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Dirty Metal
An electrifying new voice in crime Allison LaMothe’s debut is a gritty, fast-paced mystery about a reporter running down two huge stories at once
Meet Parker Snow, the most tenacious reporter for a tabloid paper that thrives on juicy gossip over hard-hitting news, the New York Street. She also has a big black mark on her record from her last street crime story—and a habit of taking a few too many pills to erase the memory.
Since the fall of the USSR, a new crop of Russian criminals have been arriving in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. It's now Parker's job to cover them. But her old beat keeps calling to her, especially when she learns of a murdered woman whose case the cops want to ignore.
Trying to run down two stories at once—a simmering mafia turf war, and a homicide that leads to two more with no clear link between them—Parker must also fight the pull of her pills and the arrogant men who get in her way at every turn. Despite it all, she's determined to find truth and redemption for herself, the victims, and a city in chaos—if her demons don't get to her first.
Meet Parker Snow, the most tenacious reporter for a tabloid paper that thrives on juicy gossip over hard-hitting news, the New York Street. She also has a big black mark on her record from her last street crime story—and a habit of taking a few too many pills to erase the memory.
Since the fall of the USSR, a new crop of Russian criminals have been arriving in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. It's now Parker's job to cover them. But her old beat keeps calling to her, especially when she learns of a murdered woman whose case the cops want to ignore.
Trying to run down two stories at once—a simmering mafia turf war, and a homicide that leads to two more with no clear link between them—Parker must also fight the pull of her pills and the arrogant men who get in her way at every turn. Despite it all, she's determined to find truth and redemption for herself, the victims, and a city in chaos—if her demons don't get to her first.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
7 people are currently reading
8799 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 24, 2026
I went into Dirty Metal hoping to really connect with it, and while I didn’t love it, I didn’t dislike it either. There’s a strong mood running through the book, and it definitely has that gritty, uncomfortable feel that sticks with you after you put it down. You can tell Allison LaMothe has a clear vision for the story and isn’t afraid to explore messy emotions or flawed people.
Where the book fell a little short for me was in the characters. I often felt like I was watching them from a distance instead of really understanding them. I wanted more insight into their thoughts and motivations, especially during the heavier emotional moments, which sometimes felt like they could have hit harder with a bit more depth.
That said, this is a solid first novel, and it shows a lot of potential. Even though it landed at three stars for me, I’d still be interested in reading what LaMothe does next. There’s talent here, and I’m curious to see how her writing and character work evolve over time.
Where the book fell a little short for me was in the characters. I often felt like I was watching them from a distance instead of really understanding them. I wanted more insight into their thoughts and motivations, especially during the heavier emotional moments, which sometimes felt like they could have hit harder with a bit more depth.
That said, this is a solid first novel, and it shows a lot of potential. Even though it landed at three stars for me, I’d still be interested in reading what LaMothe does next. There’s talent here, and I’m curious to see how her writing and character work evolve over time.
Read
January 17, 2026What a treat to be transported back to the gritty 90s in New York City. That's when I arrived in NYC to attend school and as I read this my nostalgia was high.
Parker Snow is a pill-popping tabloid reporter sniffing around for a story juice enough to help her keep her job. She has some leads on sketchy scams run by refugees from the former USSR, now in Brighton Beach. But when she (literally) stumbles on the body of a young woman on the sidewalk, a murder case the police seem to have little interest in, she can't let go. (Shades of Kitty Genovese and Jennifer Levin.)
Parker was quite the character. From her cat Nellie (I wonder if she was named after Nellie Bly) to her chain smoking and visits to Dr. Feelgood for pills, she seems like a character on the edge/ledge/verge.
Really enjoyed the writing, the setting, and hoping that Parker returns for another book that will take me back to the 90s!
Thanks to Flatiron books for providing an advance copy for review!
Parker Snow is a pill-popping tabloid reporter sniffing around for a story juice enough to help her keep her job. She has some leads on sketchy scams run by refugees from the former USSR, now in Brighton Beach. But when she (literally) stumbles on the body of a young woman on the sidewalk, a murder case the police seem to have little interest in, she can't let go. (Shades of Kitty Genovese and Jennifer Levin.)
