"James Crumley for a whole new generation, with the spirit of Nelson Algren walking point. Not only is Sean Chercover the new kid on the block, he may well be the only kid on the block."
-- Ken Bruen, author of THE GUARDS and AMERICAN SKIN

"Chercover really delivers the goods here, in as solid a debut as I've seen in a long, long time."
-- Steve Hamilton, Edgar Award-winning author of A STOLEN SEASON

"Sean Chercover's hardboiled-with-a-heart voice grips you from the first sentence and never lets go in this fine, tough story of crime in Chicago."
-- Neil McMahon, author of TWICE DYING

"Chercover writes P.I. fiction the way Buddy Guy plays Chicago Blues: he takes the classic forms and infuses them with fire and soul."
-- J.D. Rhoades, author of GOOD DAY IN HELL

"Chercover delivers the goods; his rapid-fire style paints each page with hardboiled authenticity."
-- G.M. Ford, author of BLOWN AWAY

"It's amazing how real this book feels. Sean Chercover's P.I. experience serves him well as a writer. He pulls no punches, exposing Chicago and how things really work here. I love this book!"
-- Legendary Chicago P.I. Ernie Rizzo

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Content & Design © 2006 Sean Chercover.
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As the countdown to TRIGGER CITY continues, a few words from some of my favorite authors...

"Listen to me. Read this book. TRIGGER CITY is blue-collar human drama, packed with action and heart-breaking moments of truth."
-Robert Crais

"Riveting and terrifying - a true thriller in every sense of the word. Masterful."
-Sara Paretsky

“Superb – dark poetry and violence in a seamless narrative of love, pain and redemption. Trigger City will break your heart in ways you never imagined.”
-Ken Bruen

"Taut, hair-raising and ultimately enriching. You will not be disappointed."
-Andrew Gross

And early reviews...

Publishers Weekly calls TRIGGER CITY, "engrossing," and says, "Chercover brings a crackling authenticity to Dudgeon, paying homage to the noir masters while creating a doggedly stubborn new hero all his own."

The Strand Magazine says, "Trigger City will grip you from start to end … another masterful stroke from the pen of Sean Chercover."

Crimespree Magazine says, "Sean Chercover’s Ray Dudgeon is one of the most human detectives I’ve read since I discovered Crais and Connelly. When people ask who my favorite new writers are, I have a very short list, and Chercover is on the top. Pop the safety and pull this TRIGGER (CITY) off the shelf."

BIG CITY BAD BLOOD has been nominated for a Shamus Award, given by The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA).

BC,BB is also up for an Anthony Award and a Barry Award.

All three nominations are in the Best First Novel category, and all three awards will be given out this October, during Bouchercon.

Thank you to the judges, and to the many readers who vote for the Anthony and Barry awards. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the book, and truly grateful for your support.

New short story . . .

book cover - Hardcore Hardboiled A bunch of folks have written to tell me how much they liked the character Gravedigger Peace in Big City Bad Blood, and this pleases me greatly. I like him too. And he'll be back in my next novel, TRIGGER CITY (October).

In the meantime, Gravedigger stars in his own short story "A Sleep Not Unlike Death" which you can find in the anthology HARDCORE HARDBOILED.

Those familiar with the online magazine Thuglit will know what to expect from this anthology - a great collection of New-Noir stories not for the squeamish. Edited by Todd Robinson, Hardcore Hardboiled includes tough new stories by thugs like Ken Bruen, Victor Gishler, Duane Swierczynski, Charlie Stella, and includes an introduction by The Man, Otto Penzler. You want hardcore neo-noir? Pick up a copy of Hardcore Hardboiled.

O Canada!

In my home and native land, the Crime Writers of Canada have nominated Big City Bad Blood for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel.

Big City Bad Blood has won the 2008 Gumshoe Award for Best First Novel.

I am honored and full of joy. And at the risk of sounding like a complete Fan-Boy, I gotta say it's a hell of a kick to see my name listed with the other winners . . .

James Lee Burke (best mystery)
Robert Crais (best thriller)
Donald Westlake (lifetime achievement)

These are giants - major heroes and influences of mine.

Wow.

Readers of Crimespree Magazine have voted. . .

. . . and Big City Bad Blood is honored with the Crimespree Award for Best First Novel of 2007.

I hope I'm not just dreaming all this.

The International Thriller Writers Association has announced the nominees for the 2008 ITW Thriller Awards.

Big City, Bad Blood has been nominated for Best First Novel.

I am stunned.

A very big thank you to the attendees of the Love is Murder conference, who awarded BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD a Reader's Choice Award (aka: The Lovey) for best first novel.

BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD also appears on some "Best of 2007" lists:

BC,BB tops Bookgasm's list of the 10 Best Crime Novels of 2007.

