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A Novel
by Marcus SakeyDanny Carter started his life as a petty criminal, living from score to score with his friend Evan. Years later, Danny has built a new world for himself: a legitimate career, a girlfriend, and a clean conscience. Hes normal, successful. Happy. Until he spots his old partner staring him down in a smoky barroom mirror. Prison-hardened Evan, having served his time without dropping Dannys name, believes hes owed major payback -- and hes willing to do anything to get it.
How far would you go to protect everything you love?
On the South Side of Chicago, youre only as strong as your reputation. Danny Carter and his best friend, Evan, earned theirs knocking over pawnshops and liquor stores, living from score to score, never thinking of tomorrow.
Then a job went desperately wrong, and in the roar of a gun blast, everything changed.
Years later, Danny doesnt think about his past. Hes built a new world for himself: a legitimate career, a long-term girlfriend, and a clean conscience. Hes just like anyone else. Normal. Successful. Happy.
Until he spots his old partner staring him down in a smoky barroom mirror. The prison-hardened Evan is barely recognizable. Having served his time without dropping Dannys name, his old friend believes hes owed major payback---and hes willing to do anything to get it. With all he loves on the line and nowhere to turn, Danny realizes his new life hinges on a terrible choice: How far will he go to protect his future from his past?
A debut novel thats drawn comparison to Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, and Quentin Tarantino, The Blade Itself is the story of a good man held hostage by circumstance; a riveting exploration of class, identity, and the demons that shape us, where every effort to do the right thing leads to terrifying consequences and one inevitable conclusion:
The more you have, the more you have to lose.
Chapter One
But for the Grace
The alley wasnt as dark as Danny wouldve liked, and Evan was driving
him crazy, spinning the snub-nose like a cowboy in some Sunday matinee.
Would you put that away?
Keeps me cool. Evan smiled the bar-fight grin that showed his chipped
tooth.
I dont care if it makes you feel like Rick James. You shouldnt have
brought it. Danny stared until his partner sighed and tucked the pistol
into the back of his belt. Evan had always lived for the thrill of the job,
all the way back to when they had stolen forties of Mickeys from the
7-Eleven. But the addition of the gun made Danny uneasy. Made him wonder if
Karen was right to suggest he start thinking long-term. Reconsider his
options.
He shook his head and stared out the window. Earlier, munching greasy
chips in a taco bar across the street, theyd watched the owner of the
pawnshop lock up. The dashboard ...
Wake up and smell the fear! There's a new thriller writer in town who is drawing comparisons to some of the most established names in the business...continued
Full Review
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Marcus Sakey was born in Flint, Michigan and graduated from the
University of Michigan. He is married
and lives in Chicago where he has recently completed his second novel, At the City's Edge (Jan 2008). To prepare for
The Blade Itself he shadowed
homicide detectives, learned to pick a
deadbolt in sixty seconds, and drank
plenty of Jameson.
Sakey was motivated to write a book
after inviting author J.A. Konrath out
for a beer following a speech Konrath
gave at Columbia College, which Sakey
attended for a short time. When they
staggered out of the bar five hours
later one ...
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