Parker was quite the character. From her cat Nellie (I wonder if she was named after Nellie Bly) to her chain smoking and visits to Dr. Feelgood for pills, she seems like a character on the edge/ledge/verge.
Really enjoyed the writing, the setting, and hoping that Parker returns for another book that will take me back to the 90s!
Thanks to Flatiron books for providing an advance copy for review!
dnf
January 30, 2026DNF at 5%. This one is not for me! A combination of factors. It’s on me for not noticing the Russian mob plays a role here. I’m not one for mob/mafia crime stories. Also because that’s a component of the story, you’ve got an audiobook narrator who has to fake Russian accents - as well as NYC accents - and it’s a rough listen.
Besides that, the writing style was not for me either. It has the excessive similes of a debut.
Having said that, I’m sure this is a fun mystery/thriller if you enjoy mob related crime stories with a strong sense of place.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Besides that, the writing style was not for me either. It has the excessive similes of a debut.
Having said that, I’m sure this is a fun mystery/thriller if you enjoy mob related crime stories with a strong sense of place.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
February 4, 2026
First time reading Allison Lamothe, and I was pleasantly surprised. Dirty Metal had a gritty, old-school noir feel that immediately pulled me in, with a flawed but compelling main character and a strong sense of time and place. The 1990s New York setting felt vivid and atmospheric, and I liked how the story blended journalism, crime, and personal demons into one messy, layered narrative.
Parker Snow was an interesting protagonist to follow, not always likable, but very real and complex. I appreciated how the author explored her struggles alongside the investigation, which gave the story more emotional depth than I expected. The plot itself was engaging and kept me curious, especially with the overlapping storylines and slow unraveling of the truth.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Gail Shalan. She fit the tone of the story well and brought Parker’s voice to life in a way that felt natural and immersive. Overall, this was an entertaining first experience with this author for me, and I’d definitely be interested in picking up more of her work in the future.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Parker Snow was an interesting protagonist to follow, not always likable, but very real and complex. I appreciated how the author explored her struggles alongside the investigation, which gave the story more emotional depth than I expected. The plot itself was engaging and kept me curious, especially with the overlapping storylines and slow unraveling of the truth.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Gail Shalan. She fit the tone of the story well and brought Parker’s voice to life in a way that felt natural and immersive. Overall, this was an entertaining first experience with this author for me, and I’d definitely be interested in picking up more of her work in the future.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
January 21, 2026
Parker Snow is just the journalist for the case of the murder of a young woman. After her previous story went sideways she’s relegated to organized crime but she can’t seem to give up the young girl she found in the streets. As story twists and turns more LaMothe’s writing keeps you wanting to turn the next page. I enjoyed following Snow on her journey and the setting of the 90’s gritty New York City. I was transported to that time, and enjoyed seeing the underbelly of the city through Snow’s eyes. Thank you to Flatiron Books and Goodreads for the giveaway. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
January 23, 2026
This was a bit of a tough read. A round about story to get to an ending in the last two chapters that was not desperately exciting. It took me awhile to finish this book as it www difficult to grab the attention. There were some interesting tibbits throughout.
February 4, 2026
Allison LaMothe's compelling debut crime novel, DIRTY METAL, plunges readers into the gritty underworld of 1992 New York City, a time marked by vibrant chaos and the clashing of cultures.
The narrative centers around Parker Snow, an intrepid reporter for the sensational tabloid New York Street. As she navigates the cutthroat landscape of a male-dominated industry, Parker wrestles with her own personal demons.
The story unfolds through the lens of two high-stakes investigations that put her tenacity to the ultimate test, revealing the darker side of the city she calls home. LaMothe weaves a tale of resilience and intrigue, encapsulating the raw energy and moral ambiguity of the neo-noir genre.
Highlights...
About...
