flawed, no one was perfect. I bet, every person’s view will be different about these characters. I didn’t actually connect with them, I knew them and their life by the end of the book but I couldn’t understand their thought process and so I couldn’t say who actually developed or whether they learned anything or not except Rico. It was like everyone were going with the flow, and so I with them, until end decided where they will stand.

Characters involved with necklace were- Rico– man on field, Anti-hero doing all dirty work of Litvak but likable. I liked the principle he sat in his line of work that he won’t change in any condition. Evelyn– Robert’s wife, idealistic but was just okay until the climax, and then I didn’t like her much. Paul –Lawyer who was on vacation also got involved in this. He was nice and genuine in this whole affair.

Litvak – money lander, Rico’s gangster boss, who orchestrated all the chasing thing because necklace was his possession. Robert– gambler who stole this necklace in the beginning of the story and Rachel. Nothing was good about these 3 characters.

What I liked-
Story directly took to the world of gangster and main point of the book- the necklace chase. After first 40% of the book, this chase became thrilling and I actually loved the story from this point on. Till that it was all about knowing the characters and their situation better. It was good thing but took a little time to connect with everything.

There was very detailed life stories of all characters, even those who had very little role and related to characters. Right from family back ground to how they got into job they were doing, how they met the person whom they considered near to them to the present situation. all through information which helped to know them and was required to connect with the main story.

I liked relationship of Rico and Jean. The conversations was less but the way they understood each other’s work was something we rarely find between couples that made these unruly characters admirable. Paul and JoAnne were also good together. Did I mention detective in the book? First time I liked a detective who was side character and actually did his work thoroughly and quickly and most importantly was not stupid. 😉

Best thing in the book was Pigeon Blood Red ruby necklace. Yes it was very beautiful but that’s not I’m talking about. All information related to it was brilliant- Where they are found, how rare they were, why they were priceless and who actually owned them and how it reached to Litvak. That was fascinating piece of the book.

Short chapters and so fast paced book. Story progressed very quickly with nice turning points. Few I could see coming, have guessed very early and some things were shocking. Creative climax. I actually didn’t know what will happen from here on. End was fair enough. So yes I’m happy with the end.

Why not 5 stars-
There wasn’t actually major negative points in the book. The story was enjoyable but as I said earlier it took little time connect situation and characters, and couldn’t understand thought process of characters.

Pretty straight for me. I was not on the edge, chewing my nail while watching the story unfold which I expected in this book. I had cozy mystery type of feeling.

Overall, refreshing, gripping, fast paced, gangster thriller. Though it was straight for me, I enjoyed it. Something new and different. I recommend it? Yes.

[greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5/5

a publisher sent me this in exchange for an honest review so thank you so much for them! this was really good. 👀

🦇 robert was such a manipulative little arsehole, i hated him. what he'd done to evelyn was beyond disgusting.
🦇 rico was my favourite character i think. he gave me tom hardy's vibes and seemed like a no bs person. always loved them sort of people. 🖤
🦇 the writing style was really easy to get into, however, the gun and killing descriptions went just a tad bit over my head lol.
🦇 there were a lot of characters introduced which i found a little bit confusing to follow, but it did get easier a bit to pinpoint who was who and at the end it all came together but i was confused just a little at times before my mind caught up lol.
🦇 i think i liked rico's and jerry's povs the best. i didn't really care for the others' marital problems and drama, but these two were definitely an interesting pair.
🦇 i also didn't really care about ray but i understood why he was needed in the story. i could've done with just following rico or robert's pov overall.
🦇 i did like the relationship between paul and evelyn tho, they suit each other so well!
🦇 the story was fast paced and easy to get into so if you want something like that, this book would be a perfect pick. especially if you like crime novels!

[remis.library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Book Publicity Services, Kelsey Butts, and Ed Duncan for providing me with a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review!

Let me start off by saying that I don’t believe I was the right reader for this book. It read to me as a gangster, action-packed, crime novel. I believe this one might appeal more to a male audience. Let’s dive into my likes and dislikes:

Likes:
- This book was so fast paced! It definitely held my attention and I never felt bored while reading.
- I felt like I knew a lot about each character. The character development was on point!
- The overall plot was entertaining, despite some minor details.

Dislikes:
- The blurb on the back was kind of a spoiler. It reads, “As Rico pursues his targets, hunter and prey develop an unlikely respect for one another.” This was only revealed in the last pages of the book. Rico was definitely did not like them for 99% of the book. The blurb also mentioned him endangering the life of the women he loves? This also didn’t become an issue until the last couple chapters. Jean was fine for 95% of the book.
- Even though I enjoyed the plot, it felt out of order. For example, Rico was chasing after this stolen necklace throughout the book. Readers didn’t find out until the 75% mark who the necklace actually belonged to or how much it was worth. I just felt like all of this info should have been stated before the search for the necklace started.
- I wasn’t a fan of how the women in the book (literally all of them) were sexualized. This would be more understandable if the book was written in 1st person POV, but this book was written in 3rd person POV. Essentially, the narrator was sexualizing women. One of the many examples of this was, “Her neckline plunged so low that her breasts screamed for attention, and her blue jeans were so tight they fit like another layer of skin”. This gave me the ick and read like it was sexist in my opinion.

I give this one 3 stars because the main points of the book hit the mark: pace, character-development, and plot.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fast paced book, I easily finished it in one setting.
A Chicago based true crime novel that took me back to mafia movies that I really like.
This book is centered around a ruby red (Pigeon-Blood Red) necklace from India that 4 people are wrapped up in getting the necklace back.
I loved Rico. He is the hit-man or hero but there is something about him that you just love.
All of the characters are developed so well and add to the story line.
This book played out in my mind like a gangster action movie.

Thanks to Book Publicity Services and Kelsey Butts for my gifted copy of this book.

[Janel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual read, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was an quick, action packed read. My favorite thing about the book is the amount of detail the author put into the book. It made it more of an experience and allowed for me to see the story in my head. It’s like a film experience in a book. Some of the dialogue could use a little work, but overall a good experience while reading. Would definitely recommend this book to friends and family who like action films.

** Kelsey, Book Publicity Services, and the author Ed Duncan sent me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you all! **

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing mystery and thriller that sucks you in to read the book in one go. I really liked the main character (even though he is a bad guy) and the side character too - they were created with such precision that even though you are presented with a third person POV you can get into their head and how they operate.

The dialogue was written very well keeping the reader entertained. There was a very good balance between the description of scenes, what the characters are doing/thinking and the dialogue. It made me wish that I wasn't finishing the book already. The book was perfectly paced and of a perfect length - the plot wasn't too dragged on nor rushed.

Really looking forward to exploring more of the author's work.