Price’s DEAD IN THE USA is a tightly woven tale of collegiate angst leading to an ill-fated night of reckless abandon -- and worse -- for our protagonist Kim, her friends, and the detectives who become more deeply involved in the hunt for her killer than they ever bargained for.
Price’s characters are compelling and real; from Kim’s wild, boy-crazy friends blowing off steam after finals to the cocky media figure looking for an inside scoop and his conscientious partner who plays an integral role in leading the police to Kim’s killer, the key players are all believable and bear the weight of the human condition. Price’s dark humor colors the story throughout, and the authentic portrayal of individuals caught in the crossfire of Kim’s vengeful, relentless journey to bring her killer to justice like Ol’ Flem, the janitor, and Crazy Jane, a street urchin, add a rich layer of empathy and intrigue to draw the reader in as the story unfolds.
For such a short work, Price adeptly takes on the well-worn territory of the afterlife with a new and interesting angle, using frank, genuine, and often comical dialogue and interactions between characters both living and dead. Dead in the USA will appeal in particular to Bostonians, but his sharp wit and penchant for sarcasm will captivate any reader along for the ride.