LoveReading Says
The story starts slowly but then becomes faster and faster, real edge-of-the-seat stuff. As it builds through unexpected turns, the characters gain depth and a fantastic thriller ensues. Lots of action, moral issues, the effect of guilt (or the lack of it) and small town frustrations (Maine) make up one of the best first novels I’ve read in this area for a long time. It appears others thought so too for it won the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey award for best first crime novel. You’ve got to read it.
Sarah Broadhurst
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Willam Landay Press Reviews
‘A compelling debut by an American district attorney, Mission Flats illuminates the dark side of Boston with the same assurance that Dennis Lehane brings to his evocation of this particularly divided city. Following the discovery of a body by a frozen lake in the hinterlands of Maine, the local police chief feels obliged to follow the case to the big city, despite departmental and political opposition.
Even though the narrator is obviously unreliable, you side with him in his David-against-Goliath struggle in the land of crooked cops and shady drug dealers, and the turns and twists of the intelligent plot have many a surprise in store. Juicy characterisation and a strong affinity for moral ambiguity and human failings make this much more than a sordid tale in which the errors of the past come back to haunt the living. It marks the blooding of a major new talent, with shades of George Higgins and Scott Turow.
'A crackling debut that answer the question: who will be the next Grisham...Stylish writing, wickedly convoluted plotting and insider's view of inner city jurisprudence. You'll barely finish this many tentacled tale before you start clamouring for Landay's next'
'Excruciatingly suspenseful...Landay gives us an original detective creation and he also delivers an action-packed plot with a skilfully detonated final surprise'
'An inventive gripping debut...A rich, harrowing and delightful read'
About Willam Landay
William Landay was born and raised in Boston, where he now lives with his wife and two sons. A graduate of Yale University and Boston College Law School, he served for six years as an assistant district attorney before turning to writing. MISSION FLATS is his first novel.
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