Eminent reviewer Oline Cogdill's Best Mysteries of 2007

January Magazine - Best Books of 2007: Crime Fiction.

From Gapers Block - Notable Chicago Fiction of 2007.

Gerald So's top three novels of the year.

Readers of Thrilling Detective named BC,BB the Best P.I. Book of 2007.

Best First Novels of 2007, as selected by Deadly Pleasures Magazine.

And Sons Of Spade has named BC,BB the year's Best Debut Novel.

KILLER YEAR is here!
Published by St. Martin's Minotaur and edited by the great Lee Child, KILLER YEAR features new stories by. . .

Brett Battles, Allison Brennan, Robert Gregory Browne, Ken Bruen, Bill Cameron, Toni McGee Causey, J.T. Ellison, Patry Francis, Marc Lecard, Derek Nikitas, Gregg Olsen, Jason Pinter, Marcus Sakey, Duane Swierczynski and Dave White. With an afterword by the spectacular Laura Lippman,

It's an impressive anthology and I'm proud to have a new Ray Dudgeon story in it. My story is called, "One Serving of Bad Luck."

Okay, this is pretty awesome:

The FBI website has a page that talks about how they work with writers to achieve "an accurate portrayal of the Bureau." They name two non-fiction books and one novel: BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD. I worked pretty hard to get the details right, and I really appreciate the shout-out.

If you write crime fiction and your story involves the FBI, pick up the phone and call them. The agents I worked with were extremely helpful and never once fell on the floor laughing, no matter how asinine the question.

Assa Magazine - Finland

Hello Finland!

Author and translator Juri Nummelin has published my flash story "But Not Everything" in the Finnish pulp magazine Assa.

In Finnish, the story is called, "Mutta ei kaikkea".

In addition to "Mutta ei kaikkea," the issue includes stories by J.D. Rhoades, Duane Swierczynski, Christa Faust, Gerald So, and others.

I can't read a word of Finnish, but Assa looks like a really cool magazine.

Thanks for the copy, Juri. I will frame it.

CHICAGO BLUES is here.

This new anthology of Chicago crime fiction, edited by Libby Fischer Hellman, includes a Ray Dudgeon short story . . . so if you enjoyed Big City, Bad Blood, pick up a copy of Chicago Blues and catch up with Ray in "The Non Compos Mentis Blues."

Chicago Blues also features stories by such luminaries as Sara Paretsky, Stuart Kaminsky, Barbara D’Amato, Max Allan Collins, Sam Reaves, Kevin Guilfoile, Michael Black, J.A. Konrath, Michael Dymmoch, Marcus Sakey, Kris Nelscott, David J. Walker. With an introduction by Chicago newspaperman Rick Kogan.

All the news that's fit to e-mail...

The best way to stay current is to subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. I won't spam you, and I'll keep your information private. And by subscribing, you'll be eligible to win prizes.

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For even more groovy stuff, please visit my page on the HarperCollins website and sign up for their really cool AuthorTracker feature.

It's raining interviews...

An interview with Julia Buckley at Mysterious Musings.

Q&A with Jochem Steen at Sons of Spade. Also, a Background Check on my protagonist, Ray Dudgeon.

An interview with Russel McLean at Crime Scene Scotland.

Listen Online . . . to my interview on Chicago Public Radio.

An interview with Cameron Hughes at CHUD.

A feature profile, from the Chicago Sun-Times.

An interview at Things I'd Rather Be Doing.

An interview at Murder & Mystery Books 101.

A profile piece from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Big City, Bad Blood takes the Page 69 Test.

A virtual cocktail party at the Good Girls Kill For Money Club.

Spinetingler magazine interview (pdf). The interview starts on page 111.

Time Out Chicago profiles The Outfit blog.

Upcoming Events...

October 9-12, 2008
Bouchercon 2008: Charmed to Death - Baltimore, MD
If you can only get to one conference in 2008, this is the one.
Meet me in the bar . . . I'll be wearing a lapel pin and a porkpie hat.

November 8, 2008
Murder & Mayhem in Muskego - Muskego, WI
The friendliest one-day conference you'll find. And it comes with cheese!

This just in, from the Department of Unsolicited Endorsements:

The Week Behind offers an irreverent Chicago perspective on Arts, Politics, Technology & Culture (although not necessarily in that order). Usually hilarious, sometimes serious, never dull. Worth bookmarking.

Thanks for stopping by. Don't be a stranger.

Best,
Sean

A note on privacy and spam: This site will never put cookies on your computer. When you sign-up for my newsletter, you can rest assured that I will never sell, rent, trade or in any way share your information with anyone. In short, you won't get spammed because of me. And my newsletter will be an occasional mailing - six times a year, at most. So surf with confidence, friends.