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Franco Patrese #2
City of the Dead
Fans of Ian Rankin and Lee Child will relish the latest thriller from the author of Thou Shalt Kill —the second novel in a heart-pounding series featuring hardened homicide detective Franco Patrese.
Daniel Blake more than delivers on the promise of his acclaimed thriller Thou Shalt Kill, bringing back detective Franco Patrese in City of the Dead, “a blood-soaked, full-throttle descent into hell and one of the best thrillers you will read this or any other year” (Lorenzo Carcaterra).
“You’re not tainted. You’re not one of them. I need you alone. . . .”
The woman who contacted Franco Patrese was the ultimate New Orleans society beautiful, seductive, cunning, and, in this case, desperate. The personal assistant to the city’s most powerful man, she had to meet Patrese in secret. Fearful whispers of “sacrifices” were all Patrese could glean; she didn’t live long enough to tell him any more.
Patrese had come to New Orleans, buffeted by the winds of fate, bearing a pain that cops know too well. His native Pittsburgh was still in his bones, while a disaster on a tropical island had shaken his soul. In the thick, hot, exotic world of the Crescent City he began to come alive again. But now he cannot afford to be the new guy, the guy on the outside looking in. A second body has been found, just like the Dismembered. A snake, an axe head, a mirror. And blood. A whole lot of blood.
Patrese’s partner is a devout New Orleans native with a past she keeps private. By Selma Fawcett’s side, Patrese races in the footsteps of a serial killer who seems steeped in voodoo and linked to a priestess who practices her dark arts in the clear light of day—and the glare of the media. The more he learns about the victims and their connections, the more bizarre the case becomes. Then a veteran-turned-drug dealer takes him one step further, deep into a realm in which murder is only one kind of perversion.
Patrese and Selma, traveling from the French Quarter to Natchez and the bayou, don’t realize they are out of time. A tide of corruption and secrecy is rising all around them. They are the tainted two good cops, targeted by a force more malevolent than any one before.
Daniel Blake more than delivers on the promise of his acclaimed thriller Thou Shalt Kill, bringing back detective Franco Patrese in City of the Dead, “a blood-soaked, full-throttle descent into hell and one of the best thrillers you will read this or any other year” (Lorenzo Carcaterra).
“You’re not tainted. You’re not one of them. I need you alone. . . .”
The woman who contacted Franco Patrese was the ultimate New Orleans society beautiful, seductive, cunning, and, in this case, desperate. The personal assistant to the city’s most powerful man, she had to meet Patrese in secret. Fearful whispers of “sacrifices” were all Patrese could glean; she didn’t live long enough to tell him any more.
Patrese had come to New Orleans, buffeted by the winds of fate, bearing a pain that cops know too well. His native Pittsburgh was still in his bones, while a disaster on a tropical island had shaken his soul. In the thick, hot, exotic world of the Crescent City he began to come alive again. But now he cannot afford to be the new guy, the guy on the outside looking in. A second body has been found, just like the Dismembered. A snake, an axe head, a mirror. And blood. A whole lot of blood.
Patrese’s partner is a devout New Orleans native with a past she keeps private. By Selma Fawcett’s side, Patrese races in the footsteps of a serial killer who seems steeped in voodoo and linked to a priestess who practices her dark arts in the clear light of day—and the glare of the media. The more he learns about the victims and their connections, the more bizarre the case becomes. Then a veteran-turned-drug dealer takes him one step further, deep into a realm in which murder is only one kind of perversion.
Patrese and Selma, traveling from the French Quarter to Natchez and the bayou, don’t realize they are out of time. A tide of corruption and secrecy is rising all around them. They are the tainted two good cops, targeted by a force more malevolent than any one before.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 23, 2012
CITY of the DEAD
Daniel Blake
Set in New Orleans in the few months leading up to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, City of the Dead is a conspiracy theorist’s dream. Unfortunately, although he changed the names to protect the guilty, most of it is factual – and all the more sickening because of it.
City of the Dead begins with a murder of a young woman, with a strange twist. Perhaps the murder is a voo-doo sacrifice; perhaps it is fundamental Christians seeking to punish, or perhaps it is her connection to a powerful businessman with connections to government contracts and “friends” in the right places. It could even be revenge because of her congressman father’s actions.
Selma, a black lady detective with NOPD, and FBI Agent Franco Patrese, agree to work together to try to find the murderer. Their relationship is rocky at first, but settles into a comfortable and pleasant friendship/working relationship. They trust each other and work well together, even though they come from completely different backgrounds. Using these two protagonists, a black woman cop from New Orleans and a white man from Pittsburg, allows Blake to make many points about race, poverty, corruption and religion throughout the story. He is a skillful writer and makes his points in the context of the plot.
