"A first-class thriller that is equal parts hard-boiled Raymond Chandler mystery and voodoo-powered crime-fiction masterwork. . . . A spellbinding thriller of the highest order." --Chicago Tribune
Max Mingus wanted to turn down the case--15 million bucks or not. Three years had passed since Haitian billionaire Allain Carver's five-year-old son was abducted. Sure, Max had been the best detective in Miami once. But that was before he went to jail. Before his wife died. Plus, he'd heard what had happened to the others who'd gone searching for Charlie Carver before him . . .
With nothing left to lose--and a lot of money to gain--Max heads to Haiti. He knows about the voodoo and black magic. But when the trail to the missing boy leads to a local myth about a spirit child stealer named "Mr. Clarinet," could the truth be even more shocking than the legend? Max's job suddenly isn't just about finding the boy, his killers, or the money--it's about just staying alive.
About the Author :
Nick Stone is the author of Mr. Clarinet, winner of the Crime Writers' Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger in 2006 and both the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel and the Macavity Award in 2007. He lives in London and Miami with his family.
Review :
The search for the next 'big thing' in the literary world is a dangerous business, but we think we may just have found him in Nick Stone. - The Observer
Gritty and unremittingly dark, replete with supervillains, Mr. Clarinet pays homage to pulp fiction and film noir. - The Guardian
Painstakingly researched, effectively written and well conceived, it deserves all of its pre-release hype. - Big Issue in the North
This is a hotshot debut novel. If you trust my judgment, buy it. - The Independent on Sunday
"A first-class thriller that is equal parts hard-boiled Raymond Chandler mystery and voodoo-powered crime-fiction masterwork...Featuring a fascinatingly complex protagonist whose sense of honor is surpassed only by his brutality, and some absolutely jaw-dropping plot twists - all against the shockingly stark backdrop of Haiti - Stone's debut is a spellbinding thriller of the highest order." - Chicago Tribune
"This is a book for which the common superlatives, 'gripping, ' 'riveting, 'gritty' and 'dark' are simply inadequate. From the first chapter, Mr. Clarinet spins the reader on a whirlwind tour of both the underbelly of the Third World and the basest depths of the human soul." - BookPage
"Gritty, fascinating. . . . Stone's exquisite writing, affinity for characters and ability to capture Haiti's atmosphere fuel Mr. Clarinet." - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"Adrenaline-packed . . . this thriller introduces a fresh voice that fans of hardboiled fiction won't want to miss" - Publishers Weekly
If there's one thing you must do in 2006, curl up and read Mr Clarinet by Nick Stone. - Daily Express
This is crime fiction at its zenith, challenging, compelling and with an insight that delves deep under the skin. - Crimespree
"Stone's adrenaline-packed debut is not for the faint of heart . . . but readers accustomed to the grittiest of pulp fiction won't be deterred . . .this thriller introduces a fresh voice that fans of hardboiled fiction won't want to miss" - Publishers Weekly
