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Ray Dudgeon #2
Trigger City
The A lonely woman was murdered by her disturbed coworker. The police have investigated. The case is closed. But facts are not truth. A routine investigation of an open-and-shut case is just what PI Ray Dudgeon needs to recover from the physical and emotional consequences of confronting the Chicago Outfit - until "routine" spirals out of control. The victim was no quiet, unassuming, unlucky single woman; she lived a double life in the shadowy realm of covert intelligence...and she died for the truth. Suddenly, Ray's ensnared in a conspiracy of darkness that weaves its way through the very fabric of the nation, and in grave danger of becoming collateral damage in America's war on terror. And his greatest enemy may be himself.
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First published October 14, 2008
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About the author
Sean Chercover
31 books126 followersSean Chercover is the author of the bestselling thrillers The Trinity Game and The Devil’s Game and two award-winning novels featuring Chicago private investigator Ray Dudgeon: Big City Bad Blood and Trigger City. After living in Chicago, New Orleans, and Columbia, South Carolina, Sean returned to his native Toronto, where he lives with his wife and son.
Sean’s fiction has earned top mystery and thriller honors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He has won the Anthony, Shamus, CWA Dagger, Dilys, and Crimespree Awards and has been short-listed for the Edgar, Barry, Macavity, Arthur Ellis, and ITW Thriller Awards.
You’ll find him at www.chercover.com or @SeanChercover on Twitter.
Sean’s fiction has earned top mystery and thriller honors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He has won the Anthony, Shamus, CWA Dagger, Dilys, and Crimespree Awards and has been short-listed for the Edgar, Barry, Macavity, Arthur Ellis, and ITW Thriller Awards.
You’ll find him at www.chercover.com or @SeanChercover on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 16, 2008
Sean Chercover's second book featuring Chicago P.I. Ray Dudgeon finds Ray recovering slowly from the trauma, physical and emotional, inflicted in BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD (it is not, however strictly necessary to have read BC,BB to enjoy this one).
Ray tangles with some shadowy and truly nasty "military contractor" types as he tries to get to the real motives behind a seemingly random murder-suicide. Pretty soon literally everyone and everything he loves is at horrific risk and he has to call on the darkness in his own soul to survive.
Chercover writes in the kind of tight, clean prose style that's perfect for the genre, and his brooding, soulful shamus is likewise a classic hero of the mean streets, reminiscent of the great ones like Travis McGee and Lew Archer. The plot keeps you turning the pages right up to the end.
Sean Chercover does the P.I. novel better than anyone in the business right now.
Ray tangles with some shadowy and truly nasty "military contractor" types as he tries to get to the real motives behind a seemingly random murder-suicide. Pretty soon literally everyone and everything he loves is at horrific risk and he has to call on the darkness in his own soul to survive.
Chercover writes in the kind of tight, clean prose style that's perfect for the genre, and his brooding, soulful shamus is likewise a classic hero of the mean streets, reminiscent of the great ones like Travis McGee and Lew Archer. The plot keeps you turning the pages right up to the end.
Sean Chercover does the P.I. novel better than anyone in the business right now.
January 7, 2009
TRIGGER CITY – (Priv. Invest-Ray Dudgeon-Chicago-Cont) – G+
Chercover, Sean – 2nd in series
Wm. Morrow, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780061128691
First Sentence: Facts are not truth.
PI Ray Dudgeon took a serious physical and emotional hit during his last case. When the ex-military, grieving father of a murdered woman wants to hire Ray to confirm the police’s determination of the case, it seems an easy 50 grand.
Ray is nothing if not thorough and finds both the victim and her killer had worked together in accounting at a company which provides paramilitary troops to the government. The deeper Ray gets into the case, the more people, including the police, the FBI, the company involved and members of an unknown agency, try to dissuade him from pursuing it .
There is much to like about Sean Chercover’s writing. I enjoy his style and, particularly, descriptive phrasing; i.e., “I dug into it like the next day was lent.”--and the strong sense of place his brings to his story. The book has a very effective opening and kept my interest all the way through.
Ray is an appealing protagonist. He is determined, not without his own issues and a bit idealistic, which is rather refreshing. The supporting characters are there but not very memorable.