Within a short period of time, a second murder occurs, with the same MO. This time a man. Then a second young woman, a prostitute. What is the common link? Even with half the police force working on it, nothing is obvious, although some strange things appear and people are not what they seem to be.
Franco begins to believe these murders are somehow tied to the corruption linked to one particular wealthy businessman. He and Selma follow the man to Merida, Mexico, where he has a huge compound built like a Mayan Temple. Both their bosses are at the compound, plus the director of District VI FEMA, the governor of Louisiana, and various other highly placed people. Now things really get interesting.
This book has incorporated more ideas and unusual ones at that. I admit I had never heard of people who feel they should have an appendage amputated so they well “feel whole”. Blake delves through one doorway and then another, yet continues to tie them all together. When he lays out the truth about the destruction of New Orleans in Hurricane Katrina, it is enough to make you want to shoot someone yourself.
Hard to put down and gripping from the very first page. Read it.
Daniel Blake
Set in New Orleans in the few months leading up to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, City of the Dead is a conspiracy theorist’s dream. Unfortunately, although he changed the names to protect the guilty, most of it is factual – and all the more sickening because of it.
City of the Dead begins with a murder of a young woman, with a strange twist. Perhaps the murder is a voo-doo sacrifice; perhaps it is fundamental Christians seeking to punish, or perhaps it is her connection to a powerful businessman with connections to government contracts and “friends” in the right places. It could even be revenge because of her congressman father’s actions.
Selma, a black lady detective with NOPD, and FBI Agent Franco Patrese, agree to work together to try to find the murderer. Their relationship is rocky at first, but settles into a comfortable and pleasant friendship/working relationship. They trust each other and work well together, even though they come from completely different backgrounds. Using these two protagonists, a black woman cop from New Orleans and a white man from Pittsburg, allows Blake to make many points about race, poverty, corruption and religion throughout the story. He is a skillful writer and makes his points in the context of the plot.
Within a short period of time, a second murder occurs, with the same MO. This time a man. Then a second young woman, a prostitute. What is the common link? Even with half the police force working on it, nothing is obvious, although some strange things appear and people are not what they seem to be.
Franco begins to believe these murders are somehow tied to the corruption linked to one particular wealthy businessman. He and Selma follow the man to Merida, Mexico, where he has a huge compound built like a Mayan Temple. Both their bosses are at the compound, plus the director of District VI FEMA, the governor of Louisiana, and various other highly placed people. Now things really get interesting.
This book has incorporated more ideas and unusual ones at that. I admit I had never heard of people who feel they should have an appendage amputated so they well “feel whole”. Blake delves through one doorway and then another, yet continues to tie them all together. When he lays out the truth about the destruction of New Orleans in Hurricane Katrina, it is enough to make you want to shoot someone yourself.
Hard to put down and gripping from the very first page. Read it.
March 24, 2019
Tried telling to many stories in one book. So many slow moving blah parts. Was not a fan of this author's writing style. This book had so much potential. Some parts were just to unrealistic. I can read this size of a book in a few hours usually if it is good. It was just to boring. Kept putting it down, because it would not hold my attention. Should have DNFd it but eventually was able to force myself to finish. Did give it 2 stars because there were a few decent moments in the story.
January 4, 2023
This book was a surprisingly good read. With twists and turns to make you dizzy and a complex plot that you have to keep meticulous track of. I expected it to be bad or be some pretentious religious crap, but it ended up not be being so. The book is well written and well paced that makes you not want to put it down.
February 2, 2019
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, but it was still pretty good.
August 27, 2021
Another library audiobook. A rivetting listen. So many twists and turns. Things you didn't see coming. An expected gem of a find. Looking forward to listening to more from this author.
May 29, 2012
City of the Dead
by Daniel Blake
City of the Dead is a mystery thriller with numerous mysteries and thrilling action.
Blake’s writing style creates a page turning pace. It’s hard to put down a book that has unanticipated revelations as you get comfortable with the story. He changes tempo with unexpected action and/or characters that surprise. People are not what they seem to be.
City of the Dead has an intriguing plot that captures the reader’s imagination.
Daniel Blake has transported his detective hero Franco Patrese to New Orleans and promoted him into the FBI, but not before, Patrese finds himself grasping for survival in Thailand’s tsunami.
It is because he is the new man in town without connected corruption, that he is approached by a seductive and desperate New Orleans society belle who mumbles words of “You’re not tainted. You’re not one of them. I need you alone. . . .” “sacrifices” into his ear before she departs. She is found 2 days later, dead, dismembered with a snake at her side, an axe through her head, and a cracked mirror. When subsequent victims are found killed in the same way it suggests that the serial killer is involved with Voodoo sacrifice or Hoodoo sorcery.
