Blackbird — Tom Wright

The author of What Dies in Summer delivers “a crime novel that does so much more than most others . . . dark, haunting and beautifully written” (Mark Billingham, international bestselling author).
 
On the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas border, Det. Jim Bonham has been assigned a bewildering case: A woman has been brutally attacked and nailed to a cross on the outskirts of town the day after a devastating storm unnerves the community. Bonham recognizes her immediately as Dr. Deborah Gold, the town's well-known psychologist. Sensing how many secrets Dr. Gold took to her grave, Bonham's field of suspects grows to include the culture of the town itself -- multiplying the questions that might explain how and why such a gruesome murder could be committed.
 
With the participation of complex, fully realized characters, Blackbird is not only a commanding crime novel, it is also an exploration of small-town life and how it's affected by violence and savagery. Wright's incisive description of the setting and characters perfectly juxtaposes the unknowns surrounding the murder, making Blackbird a memorable addition to the crime canon.
 
“The prose is muscular and refreshingly dense, and the characters are rendered with such complexity that they feel more real than fictional, a quality that makes the novel all the more harrowing.” -- Bret Anthony Johnston, author of Corpus Christi
 
“Best of all, this has all the markings of a continuing series -- good news for fans of gripping crime fiction with a paranormal twist.” -- Booklist (starred review)
 
“Wright has a gift for creating distinct and intriguing characters.” -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
“Noir crime with a distinct Southern accent.” -- Kirkus Reviews