Chercover seems to like plots which start out deceptively simple but quickly shift to the really bad, bad guys and a much bigger enemy that originally thought. It makes the point of the vulnerability of the individual against the organization, whether it be illegal or legally sanctioned.
The story is fast paced and does have terrific dialogue. It wasn’t a “wow” book for me, but it was a cracking good Sunday afternoon read.
Chercover, Sean – 2nd in series
Wm. Morrow, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780061128691
First Sentence: Facts are not truth.
PI Ray Dudgeon took a serious physical and emotional hit during his last case. When the ex-military, grieving father of a murdered woman wants to hire Ray to confirm the police’s determination of the case, it seems an easy 50 grand.
Ray is nothing if not thorough and finds both the victim and her killer had worked together in accounting at a company which provides paramilitary troops to the government. The deeper Ray gets into the case, the more people, including the police, the FBI, the company involved and members of an unknown agency, try to dissuade him from pursuing it .
There is much to like about Sean Chercover’s writing. I enjoy his style and, particularly, descriptive phrasing; i.e., “I dug into it like the next day was lent.”--and the strong sense of place his brings to his story. The book has a very effective opening and kept my interest all the way through.
Ray is an appealing protagonist. He is determined, not without his own issues and a bit idealistic, which is rather refreshing. The supporting characters are there but not very memorable.
Chercover seems to like plots which start out deceptively simple but quickly shift to the really bad, bad guys and a much bigger enemy that originally thought. It makes the point of the vulnerability of the individual against the organization, whether it be illegal or legally sanctioned.
The story is fast paced and does have terrific dialogue. It wasn’t a “wow” book for me, but it was a cracking good Sunday afternoon read.
February 24, 2009
P.I Ray Dudgeon is hired by a murder victim's father on an exclusive assignment to essentially find out why his daughter, an accountant, was murdered by her co-worker Zhang. The case is open and shut but the father wants more information about his daughter. Dudgeon learns that Joan Richmond, the murder victim, used to work for a military contractor and pays them a visit and determines that the head of the company, who really should not be meeting with him at all, is a liar. He is also threatened obliquely by the head of security. He pays a visit to the widow and finds her story about her allegedly deranged husband, also questionable. He also learns that Richmond was supposed to testify in front of Congress. Clearly there is something dirty in this story.
This second book by Sean Chercover is a very engrossing whodunnit with a few alphabet agencies involved. Dudgeon is an interesting character and I found the book moved quickly to its ending.
This second book by Sean Chercover is a very engrossing whodunnit with a few alphabet agencies involved. Dudgeon is an interesting character and I found the book moved quickly to its ending.
October 25, 2008
As much as I enjoyed "Trigger City" by Sean Chercover, I suspect I might have gotten more out of it if I had read "Big City, Bad Blood" first.
I was expecting "Trigger City" to be a full-on action thriller. Instead, it was a thought-provoking mystery that provided a little action and a lot of surprises. I thought the character of Ray Dudgeon, the detective hired by a murdered woman's father to find out more about her life and death, to be very likable and realistic. Even though he sees himself as a tortured loner, he has a lot of friends who really care about him.
I do recommend "Trigger City" for anyone who prefers suspense to thrills, but doesn't mind a little violence.
I was expecting "Trigger City" to be a full-on action thriller. Instead, it was a thought-provoking mystery that provided a little action and a lot of surprises. I thought the character of Ray Dudgeon, the detective hired by a murdered woman's father to find out more about her life and death, to be very likable and realistic. Even though he sees himself as a tortured loner, he has a lot of friends who really care about him.
I do recommend "Trigger City" for anyone who prefers suspense to thrills, but doesn't mind a little violence.
August 9, 2008
Really a great book - even better than Big City Bad Blood.
July 3, 2017
Very enjoyable read with a terrific character, Ray Dudgeon. Loved how comfortable he got in the dead woman's apartment. Not only is the plot quite compelling, but you get a personal, authentic tour of the city of Chicago as you watch Ray solve the case.
January 10, 2009
I did like this second PI novel. In spite of its rather slow and traditional start, Chercover ratchets up the tension and the surprises along about the middle of the book and then the story really takes off.