Selma Fawcett is a tough outspoken and honest cop. Her integrity is a contrast to all the crime and corruption she is surrounded by. She has been assigned to Franco as his partner. Their relationship does not start well but when they realize that they can trust each other and very few others amid the corruption and secrecy developing around them, they come together using their varied backgrounds to solve these crimes.
Patrese and Selma, travel from the French Quarter to Natchez and the bayou, introducing the reader to some very well written characters, a priestess who practices her dark arts in the clear light of day, a powerful industrialist and his son who is governor of the state, and a war torn Afghanistan veteran. Blake emotionally involves the reader with them as people. The more they learn about the victims and their connections, the more bizarre the case becomes and the realization that they are running out of time.
His theoretical Project Noah will haunt you every time you hear of a disaster with mishandled rescue management. “It was evil on a scale so far in excess of anything Patrese had ever known that he could hardly comprehend it.”
by Daniel Blake
City of the Dead is a mystery thriller with numerous mysteries and thrilling action.
Blake’s writing style creates a page turning pace. It’s hard to put down a book that has unanticipated revelations as you get comfortable with the story. He changes tempo with unexpected action and/or characters that surprise. People are not what they seem to be.
City of the Dead has an intriguing plot that captures the reader’s imagination.
Daniel Blake has transported his detective hero Franco Patrese to New Orleans and promoted him into the FBI, but not before, Patrese finds himself grasping for survival in Thailand’s tsunami.
It is because he is the new man in town without connected corruption, that he is approached by a seductive and desperate New Orleans society belle who mumbles words of “You’re not tainted. You’re not one of them. I need you alone. . . .” “sacrifices” into his ear before she departs. She is found 2 days later, dead, dismembered with a snake at her side, an axe through her head, and a cracked mirror. When subsequent victims are found killed in the same way it suggests that the serial killer is involved with Voodoo sacrifice or Hoodoo sorcery.
Selma Fawcett is a tough outspoken and honest cop. Her integrity is a contrast to all the crime and corruption she is surrounded by. She has been assigned to Franco as his partner. Their relationship does not start well but when they realize that they can trust each other and very few others amid the corruption and secrecy developing around them, they come together using their varied backgrounds to solve these crimes.
Patrese and Selma, travel from the French Quarter to Natchez and the bayou, introducing the reader to some very well written characters, a priestess who practices her dark arts in the clear light of day, a powerful industrialist and his son who is governor of the state, and a war torn Afghanistan veteran. Blake emotionally involves the reader with them as people. The more they learn about the victims and their connections, the more bizarre the case becomes and the realization that they are running out of time.
His theoretical Project Noah will haunt you every time you hear of a disaster with mishandled rescue management. “It was evil on a scale so far in excess of anything Patrese had ever known that he could hardly comprehend it.”
June 15, 2012
Detective Frank Patrese is back in this cracking follow-up to ‘Soul Murder’ which sees him uprooted from his beloved Pittsburgh to join a FBI unit in sultry New Orleans. I can honestly say that this is one of the most multi-faceted serial killer thrillers I have read including (takes a deep breath)….the Asian tsunami, body dismorphia, voodoo, ethnic cleansing, Mayan legends, Hurricane Katrina…oh…and a goodly amount of gory murders. I must admit that I felt the flimsy tsunami opener surplus to requirements and added nothing to the plot. One environmental disaster was plenty and the story would have been none the worse for its exclusion. Blake’s depiction of the seedy underbelly and voodoo heritage of New Orleans was exceptionally well-drawn and equally, the tense build-up to Hurricane Katrina and its horrific aftermath showed a deftness of touch. I will also say that I have not read any crime novel that used the largely un-addressed issue of body dismorphia as a plot device and this was fascinating and worked well within the overall plot-line. On the subject of character this novel more than establishes Frank Patrese as a credible character with just the right degree of toughness, morality and vulnerability and this bodes well for future outings. Overall, although the central plot-line was a little far-fetched, I found this a good read with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me hooked and I shall certainly pick up the next one…
August 23, 2012
City of The Dead by Daniel Blake
This is another complex mystery by Blake set in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina as a back drop
Franco Patrese is back and in New Orleans. We met Franco in Blake’s book Thou Shalt Kill. Franco left Pittsburgh after the horrendous events in that book and joined the FBI.
Black uses the color and characters of New Orleans as the perfect backdrop for a series of horrific killings. Franco finds himself far more involved than just an investigator.
The story has voodoo and hoodo, sex and violence, snakes and politicians (unless that is a given redundancy) with big business and Mexican drug lords. You could hardly ask for more action and head scratching trying to put it all together. Blake is a master at sensible complexity.