After a major professional blunder on a previous street crime story, Parker Snow is reassigned from her usual beat to cover the rising Russian mafia in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
While tasked with reporting on the influx of criminals following the fall of the USSR, Parker discovers the body of 20-year-old Carla Russo. Though the police dismiss it as a random mugging, Parker suspects something more sinister and begins an unauthorized investigation.
Throughout the investigations, Parker battles with personal struggles, a severe pill addiction, and uses medication to cope with the trauma of her past professional failure and the violent nature of her work.
She must navigate a "city in chaos" while pushing back against arrogant men in both the newsroom and law enforcement who attempt to stall her progress.
My thoughts...
Electifying, Gritty Neo-Noir, Edgy, Bold!
A hauntingly immersive debut that delves into the gritty depths of urban life, this novel paints a vivid picture of a city teetering on the brink of chaos. The relentless pulse of the streets echoes throughout the narrative, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks at every turn, and the atmosphere is thick with tension and foreboding.
DIRTY METAL is grounded in the specific historical anxieties and urban atmosphere of early 1990s New York City. Allison LaMothe skillfully uses real-world trends of the era to fuel the tension of Parker Snow’s investigations.
Snow is a gritty crime reporter defined by her relentless tenacity and a self-destructive edge. She lives in a small Lower East Side apartment with a one-eyed cat named Nellie. Her daily essentials include black coffee, cigarettes, and a notebook filled with "bad handwriting."
She is scartistic, determined, and haunted by a catastrophic professional failure on a previous street crime story. She copes with the memory of her failure and the stress of her work by relying on pills obtained from a "shady doctor."
Parker’s reliance on pills serves as a metaphor for the city’s own numbing response to violence. Her struggle to stay sharp while medicated creates constant internal tension.
Parker is a compelling character and a wounded hero. She sees the investigation into the death of nursing student Carla Russo as her path to recovery. She is driven by a desperate need for redemption—not just for the victims the police have ignored, but for herself.
DIRTY METAL examines the moral toll of tabloid journalism. Parker must navigate the fine line between reporting the truth and exploiting tragedy, often questioning what she is willing to sacrifice for a headline-grabbing scoop. Despite her personal demons and vices, she possesses an uncompromising moral clarity and a knee-jerk suspicion of anyone who seems too good.
Another fun part is Snow's bag of tools, pre-internet: A pager, pay phones, landlines, notebooks, print media, and prescription pads.
A recurring theme is the failure of systems —both the NYPD and the media. Parker’s work highlights how certain lives are treated as disposable in a city in chaos.
The novel highlights the "boys' club" atmosphere of newsrooms and police precincts, as Parker's progress is frequently impeded by arrogant men who underestimate her because of her gender and her past failures.
Themes...
The narrative expertly leans heavily into the dark, cynical tropes of neo-noir while exploring specific social anxieties of the early '90s.
~The Cost of "The Story."
~Addiction & Avoidance
~Institutional Indifference
~Gender and Power
~The Changing Urban Landscape
Title Significance ...
"Dirty Metal" serves as a metaphor for the city’s moral decay. It represents the tarnished nature of institutions Parker encounters—the corruption and the city that ignores the murders of young women. Parker's tough exterior is like "dirty metal." She is resilient and hard, but deeply marked by her past. She embodies a strength that isn't polished or shiny, but enduring.
Takeaway Message...
The central message is that redemption is a messy, unpolished process found in the pursuit of truth rather than the erasure of past mistakes. The story suggests that maintaining your personal code in a corrupt environment requires a razor-sharp toughness that often comes at a high personal cost of integrity.
The Audiobook...
I recently enjoyed the audiobook brilliantly narrated by the talented Gail Shalan (a favorite of mine). She brings the story to life with a mix of emotion and toughness, embodying the spirit of the urban underbelly. Shalan’s voice captures the determination and emotion of a fearless reporter facing her inner struggles and the male-dominated industry. Each word feels authentic, immersing the listener in the narrative. Her emotional depth creates striking imagery, making the experience both realistic and engaging. I highly recommend this audio experience; it’s a captivating journey you won’t want to miss.
I can't wait to see what the author creates next!
Recs...
Readers who enjoyed the gritty, neo-noir style, 1990s New York City setting, and a tenacious female protagonist of Dirty Metal may enjoy books by authors such as Laura Lippman, Hannah Morrissey, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and Fiona Barton.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating; 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 3, 2026
Feb Newsletter
The narrative centers around Parker Snow, an intrepid reporter for the sensational tabloid New York Street. As she navigates the cutthroat landscape of a male-dominated industry, Parker wrestles with her own personal demons.
The story unfolds through the lens of two high-stakes investigations that put her tenacity to the ultimate test, revealing the darker side of the city she calls home. LaMothe weaves a tale of resilience and intrigue, encapsulating the raw energy and moral ambiguity of the neo-noir genre.
Highlights...
Protagonist:
Parker Snow, a smart and tough reporter for the New York Street, has a history of trouble and a pill habit.
Dual Storylines:
Parker finds herself running down two parallel tracks:
~A brewing mafia turf war in Brooklyn.
~A string of murders—starting with Carla and followed by two more victims—that appear unrelated to the mob but suggest a serial killer is targeting women across the city.
Setting:
NYC in 1992, before the Giuliani era, featuring the gritty world of tabloid journalism and the arrival of Russian organized crime in Brighton Beach.
Genre:
Crime fiction, mystery, suspense, murder, thriller.
About...
After a major professional blunder on a previous street crime story, Parker Snow is reassigned from her usual beat to cover the rising Russian mafia in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
While tasked with reporting on the influx of criminals following the fall of the USSR, Parker discovers the body of 20-year-old Carla Russo. Though the police dismiss it as a random mugging, Parker suspects something more sinister and begins an unauthorized investigation.
Throughout the investigations, Parker battles with personal struggles, a severe pill addiction, and uses medication to cope with the trauma of her past professional failure and the violent nature of her work.
She must navigate a "city in chaos" while pushing back against arrogant men in both the newsroom and law enforcement who attempt to stall her progress.
My thoughts...
Electifying, Gritty Neo-Noir, Edgy, Bold!
A hauntingly immersive debut that delves into the gritty depths of urban life, this novel paints a vivid picture of a city teetering on the brink of chaos. The relentless pulse of the streets echoes throughout the narrative, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks at every turn, and the atmosphere is thick with tension and foreboding.
DIRTY METAL is grounded in the specific historical anxieties and urban atmosphere of early 1990s New York City. Allison LaMothe skillfully uses real-world trends of the era to fuel the tension of Parker Snow’s investigations.
Snow is a gritty crime reporter defined by her relentless tenacity and a self-destructive edge. She lives in a small Lower East Side apartment with a one-eyed cat named Nellie. Her daily essentials include black coffee, cigarettes, and a notebook filled with "bad handwriting."
She is scartistic, determined, and haunted by a catastrophic professional failure on a previous street crime story. She copes with the memory of her failure and the stress of her work by relying on pills obtained from a "shady doctor."
Parker’s reliance on pills serves as a metaphor for the city’s own numbing response to violence. Her struggle to stay sharp while medicated creates constant internal tension.
Parker is a compelling character and a wounded hero. She sees the investigation into the death of nursing student Carla Russo as her path to recovery. She is driven by a desperate need for redemption—not just for the victims the police have ignored, but for herself.
DIRTY METAL examines the moral toll of tabloid journalism. Parker must navigate the fine line between reporting the truth and exploiting tragedy, often questioning what she is willing to sacrifice for a headline-grabbing scoop. Despite her personal demons and vices, she possesses an uncompromising moral clarity and a knee-jerk suspicion of anyone who seems too good.
Another fun part is Snow's bag of tools, pre-internet: A pager, pay phones, landlines, notebooks, print media, and prescription pads.
A recurring theme is the failure of systems —both the NYPD and the media. Parker’s work highlights how certain lives are treated as disposable in a city in chaos.
The novel highlights the "boys' club" atmosphere of newsrooms and police precincts, as Parker's progress is frequently impeded by arrogant men who underestimate her because of her gender and her past failures.
Themes...
The narrative expertly leans heavily into the dark, cynical tropes of neo-noir while exploring specific social anxieties of the early '90s.
~The Cost of "The Story."
~Addiction & Avoidance
~Institutional Indifference
~Gender and Power
~The Changing Urban Landscape
Title Significance ...
"Dirty Metal" serves as a metaphor for the city’s moral decay. It represents the tarnished nature of institutions Parker encounters—the corruption and the city that ignores the murders of young women. Parker's tough exterior is like "dirty metal." She is resilient and hard, but deeply marked by her past. She embodies a strength that isn't polished or shiny, but enduring.
Takeaway Message...
The central message is that redemption is a messy, unpolished process found in the pursuit of truth rather than the erasure of past mistakes. The story suggests that maintaining your personal code in a corrupt environment requires a razor-sharp toughness that often comes at a high personal cost of integrity.
The Audiobook...
I recently enjoyed the audiobook brilliantly narrated by the talented Gail Shalan (a favorite of mine). She brings the story to life with a mix of emotion and toughness, embodying the spirit of the urban underbelly. Shalan’s voice captures the determination and emotion of a fearless reporter facing her inner struggles and the male-dominated industry. Each word feels authentic, immersing the listener in the narrative. Her emotional depth creates striking imagery, making the experience both realistic and engaging. I highly recommend this audio experience; it’s a captivating journey you won’t want to miss.
I can't wait to see what the author creates next!
Recs...
Readers who enjoyed the gritty, neo-noir style, 1990s New York City setting, and a tenacious female protagonist of Dirty Metal may enjoy books by authors such as Laura Lippman, Hannah Morrissey, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and Fiona Barton.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating; 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 3, 2026
Feb Newsletter
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review is mainly going to be geared towards the audiobook.
But first, the actual novel. “Dirty Metal” is Allison LaMothe’s debut novel and she does a good job. The time and place of the novel is 1992 in New York City. Ms. LaMothe does an excellent job of capturing the culture of that day. There were several chuckles at what was an actual portrayal for that day and age. I think the trend of focusing on a time in the past is catching on because we don’t want our investigators always saying, “Hold on while I Google that.” Or “Let me look that up on YouTube.”
Parker Snow is not the perfect protagonist, but a fitting one.
I would rate this audiobook a 2 ½ stars out of 5. And the main reason is Gail Shalan, the narrator. There was something about her voice at the beginning and middle sections of this novel that just grated on my nerves. I hate typing that, because it feels like a personal attack, but that isn’t my intention. It was the style of the voice they chose for her to use for this character.
But then something changed at the last bit of the novel. As the story got more frenzied, the narrator lost that sound and went to a more frantic voice and it worked. It fit perfectly, unlike the earlier parts.
My suggestion: Read the book. Avoid the audiobook. IF they chose to make this a series, I hope they either change narrators or the style that was used.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
But first, the actual novel. “Dirty Metal” is Allison LaMothe’s debut novel and she does a good job. The time and place of the novel is 1992 in New York City. Ms. LaMothe does an excellent job of capturing the culture of that day. There were several chuckles at what was an actual portrayal for that day and age. I think the trend of focusing on a time in the past is catching on because we don’t want our investigators always saying, “Hold on while I Google that.” Or “Let me look that up on YouTube.”
Parker Snow is not the perfect protagonist, but a fitting one.
I would rate this audiobook a 2 ½ stars out of 5. And the main reason is Gail Shalan, the narrator. There was something about her voice at the beginning and middle sections of this novel that just grated on my nerves. I hate typing that, because it feels like a personal attack, but that isn’t my intention. It was the style of the voice they chose for her to use for this character.
But then something changed at the last bit of the novel. As the story got more frenzied, the narrator lost that sound and went to a more frantic voice and it worked. It fit perfectly, unlike the earlier parts.
My suggestion: Read the book. Avoid the audiobook. IF they chose to make this a series, I hope they either change narrators or the style that was used.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 7, 2026
Dirty Metal was a fast, intense read with a seriously gritty vibe. From the beginning, it throws you into a world that feels raw, messy, and full of tension, and it doesn’t hold back.
The chemistry between the characters is strong and immediate, and the romance has that darker edge that keeps things exciting. I liked how the story wasn’t just about spice, there’s also drama, power struggles, and emotional baggage that makes the relationship feel complicated.
The pacing is quick, and the book stays entertaining throughout. Some parts felt a bit over-the-top, but honestly, that’s part of the fun. It’s the kind of story you read when you want something bold, dramatic, and addictive.
Overall, Dirty Metal is a steamy, edgy romance with attitude. If you enjoy dark romance with intense characters and high tension, this one delivers.
The chemistry between the characters is strong and immediate, and the romance has that darker edge that keeps things exciting. I liked how the story wasn’t just about spice, there’s also drama, power struggles, and emotional baggage that makes the relationship feel complicated.
The pacing is quick, and the book stays entertaining throughout. Some parts felt a bit over-the-top, but honestly, that’s part of the fun. It’s the kind of story you read when you want something bold, dramatic, and addictive.
Overall, Dirty Metal is a steamy, edgy romance with attitude. If you enjoy dark romance with intense characters and high tension, this one delivers.
February 8, 2026
Parker Snow, 20-something crime reporter for “The New York Street,” can’t let it go. She’s screwed up before, and it can’t happen again. Parker, aided by little blue pills, crisscrosses '90s New York City powered by the “dirty metal” that takes her to Bensonhurst and Brooklyn, Red Hook and Coney Island, Chinatown and Brighton Beach. Three women are randomly murdered, and the Russian mob is moving beyond the protection racket into something far more nefarious. LaMothe’s snappy dialogue and cast of characters, from the snarky newspaper editor, to the slimy attorney and the weary police captain, will keep you on your toes and wanting more. LaMothe immerses you in The Big Apple of the ‘90s with her expert eye for detail—it will take you back! Can’t wait to see what takedown Parker Snow has for us next!
February 3, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Gail Shalan does a great job as narrator for this story.
Parker Snow is a crime reporter for a small newspaper in New York. After her previous story went sideways, she’s demoted to organized crime. However, when she witnesses a murder on the subway, she cannot give up on the story and follows it to solve the murder.
This was a good story but its underdeveloped with flat characters. The pacing seemed a bit slow until the last 1/3 of the book when it picked up. I wanted to know more about Parker and her backstory. Just an okay read for me.
Parker Snow is a crime reporter for a small newspaper in New York. After her previous story went sideways, she’s demoted to organized crime. However, when she witnesses a murder on the subway, she cannot give up on the story and follows it to solve the murder.
This was a good story but its underdeveloped with flat characters. The pacing seemed a bit slow until the last 1/3 of the book when it picked up. I wanted to know more about Parker and her backstory. Just an okay read for me.
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audio of Dirty Metal, but Allison LaMothe. This book is a suspenseful mystery that takes place in New York City in the 1990's. The setting was great, the descriptions were researched, down to the mention of celery soda and egg creams. I was really submerged into the Brooklyn of it all. The mystery was about a reporter, Parker, who has a shady past and wants to make a better name for herself. She decides to cover a story of murder, but it leads her into the wild world of stolen goods and the Russian Mafia. I enjoyed this book. The narrator was great, but I was confused here and there with the plot. It was a solid mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dirty Metal by Allison LaMothe is a gritty crime debut set in pre-Giuliani New York City, centered on tabloid reporter Parker Snow as she chases both a neglected homicide and the rise of Russian organized crime. While the setting is vividly drawn and the premise has real potential, the novel repeatedly undermines itself through implausible plotting and an unfocused understanding of its protagonist’s role.