Dark and illegal corruption in Chicago (where else)sucks in Chinese freedom fighters, unknown deep undercover organizations that may or may not be connected to our government and a whole alphabet soup of legitimate and not so security types. Ignore the grammatical toe stubbers and the too pat logic and you'll have a very enjoyable read.
Dark and illegal corruption in Chicago (where else)sucks in Chinese freedom fighters, unknown deep undercover organizations that may or may not be connected to our government and a whole alphabet soup of legitimate and not so security types. Ignore the grammatical toe stubbers and the too pat logic and you'll have a very enjoyable read.
August 9, 2019
One the two best books I've read so far this year. For perspective, I've read 57 books so far. I'll skip the plot rehash and say it was a great read. Sean Chercover's style, dialogue, characterization and timing were awesome. This book has plenty of action and suspense, but what differentiates it from the pack of "very good" books is that it has soul. "Trigger City" is deeper than the average thriller. It makes you think. Ray Dudgeon can't be bought, scared or finessed away. A good guy's, good guy. Almost all fiction books I read I give away, this one is a keeper.
Now the bad news, this is the last of a series of two. I really liked the first book in this series too. It feels like when someone you know dies young. This series should be good for at least a couple more books. PLEASE Mr. Chercover, give us another Ray Dudgeon. I plan on reading most of your other books, but don't be mad at Ray, let him loose again!
Now the bad news, this is the last of a series of two. I really liked the first book in this series too. It feels like when someone you know dies young. This series should be good for at least a couple more books. PLEASE Mr. Chercover, give us another Ray Dudgeon. I plan on reading most of your other books, but don't be mad at Ray, let him loose again!
May 19, 2017
Every once in a while when I make a library run, I will pick up a book by an author I’ve never heard of or never tried before. I discovered my favorite author, CJ Box, that way. I also discovered Barry Eisler that way and he is one of my 5 favorites. However, probably 9 out of 10 times when I ‘try’ someone new I am disappointed.
Not the case with Sean Chercover.
This was the best ‘new’ author I discovered in a VERY long time. I liked the characters, the writing and the twists. I thought it got a little confusing toward the end to be honest but maybe that was me cause I was pretty tired but just HAD to finish the book.
I wish this author had more books to his credit.
Not the case with Sean Chercover.
This was the best ‘new’ author I discovered in a VERY long time. I liked the characters, the writing and the twists. I thought it got a little confusing toward the end to be honest but maybe that was me cause I was pretty tired but just HAD to finish the book.
I wish this author had more books to his credit.
February 26, 2018
Would like to go 3.5 stars. Enjoyable read. I like the main character but I feel like nothing happened. I guess that’s the point?
Fave quote:
“‘You were never in the army, I don’t expect you to know.’ I was in the KISS army, does that count?” - p. 239
Fave quote:
“‘You were never in the army, I don’t expect you to know.’ I was in the KISS army, does that count?” - p. 239
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2023
I like this writer. The detective part of his story is usually pretty good. This one ended logically but a bit suddenly. The romance on again off again shared misery part I find a distraction . This book felt like it was 80 percent excellent and 20% could have used a bit more work
October 27, 2017
Good Story!
Good Story, very good ending. I'd recommend to anyone who likes a good action adventure story. Look forward to reading more of his books.
Good Story, very good ending. I'd recommend to anyone who likes a good action adventure story. Look forward to reading more of his books.
May 18, 2018
This is an interesting story, one of those stories that involve shadowy government agencies or entities connected to them are involved and the hero is up against them. A bit depressing, though.
November 10, 2018
Good nostalgic read
Even the dialog speaks to "Mike Hammer" the original Mickey Spelane private detective series...This series is very reminiscent of same
Even the dialog speaks to "Mike Hammer" the original Mickey Spelane private detective series...This series is very reminiscent of same
June 18, 2019
Some nice human moments lost in a sea of cliches and a convoluted paramilitary plot.
August 31, 2019
Good book, to bad he didn't white a lot of books.
September 16, 2020
A good fast read. The plot had enough twist and turns for you to keep guessing.