Daniel Blake did an excellent job with this book.
I highly recommend the book.
This is another complex mystery by Blake set in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina as a back drop
Franco Patrese is back and in New Orleans. We met Franco in Blake’s book Thou Shalt Kill. Franco left Pittsburgh after the horrendous events in that book and joined the FBI.
Black uses the color and characters of New Orleans as the perfect backdrop for a series of horrific killings. Franco finds himself far more involved than just an investigator.
The story has voodoo and hoodo, sex and violence, snakes and politicians (unless that is a given redundancy) with big business and Mexican drug lords. You could hardly ask for more action and head scratching trying to put it all together. Blake is a master at sensible complexity.
Daniel Blake did an excellent job with this book.
I highly recommend the book.
June 5, 2012
Received as an ARC via my employer, a bookstore. Let's see.....there's a police detective from Pittsburgh who gets a job with the FBI in New Orleans; there are several gruesome murders; there's a voodoo priestess; there's a group of men with amputation fetishes; there's a mega-millionaire industrialist and his son, AND to top it off, there's Hurricane Katrina!!!!!!
Well-written and fits my criterion for a good thriller---I was reading faster toward the end.
Well-written and fits my criterion for a good thriller---I was reading faster toward the end.
August 25, 2012
second mystery in a row which attempted to do to much and lost sight of a good story in the process. would have been worth reading with either plot, but mashing a religous cult serial killer with a white collar 1% conspiracy to commit genocide and reap the economic benefits post-hurricane katrina is asking a bit much from the reader. ugh. time to switch genres for awhile. enough bad mysteries for one week.
December 5, 2012
Not very good! The "hero" wrestles alligators, escapes from being trapped in an underground water cave, and rescues Katrina victims in a few pages. Reminds me of the 1950s Superman comic books, I read as a child. The author goes off on side tangents on abortion and other topics that are almost unrelated filler to the main story. Sometimes, that is fine since the story is so implausible. Why did I bother reading it to the silly end? It was raining hard outside.
February 23, 2015
I liked the book. Love Daniel Blake's writing. This was a story about a Pittsburgh detective who was in New Orleans helping with a series of murders. It deals with voodoo and corruption in the local government and police department. Like his previous book you have no idea until the end who the killer is. An especially good part was when he went cave diving. I would recommend this book. His first book "Thou Shalt Kill" is even better.
June 19, 2012
Murders in New Orleans. Voodoo. Dirty Politics. Hurricane Katrina. What more could you want in a really quick book. read it in a day and a half. Like a Stephen King novel but set in a real city in the wake of a real Hurricane. Not rocket science but a decent break from the really, really heavy stuff.
July 30, 2012
Set in New Orleans just prior to Hurricane Katrina, a mystery which has at its center the corruption of politics which is said, according to this story to be heart of Louisana society. The color barrier still exists in this city where the black population inhabits all the land that becomes nonland when a hurricane hits. How close the author comes to reality is up to the reader to decide.
January 30, 2012
Well crafted and plotted. I liked the way the author wove in the real event of hurricane Katrina. Pretty compelling reading but, even though it's supposed to be fiction some of the story was a bit too fanciful to be plausible.
August 27, 2012
Such a good read. Fast pace book with lots of twists. I read this before going on vacation to NOLA and I think that is what made it that much more addicting; I couldn't put it down. After going back and reading this author's previous book, I'm now a big fan and can't wait for his next.
September 20, 2012
Forrest Gumpish: When you really can't believe a character is a witness to all those big events in history. The tsunami AND Katrina? Hmph.
June 5, 2012
A bit preachy at times and fodder for the conspiracy theorists, otherwise, a good story. I didn't see the ending coming until the wind started blowing.
August 14, 2012
From tsunami to hurricane Katrina, this story includes disasters, murders, voodoo and corruption. Quite good.
November 10, 2012
Good story. Creepy but with several unexpected twists.
November 10, 2012
uh...hmmm...tried to do too much. Basic plot was good but just couldn't completely deliver for me.
January 23, 2013
I really enjoyed the book and the characters. I felt like the story was a bit convoluted and there wasn't the connection or continuity I would have liked. The ending just didn't work for me.
August 14, 2013
So much promise, but the last 75 pages are absurd and the final dozen are just laughable.
November 8, 2013
very good but not great.
May 15, 2014
Good mystery with an unusual -and weird- twist! Truly didn't see that coming!
August 8, 2014
I read it as traveling guide to New Orleans and it was brilliant for that.
September 2, 2014
A Tsunami, cave diving,a series of grisly murders, and Hurricane Katrina all made this book interesting, if more than a little implausible.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews