Tonight I Said Goodbye

What can I say about Michael Koryta's debut novel TONIGHT I SAID GOODBYE that hasn't been said already? It's simply an excellent novel with fantastic characters, awesome plot, and nonstop action and suspense that I didn't want to put down! It is, by far one of the best novels I've ever read, and one I know I'll read over and over again. Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard are a great pair and I immediately fell in love with them. I know you will too, but you don't have to take MY word for it, just read the rest of the great reviews written here and you'll see. So if you're looking for a novel that will make you say "WOW!" don't look any farther, read this one TODAY. I HIGHLY recommend it.

For John Weston, his life has been virtually destroyed. His son, Private Investigator, Wayne Weston, has been found dead, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. His granddaughter, five-year-old Betsy Weston, and her mother, Julie Weston, are both missing. Media speculation, absent of any facts or evidence, is that Wayne killed his wife and daughter, disposed of the bodies, returned home and was so despondent that he committed suicide. John Weston does not believe any of it and wants Private Investigators Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard to get involved. He wants to know what happened and wants them to find Betsy and Julie. John Weston knows the Police are actively working the case but his son knew of Lincoln Perry and had spoken highly of him and his partner. What Lincoln knows of the flamboyant Wayne Weston makes him feel differently about him, but there is no dispute that John Weston is suffering a living death. There are lots of reasons to stay out but one major reason to get involved and Lincoln finds himself agreeing to what John Weston wants. Before long, Joe Pritchard's concerns about accepting the case pale in comparison to the clear and obvious fact that Wayne Weston made some very powerful enemies, both in public and in not so public areas. Enemies who will tolerate their presence and digging until they actually begin to make progress. Once that happens, the body count begins to steadily climb, as not only are the investigators targets but anyone they come into contact. This novel quickly becomes a gripping read as one is pulled into this complex tale of powerful men, the Russia Mafia, murder, law enforcement corruption and good old basic evil. This is a powerful read, despite the author's relative young twenty-one year old age, as the book works on all levels as if the author were much older. Despite some reviews, which have chastised the author for lack of character development, that simply isn't the case. While the novel is primarily written from the viewpoint of Lincoln Perry, Joe Pritchard is also complex and given plenty of time before readers. Every debut novel has secrets about the main characters which will be fleshed out further later in the series and this novel is no exception. That clear character development enhances a complex storyline with numerous twists and turns that reveal puzzles within puzzles. Just when it becomes clear who the enemies are, the author shakes things up and changes the stakes as well as the perceptions. Then, there is the final twist in the last few pages that hits with the literary effect of a sucker punch in the stomach. There is a reason why this novel won the "2003 St. Martin's Press/PWA Prize For Best First P.I. Novel." If it isn't clear already, the book is very good. Kevin R. Tipple © 2005

Michael Koryta's web site www.michaelkoryta.com says one of the most influential writers to him was Dennis Lehane, and I believe it because this first novel is one of the best I've read since Lehane broke through with A Drink Before The War. Koryta's writing is not quite as dark as a Lehane or James Ellroy novel, but he has great dialogue and a narrator that seems more believable and accesible than some. Lincoln Perry is a strong voice and Koryta does a perfect job of blending Perry's internal thoughts with external dialogue. A moderate pace through the first 50 or so pages turns into a rapid-fire page-turner quickly and maintains that till the novel's end. A great, great debut.

I just finished reading this book for the second time. I read it for the first time about three weeks ago and loved it, but I rushed through it a little and wanted to take another look. After the second reading, I am only more impressed. Michael Koryta is the youngest mystery writer I have ever read but he has still written one of the finest first books I've ever read. The book is dialogue-heavy, much like Robert B. Parker, and I love that style. The conversations are fast and witty and most importantly, they seem real. Lincoln Perry is a wonderful narrator, and Koryta creates his supporting cast vividly without getting into too much detail. The characters are developed through their words and actions in a plot that takes one twist after another. With Les Roberts no longer writing detective novels, it looks like Michael Koryta is poised to take over as Cleveland's finest noir writer. I can't wait for the next Lincoln Perry novel!

In the Cleveland suburb of West Olmsted, John Weston hires private investigators Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard to learn who killed his son Wayne and what happened to his missing daughter-in-law Julie and five year old granddaughter Betsy. The police suspect a murder-suicide though they have not found two of the corpses while the media insist that Wayne killed his wife and child. John insists he just saw Wayne who was too contented to suddenly within forty-eight hours commit the horrors the press assert he did. Though reluctant to get in the middle of an on-going official investigation, Lincoln accepts the case for a larger than normal fee. As he and his partner investigate an intriguing money trail that leads to gambling and South Carolina, several divergent parties threaten to kill the two sleuths if they do not drop the case; others try to hit home runs using the heads of Lincoln and Joe as baseballs. Still the increasingly dogmatic detectives dig deeper. The dual mysteries of murder and missing people are cleverly handled so that readers accompany the sleuths as they follow the clues and antagonists in turn pursue them. The suspense increases by the moment with threats to harm or kill Perry and Pritchard if they fail to back off. Although an excellent investigative plot, the key that supports why TONIGHT I SAID GOODBYE won the 2003 St. Martin's Press Best First PI Novel award is the cast. Lincoln especially is fully developed but the prime support players including Joe, the deceased and his family, some media and police, and the villains seem genuine. Michael Kortya makes an impressive debut. Harriet Klausner