September 17, 2023
Chercover writes great PI books, I’ll read whatever he writes!
March 6, 2017
A second book in the Ray Dudgeon series. It is gritty and gets Ray into some pretty unbelievable spots. A bit conspiracy theorist story but compelling all the same. Ray is a self-doubting guy who just doesn't think he's good enough. He takes on a case to find out why Joan Richmond was murdered. Her father is a former Colonel and wants to find out more. The more almost gets Ray and everyone he loves murdered. Ray involves his detective Angelo, his best friend and journalist, Terry, and his best friend, Gravedigger Peace. All in all it is a fast moving detective/murder story that anyone who likes P.I. Stories and murder mysteries will enjoy. Not clear if there will be another book in this series but I'd recommend these first two. Sean Chercover is an excellent writer and he has the background to tell these stories and make them real.
I like audible books so listened to this one narrated by Joe Barrett. The narrator is excellent and portrays the voices of the characters so you feel that you are there.
I like audible books so listened to this one narrated by Joe Barrett. The narrator is excellent and portrays the voices of the characters so you feel that you are there.
Read
July 25, 2011Last year I found a new author named Sean Chercover, who writes a series of books featuring Chicago PI Ray Dudgeon. I really enjoyed his first book, Big City, Bad Blood, and although it's taken me a while to get around to his second book, Trigger City, I'm happy to say it's just as good, if not better.
Joan Richmond was the head of payroll for a Chicago company. One Sunday afternoon she was shot and killed by a former employee, Steven Zhang, who left a confession before killing himself. All of those around him noticed Zhang's erratic behavior changes in the few months leading up to Richmond's murder, but no one expected him to react in this way. While this seems like an open and shut case, Dudgeon is hired by Joan's father, a retired military commander with whom she had a somewhat strained relationship, to find out "the truth." But the truth isn't quite what it seems, as it appears Joan's previous employer was a military contractor with secrets to hide—and lots of people interested in keeping them hidden, no matter what. And as Dudgeon continues his investigation while dealing with his own personal issues, he realizes no one quite knows what the truth really is, and maybe that's a good thing.
Chercover's second book moves quickly, has a terrific plot and lots of twists, some of which I didn't see coming. Dudgeon's character is really complex; he's more than just a stubborn private investigator—he has enough personal demons to keep several psychiatrists busy. But he is determined to protect those in need of help, no matter what the cost may be to himself. That complexity, plus some great action, makes for a really fast and compelling read. Plus, the book makes you think about how our government's reach keeps expanding. I hope Chercover plans to keep writing—I want to know what's next for Ray Dudgeon, and you will, too.
Joan Richmond was the head of payroll for a Chicago company. One Sunday afternoon she was shot and killed by a former employee, Steven Zhang, who left a confession before killing himself. All of those around him noticed Zhang's erratic behavior changes in the few months leading up to Richmond's murder, but no one expected him to react in this way. While this seems like an open and shut case, Dudgeon is hired by Joan's father, a retired military commander with whom she had a somewhat strained relationship, to find out "the truth." But the truth isn't quite what it seems, as it appears Joan's previous employer was a military contractor with secrets to hide—and lots of people interested in keeping them hidden, no matter what. And as Dudgeon continues his investigation while dealing with his own personal issues, he realizes no one quite knows what the truth really is, and maybe that's a good thing.
Chercover's second book moves quickly, has a terrific plot and lots of twists, some of which I didn't see coming. Dudgeon's character is really complex; he's more than just a stubborn private investigator—he has enough personal demons to keep several psychiatrists busy. But he is determined to protect those in need of help, no matter what the cost may be to himself. That complexity, plus some great action, makes for a really fast and compelling read. Plus, the book makes you think about how our government's reach keeps expanding. I hope Chercover plans to keep writing—I want to know what's next for Ray Dudgeon, and you will, too.
September 1, 2009
#2 Ray Dudgeon mystery set in the Windy City of Chicago. In the first book, Ray takes on the mob and in this one, he seems to be tackling the US Government and their covert military operations. Battered, bruised and barely holding things together (physically and psychologically) after his torture and near death some months previously, Ray is hired by a retired military man whose daughter was brutally murdered—shot to death by one of her employees who then turned the gun on himself. Her killer had apparently been suddenly psychotic and paranoid and believed Joan was ‘out to get him’ and thus he ended both their lives.
Of course nothing is ever that simple—the fact that Joan was set to testify for a Congressional hearing on defense contract spending had *nothing* to do with her death, I’m sure, right!?—and the fact that that information was kept hushed up is even more telling. Ray ends up in a tangled web of deceit, trying to sort out the good guys from the bad while trying to keep himself alive and mend his broken relationship with ex-girlfriend Jill, and also trying to protect Steven Zhang’s widow and daughter—he being the man who killed Joan and then himself.
I like Ray, despite his foibles, and the author’s writing style make the reading of his story easy and appealing. Ray lives in a world of realism where things are never perfect and exist in multiple shades of gray, not ever simplistically black and white or right and wrong—much like real life, I suppose. I hope he lives a long and prolific life and I will be eagerly awaiting the next in series to see which major player he goes up against next.
Of course nothing is ever that simple—the fact that Joan was set to testify for a Congressional hearing on defense contract spending had *nothing* to do with her death, I’m sure, right!?—and the fact that that information was kept hushed up is even more telling. Ray ends up in a tangled web of deceit, trying to sort out the good guys from the bad while trying to keep himself alive and mend his broken relationship with ex-girlfriend Jill, and also trying to protect Steven Zhang’s widow and daughter—he being the man who killed Joan and then himself.
I like Ray, despite his foibles, and the author’s writing style make the reading of his story easy and appealing. Ray lives in a world of realism where things are never perfect and exist in multiple shades of gray, not ever simplistically black and white or right and wrong—much like real life, I suppose. I hope he lives a long and prolific life and I will be eagerly awaiting the next in series to see which major player he goes up against next.
October 22, 2009
A follow up to "Big City, Bad Blood," PI Ray Dudgeon reluctantly accepts a case to find out what was behind Joan Richmond's recent murder by Steven Zhang. Joan's father, Isaac Richmond, a retired army colonel, tells Ray that he needs closure. He had been speaking with his daughter when she went to answer the door and was killed by Zhang.
Through Ray's best friend, reporter Terry Green, Ray finds that Joan prior employer was H.M. Niclols, military contractors. There are rumors of assassinations and sabotage by the company. Joan ran the payroll department and now a congressional committee is looking into the company's billing practices. Joan was scheduled to testify to the committee.
When Ray speaks to the head of H.M. Nichols, he's given a cursory meeting and is intorduced to Blake Sten, VP of corporate security who attempts to intimidate Ray without success.
What Ray and his buddy, Gravedigger, surmise is that Steve Zhang found something in the company's computer files. Sten fires Zhang with a made up story and soon both Joan and Zhang are dead.
I was totally captivated by the story. Not only is Ray a good detective, but he shows his humanity in not being able to give up his girlfriend, being afflicted with a bad shoulder from an injury in the last novel, and by making mistakes that has a fatal result for one character. The author gives some nice plot twists and excellent character development.
Critics agree: "Trigger City" has received the following:
Agatha Award nominee 2009
Barry Award nomination 2009
Crimespree Award, Favorite Book of 2008
Dilys Award
Macavity Award nominee.
Through Ray's best friend, reporter Terry Green, Ray finds that Joan prior employer was H.M. Niclols, military contractors. There are rumors of assassinations and sabotage by the company. Joan ran the payroll department and now a congressional committee is looking into the company's billing practices. Joan was scheduled to testify to the committee.
When Ray speaks to the head of H.M. Nichols, he's given a cursory meeting and is intorduced to Blake Sten, VP of corporate security who attempts to intimidate Ray without success.
What Ray and his buddy, Gravedigger, surmise is that Steve Zhang found something in the company's computer files. Sten fires Zhang with a made up story and soon both Joan and Zhang are dead.
I was totally captivated by the story. Not only is Ray a good detective, but he shows his humanity in not being able to give up his girlfriend, being afflicted with a bad shoulder from an injury in the last novel, and by making mistakes that has a fatal result for one character. The author gives some nice plot twists and excellent character development.
Critics agree: "Trigger City" has received the following:
Agatha Award nominee 2009
Barry Award nomination 2009
Crimespree Award, Favorite Book of 2008
Dilys Award
Macavity Award nominee.
August 29, 2017
"Facts are not truth."
Following shortly after his debut in Chercover’s Big City, Bad Blood, Chicago PI Ray Dudgeon is back with another case. Joan Richmond's death looks straightforward: a deranged co-worker, Steven Zhang, shot her in her home and then committed suicide. Dudgeon is hired by Richmond’s father Isaac, a retired Army colonel, to discover the truth behind Joan’s death – and life. He quickly finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit, cover-ups, and foreign intrigue.
Chercover once again does a stellar job portraying Dudgeon as a flesh and blood person, not just a character in a novel. Dudgeon is still dealing with the physical and emotional effects of going to war with The Outfit in Big City, just as any real human being would. He is as quick with a wisecrack as any of his PI predecessors, but typically goes for a more human response.
Dudgeon: "The pain was a houseguest you never invited, who doesn't know when to leave and insists on retelling the story of how you met, over and over."
As can be expected in a modern novel where a military contractor features heavily, there are times where Dudgeon (and Chercover) toe the line about how the Constitution is being shredded by the evil military-industrial complex. The first half to two thirds is awesome PI story but the ending is dragged down a bit by tedious politics that can be found in the pages of dozens newspapers and on hundreds of left leaning websites.
That being said, the strength of the writing and the depth of characters are enough to pull any reader through the wearying parts.
Trigger City and Sean Chercover get another recommendation from me.
Following shortly after his debut in Chercover’s Big City, Bad Blood, Chicago PI Ray Dudgeon is back with another case. Joan Richmond's death looks straightforward: a deranged co-worker, Steven Zhang, shot her in her home and then committed suicide. Dudgeon is hired by Richmond’s father Isaac, a retired Army colonel, to discover the truth behind Joan’s death – and life. He quickly finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit, cover-ups, and foreign intrigue.
Chercover once again does a stellar job portraying Dudgeon as a flesh and blood person, not just a character in a novel. Dudgeon is still dealing with the physical and emotional effects of going to war with The Outfit in Big City, just as any real human being would. He is as quick with a wisecrack as any of his PI predecessors, but typically goes for a more human response.
Dudgeon: "The pain was a houseguest you never invited, who doesn't know when to leave and insists on retelling the story of how you met, over and over."
As can be expected in a modern novel where a military contractor features heavily, there are times where Dudgeon (and Chercover) toe the line about how the Constitution is being shredded by the evil military-industrial complex. The first half to two thirds is awesome PI story but the ending is dragged down a bit by tedious politics that can be found in the pages of dozens newspapers and on hundreds of left leaning websites.
That being said, the strength of the writing and the depth of characters are enough to pull any reader through the wearying parts.
Trigger City and Sean Chercover get another recommendation from me.
November 19, 2012
Absolutely love stories set in Chicago!!!
This is the second detective novel by this author, both set in Chicago. I read the first – “Big City, Bad Blood” – before I was rating and reviewing books on goodreads.com, but I remember loving the PI main character, Ray Dudgeon, and the setting – Chicago. It’s always so much fun to know the setting intimately, including “The Bean” in Millennium Park as a place for an especially crucial meeting.
In "Trigger City" Chercover writes with Dudgeon narrating:
“I watched as they disappeared across the winding Frank Gehry walking bridge, then I leaned back against a low wall with Michigan Avenue behind me. From this spot, the Bean reflected the entire Chicago skyline. It was one of the most beautiful views in the city.
“The Bean was new, but the Michigan Avenue skyline was the one great constant in my life, and it still filled me with awe. Like the bean itself, the skyline provided convincing testament that humans aspire to beauty. Despite everything.
“Chicago was trigger city, but not all triggers were bad.”
Chercover is James Patterson on steroids as far as his character development is concerned. And the action keeps the reader turning pages.
From the final page, the reader knows there will be more PI Dudgeon stories…or Chercover lies. I hope it’s more stories…and soon.
