Sorrow’s Anthem

A Lincoln Perry Mystery

By: Michael Koryta

Narrated by: Scott Brick

In the beginning, it was just about the money. Then things got personal. This is the story that Ed Gradduk tells his best friend, private investigator Lincoln Perry. Ed is on the run, hiding from the police who are looking to arrest him for arson and murder. When Gradduk is killed in a brutal confrontation with the Cleveland police, Perry is shaken. How could this have happened to his friend? With his trademark grit and determination, Perry sets out to understand the forces that brought down Ed Gradduk.

Sorrow’s Anthem is marked by a sure-handed exploration of both character and its relationship to crime. It more than delivers on the promise of Tonight I Said Goodbye and establishes Michael Koryta as the top young mystery writer in America today.

©2006 Michael Koryta (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Sometimes a book grabs you and stays in your memory long after the rest of the in-box’s contents have been flushed away by new arrivals. Koryta’s second mystery about Cleveland private eye Lincoln Perry has this kind of hold on me…Dashiell Hammett of Red Harvest would appreciate the tangle of high-level political and police corruption of Sorrow’s Anthem, but anyone who mourns for lost friendships will add a more visceral reaction.” ( Chicago Tribune)

“Perry is an appealing fellow, and Koryta is a straightforward storyteller, but the real pleasure here is touring the back streets of C-Town….Nominated for an Edgar Award for best first novel at the age of 21, Koryta is now 22, but Sorrow’s Anthem is no sophomore slump.” ( Washington Post)

“Koryta’s impressive second hardboiled mystery is a worthy successor to his debut, Tonight I Said Goodbye, an Edgar and Shamus finalist….The 22-year-old author, who works for a PI and for an Indiana newspaper, displays credible insider knowledge of those professions as well as a gift for creating both sympathetic characters and a fast-moving, twisty plot.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Plodding and Dull

I have listened to 4 terrific books by Koryta. This one was a slow build that never grabbed my interest. The climax at the end was good, but by that time I didn't care any more. Scott Brick,'a narration was well paced and clear as always.

Another winner by Koryta and Brick

When PI Lincoln Perry learns that his childhood buddy he hasn't seen in eight years is wanted for arson and murder, Perry sets out to find his friend, Ed Gradduck, and do what he can to help him. But Ed is killed in an accident and Perry is left with a lot of baggage over their broken friendship and refuses to believe his buddy was a murder. Perry decides to investigate the fire and murder in hopes of clearing Ed's name, despite reservations by Perry's partner, retired cop, Joe Pritchard.

Another great book by Koryta, he has a winner with this Lincoln Perry series and Scott Brick's reading keeps your attention.

And another one that was great listening.

Enjoy this series, author and narrator does such a good job. I am going to add more of his books to my wish list.

book #2 - as good as the first!

I enjoyed this book very much. I worried that Koryta would be a one hit wonder, but he proved me wrong. This novel is intriguing, confusing and unpredictable. Added together the book is a hard-boiled, edge-of-your-seat, exciting mystery, I will read #3 very soon.

Good series

I enjoyed both of Koryta's first two books in the Lincoln Perry series. This was a good find. I have the next in series in my wish list. If the quality keeps up, I'll read or listen to every book Koryta wrote.

koryta + brick = good

A well-told tale well-read by the reader. The plot is complex and believable; the protagonist verges on the maudlin from time to time, but believably. I figured out some of the plot but couldn't anticipate where the author would go with it. The denouement could use some work . . . e.g. the author apparently doesn't know how cabinets are connected to walls, and I'm skeptical about strict recognition of fire laws in public spaces, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief for an overall very good book very well read.

Sorrow's Anthem

Koryta is faithful to the descriptions of Cleveland and activities, though liberally fictional, are believable. I live in this town and from my more rural current home can picture each and every location in town. This is not a spin tingling author, but a very comfortable one to share otherwise uneventful time.

Suspenseful

keeps you guessing until the end. not a book that you figured out half way through

Worth the credit

Entertaining book for casual listening. Story had a bit too many elements to it perhaps, but all in all, I don't regret the purchase and would have no problem following the franchise's other offerings. Always like to hear Scott Brick's narrations and Michael Koryta's writing.

I really love this series!

The story is well-written and fast paced. The narration fits the character better than most audio books I have listened too. Joe and Perry are interesting characters that make you want to care about them. I recommend this book to anyone that likes detective or police crime novels.