Parker behaves less like a reporter and more like a rogue police investigator, rarely considering how her discoveries would translate into an actual news story. Key information is handed to her far too easily by characters who should know that talking could get them killed, and her delayed recognition of the danger she’s in is hard to accept. Add in unsupported leaps of logic and a professional track record that should have ended her career long before the final pages, and the tension starts to feel manufactured rather than earned.
Despite moments of strong atmosphere and energy, Dirty Metal relies too heavily on convenience over consequence to fully deliver on its promise.
You can read my full review at: https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com...
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Parker behaves less like a reporter and more like a rogue police investigator, rarely considering how her discoveries would translate into an actual news story. Key information is handed to her far too easily by characters who should know that talking could get them killed, and her delayed recognition of the danger she’s in is hard to accept. Add in unsupported leaps of logic and a professional track record that should have ended her career long before the final pages, and the tension starts to feel manufactured rather than earned.
Despite moments of strong atmosphere and energy, Dirty Metal relies too heavily on convenience over consequence to fully deliver on its promise.
You can read my full review at: https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com...
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This gritty, dirty , dark, 1990’s NYC setting was fantastic. You could feel it. The plot was interesting. I felt distant from the main character. It would have been nice to know her better. Why did she get in her career, why did she pill pop, why was she so unattached to anyone? I hope this author writes more mystery novels that take place in the 90’s. It was fun to be transported back to that era.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author and Flatiron Books for providing an ARC of Dirty Metal. I enjoyed the descriptions of NYC in the 90s and liked the character being a tabloid reporter. More background about how the protagonist was able to do her investigation into a criminal syndicate from the outside looking in would have helped the plot unfold at a better pace. The end was unexpected and interesting and I can see our reporter featuring in another "case." Impressive first novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a fantastic journey with Parker Snow. LaMothe’s writing style is mature, easy to read and has depth. Parker’s struggles with drugs bring to mind Hammett and the great Noir writers. LaMothe is as good or better. You really can’t put the book down. It just kept me going to the very end. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received ARC from NetGalley
Dirty Metal is a fast‑moving, addictive mystery with a heroine you can’t help but root for. The tension stays high from start to finish, and the story has an electric, lived‑in vibe that brings 1990s New York to life. If you’re into noir vibes, flawed characters, and fast‑paced crime fiction, this one’s definitely for you.
Dirty Metal is a fast‑moving, addictive mystery with a heroine you can’t help but root for. The tension stays high from start to finish, and the story has an electric, lived‑in vibe that brings 1990s New York to life. If you’re into noir vibes, flawed characters, and fast‑paced crime fiction, this one’s definitely for you.
January 31, 2026
The book had a good pace and at the last 100 or so pages it really ramped up with connecting dots and I couldn’t put it down. I feel as if I befriended Parker Snow the fmc and was following her on her investigations throughout the book. It is obvious that the author is into poetry and I often got lost in the descriptive narrative and the feel of 1992 New York City.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was slow to develop and the characters seemed hollow, but the overall story was interesting. I wish the main character had more depth or some back story was provided. This was a good story but lacked anything to really hook me.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Much like the other reviews, I was left wanting for more background and depth of the main character. The story started off pretty slow and it took a while to hook me, but I did end up enjoying the storyline and I thought the end was very well done.
February 8, 2026
Allison LaMothe's debut novel, DIRTY METAL, delivers on its promise of a gripping psychological, fast-paced thriller.
I hope this continues as a series. I want to follow Parker Snow and her cat, Nellie, for more crime stories.
Do not miss this well-written, white-knuckle mystery.
I hope this continues as a series. I want to follow Parker Snow and her cat, Nellie, for more crime stories.
Do not miss this well-written, white-knuckle mystery.
December 1, 2025
The reporter angle was interesting. Overall it was a bit of a slow read.
December 3, 2025
Reading this mystery crime thriller feels so unclean, damaged and every single person is downright dirty which makes this a real fiction debut.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fantastic thriller with some impeccable vibes and fantastic plotting. would recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
January 27, 2026
DNF at 14%
Thanks netgalley for my ALC
Thanks netgalley for my ALC
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