This is the second detective novel by this author, both set in Chicago. I read the first – “Big City, Bad Blood” – before I was rating and reviewing books on goodreads.com, but I remember loving the PI main character, Ray Dudgeon, and the setting – Chicago. It’s always so much fun to know the setting intimately, including “The Bean” in Millennium Park as a place for an especially crucial meeting.
In "Trigger City" Chercover writes with Dudgeon narrating:
“I watched as they disappeared across the winding Frank Gehry walking bridge, then I leaned back against a low wall with Michigan Avenue behind me. From this spot, the Bean reflected the entire Chicago skyline. It was one of the most beautiful views in the city.
“The Bean was new, but the Michigan Avenue skyline was the one great constant in my life, and it still filled me with awe. Like the bean itself, the skyline provided convincing testament that humans aspire to beauty. Despite everything.
“Chicago was trigger city, but not all triggers were bad.”
Chercover is James Patterson on steroids as far as his character development is concerned. And the action keeps the reader turning pages.
From the final page, the reader knows there will be more PI Dudgeon stories…or Chercover lies. I hope it’s more stories…and soon.
June 8, 2009
It's actually 4.5 stars :). I liked this book so much better than the first in Sean Chercover's Ray Dudgeon series. The problem I had with Big City, Bad Blood was there was a little too much vengeance for me.
Trigger City starts out as Ray is hired by a grieving father to find out what really happened in the murder of his daughter. The Chicago Police consider it a an open-and-shut case, where a woman is killed by an employee who has exhibited maniac behaviors, and who then kills himself, leaving a suicide note. This case gets very big, very quickly, moving into international relations, and mercenaries. Is it too big for Ray to handle?
What I liked so much about this book is that Ray was a PI who worked well with others, including the police and the FBI. So many fictional PI's don't, and this made it a better story for me.
This book won the 2009 Dilys Award, given by booksellers as a favorite of theirs to recommend to customers. It is also nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Novel, and the Macavity Award for Best Novel--both awards to be given at Bouchercon, The World Mystery Convention in October, 2009.
I'm also proud to say I've met Sean Chercover, and in addition to being an author deserving of the above awards, he's also a great guy.
Trigger City starts out as Ray is hired by a grieving father to find out what really happened in the murder of his daughter. The Chicago Police consider it a an open-and-shut case, where a woman is killed by an employee who has exhibited maniac behaviors, and who then kills himself, leaving a suicide note. This case gets very big, very quickly, moving into international relations, and mercenaries. Is it too big for Ray to handle?
What I liked so much about this book is that Ray was a PI who worked well with others, including the police and the FBI. So many fictional PI's don't, and this made it a better story for me.
This book won the 2009 Dilys Award, given by booksellers as a favorite of theirs to recommend to customers. It is also nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Novel, and the Macavity Award for Best Novel--both awards to be given at Bouchercon, The World Mystery Convention in October, 2009.
I'm also proud to say I've met Sean Chercover, and in addition to being an author deserving of the above awards, he's also a great guy.
March 28, 2011
Have you ever finished a novel but found you can't start another book because the one you've just finished won't leave you alone? TRIGGER CITY is one of those books. The plot begins as a quite satisfying detective story, but Chercover skillfully layers in threads of topical events and twists the plot into a deliciously complex thriller. Ray Dudgeon is not the same Ray we knew in Chercover's first novel (BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD). This sadder but wiser Ray is still plagued by physical injuries sustained in the first novel. But even more troubling for him is the self-doubt generated by those events. It's rare for authors to explore such emotionally complex issues with their protagonist and bring them to the page so realistically. On one level, it's a standard PI novel--stakeouts, car chases, witness interviews, and so on. But Chercover adds a dimension of realism that leaves most of the genre in the dust. While reading it, I kept one ear tuned to the news, expecting to hear updates on the story. It's that real, that powerful. Only his second time at bat, but Chercover smashes this one into the stratosphere.
