Customer Reviews

Mean Town Blues: A Novel of Crime

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As a avid mystery/thriller fan, I wanted to recommend Mean Town Blues - author Sam Reaves Mean Town Blues: A Novel of Crime. This is one of those lean action driven thrillers that has an echo of Stark in it. Not a lot of deep subtext or angst, instead hard driven action that seems like a snowball rolling downhill. Further, the Chicago locale is totally authentic as only a long-time resident can portray.

All-in-all, one of the premier thrillers of 2008!

Allow me to sum up my experience with author Sam Reaves' novel 'Mean Town Blues' this way:
I had not read the work of Mr. Reaves before. After reading 'Mean Town Blues,' I ordered another of his books. Nuff' said.

A young soldier invalided out after serving in Iraq moves to Chicago and becomes involved in some serious problems. He had a sister who was killed by a stalker so when a young women he knows is stalked, he helps. But that leads to complications. Reminds me a bit of Maltese Falcon and the character could be out of a Robert Parker book. If you like Parker and would enjoy a Chicago background you will enjoy this.

Sam Reaves is a wonderful writer. If you want grit, he's got it! His stories, and not just this book, are real and every emotion his characters go through, we've gone through as well. His writing elevates the mundane, however; he can drag you through the blues but in such a way that you wish you were that guy! His hard times are so much more interesting! Any of Sam's books make a satisfying read, and you'll come back for more.

You can go from having nothing to having everything on the line very quick. "Mean Town Blues" tells of Kentucky Boy Sam Tommy McLain as he rolls into Chicago and finds himself driven into a Chi-Town gang war where his life, and the life of his newest interest Lisa DiPietro may be on the line, as he tries to make sense of it all, trying to escape with his life and his freedom. An exciting crime thriller with heavy noir inspiration, "Mean Town Blues" is a choice pick for mystery fans.