Sorrow's Anthem

Cleveland PI Lincoln Perry must confront his past when he learns that his best friend from childhood, Ed Gradduck, is accused of arson and murder and is on the run. Years ago, when Perry was on the police force, he sent Gradduck to prison, destroying their friendship and earning the detective the disdain of his old neighborhood. With the hope of resurrecting something of their former amity, Perry sets out to help his friend, but he's barely started when Gradduck is killed%E2%80%94hit by a car right in front of Perry. Now, with a deep sense of obligation, Perry sets out to prove the dead man's innocence and clear his friend's name, no matter the cost. The multiple award%E2%80%93winning Brick proves an excellent choice to read this noir. Fully embracing Perry's first-person narration, he brings the right world weariness to Koryta's seen-it-all PI.; the intimacy of his reading makes the expository passages sound like Perry is speaking directly to listeners, pulling them into the story, while the dialogue has a smooth, natural flow. It is an accomplished performance that only enhances this well-written updating of the classic detective story. A St. Martin's paperback. (Feb.)