Review: THE BLUE BLAZES by Chuck Wendig

THE BLUE BLAZES reminds me a lot of the Joe Pitt casebooks by Charlie Huston in terms of its otherworldly atmospheric quality and the subtle supernatural elements that creep into underworld society. The gangs of Wendig’s New York are far more sinister than mere mortals with low morals and high body counts. Affiliated with, or controlled by monsters of deep, these gangs are more than a threat to the average Joe with the entire city resting on the outcome of a murderous plot to bring those that dwell in the dark to feast in the light above ground. Standing in the way of this is Mookie Pearl and by extension, his wayward and seemingly power hungry daughter Nora. Operating on both sides of the Organisation, this family dynamic is explosive to say the least.

Drugs, sexual undertones, violence, and a cult hero in the making, THE BLUE BLAZES has it all. From the dark and violent corners of noir to the fantastical elements of hell and back, Mookie’s story is one fans of all genres will be hard pressed not to enjoy.

Wendig knows how to write cool characters that aren’t the norm. Like Miriam Black, Mookie has a certain charisma and tough yet touching façade which forces the care about their plight. I look forward to reading the next instalment.

My review of MOCKINGBIRD (Miriam Black #2) can be found here: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/review-mockingbird-by-chuck-wendig.html

Angry Robot Books website: http://angryrobotbooks.com/

Chuck Wendig: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/

THE BLUE BLAZES book blurb:

Meet Mookie Pearl.
Criminal underworld? He runs it.
Supernatural underworld? He hunts in it.
Nothing stops Mookie when he’s on the job.
But when his daughter takes up arms and opposes him, something’s gotta give…

The Blue Blazes – the first in a new urban fantasy series in which lovable thug Mookie Pearl must contend with the criminal underworld, the supernatural underworld, a new drug that makes the invisible visible, and a rebellious teen daughter who opposes him at every turn