June 14, 2011
When Isaac Richmond, a retired army colonel, asks Chicago PI Ray Dudgeon to look into his daughter's murder, Dudgeon, who's still recovering from the injuries he sustained in Big City, Bad Blood, reluctantly agrees to take the $50,000 case in this engrossing follow-up. Joan Richmond's death looks straightforward: a deranged co-worker, Steven Zhang, shot her in her home and then committed suicide. Never one to accept the simplest answer, Dudgeon starts digging and discovers that Joan's former employer was Hawk River, a military contract company under congressional investigation.
Steve's widow soon reveals her husband's ties to China, and Dudgeon realizes that Joan's murder could lead back to both the Department of Homeland Security and some ruthless military contractors. Himself a former PI, Chercover brings a crackling authenticity to Dudgeon, paying homage to the noir masters while creating a doggedly stubborn new hero all his own.
Steve's widow soon reveals her husband's ties to China, and Dudgeon realizes that Joan's murder could lead back to both the Department of Homeland Security and some ruthless military contractors. Himself a former PI, Chercover brings a crackling authenticity to Dudgeon, paying homage to the noir masters while creating a doggedly stubborn new hero all his own.
May 5, 2009
Any book, not about music, with a Clash/Joe Strummer reference is OK by me.
This is the sequel to Chercover's first novel Big City, Bad Blood, but it isn't necessary to read the first book before reading the second. Chicago journalist, turned P.I., Ray Dudgeon takes a case from a retired Army officer to look into the death of his (the officer's) daughter. What first seems a case of suicide quickly becomes complicated. The daughter was involved in the murky world of national security, post-9/11, where government farms out intelligence and military functions to creepy private contractors which have little or no oversight. It is a world where "operational necessity" justifies any action, including murder.
Chercover has written a book that both tells a great story and confronts the reader with the dangers the so-called war against terror poses for American democracy.
This is the sequel to Chercover's first novel Big City, Bad Blood, but it isn't necessary to read the first book before reading the second. Chicago journalist, turned P.I., Ray Dudgeon takes a case from a retired Army officer to look into the death of his (the officer's) daughter. What first seems a case of suicide quickly becomes complicated. The daughter was involved in the murky world of national security, post-9/11, where government farms out intelligence and military functions to creepy private contractors which have little or no oversight. It is a world where "operational necessity" justifies any action, including murder.
Chercover has written a book that both tells a great story and confronts the reader with the dangers the so-called war against terror poses for American democracy.
October 5, 2009
I really like Ray Dudgeon. I enjoyed this book, the second in the series, even more than the first, which was a darn good book. I love the Chicago sights. Chercover gets Chicago exactly right. You feel the city. Poor Ray gets in deep with some really bad guys again. There's a great story in here. The book has the feel or traditional PI fiction.
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I like good to win out in the end. It doesn't exactly in this book. Of course that makes it more REAL. But I still like it better when the bad people get their due.
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END SPOILER.
Only other complaint? Ray needs to stop smoking. Read the Chercover books.
Minor spoiler, scroll past.....
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I like good to win out in the end. It doesn't exactly in this book. Of course that makes it more REAL. But I still like it better when the bad people get their due.
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END SPOILER.
Only other complaint? Ray needs to stop smoking. Read the Chercover books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 23, 2009Trigger City, by Sean Chercover, B-plus, narrated by Joe Barrett, produced by, and downloaded from, audible.com.
Ray Dudgeon, former cop and now private eye, is asked by the father to investigate why his daughter was killed. The person who did it was another employee. But why did he do it? Did the victim have a life unknown to her father? Yes, the victim did have such a life, but so did her father. As Dudgeon digs, he realizes that the victim was getting ready to testify before Congress against a company she had formerly worked for. Is that the reason she was killed? And why did her father seem to be curtailing Dudgeon’s investigation at the same time he was encouraging him? It’s a good enough book that I plan to read the next one in the series.
Ray Dudgeon, former cop and now private eye, is asked by the father to investigate why his daughter was killed. The person who did it was another employee. But why did he do it? Did the victim have a life unknown to her father? Yes, the victim did have such a life, but so did her father. As Dudgeon digs, he realizes that the victim was getting ready to testify before Congress against a company she had formerly worked for. Is that the reason she was killed? And why did her father seem to be curtailing Dudgeon’s investigation at the same time he was encouraging him? It’s a good enough book that I plan to read the next one in the series.
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