Nick Petrie

Book on CD read by Stephen Mendel
3.5***

From the book jacket: Peter Ash came home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with only one souvenir: what he calls his “white static” (PTSD) that has driven him into the mountains, to sleep under the stars. But when a friend from the Marines commits suicide, Peter returns to civilization to help the man’s widow with some home repairs. Under her dilapidated porch, he finds more than he bargained for: the largest, ugliest, meanest dog he’s show more ever encountered, and a Samsonite suitcase stuffed with cash and explosives.

My reactions
Petrie’s debut novel is a good suspense / mystery that kept me turning pages. I liked Peter and loved Mingus, that ugly dog! The fact that it’s set in my city – Milwaukee, WI – made it all that much more vivid in my mind, with locations and landmarks that were very familiar.

I thought the big conspiracy behind the central mystery was a little over-the-top, but I still enjoyed how the action played out.

Peter is pretty much a loner, given his severe PTSD symptoms, but he does manage to engage the help of a couple of other characters. I especially liked his partnership with Lewis, a local bar owner and possible gang leader. (Lewis never does anything specifically illegal, but he clearly is no fan of the police or of the law. Definitely a person I would want on MY side in an altercation.)

I had figured out the central plot twist (and the mastermind behind the big conspiracy) fairly early on, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. I was not, however, a fan of the way Petrie gave one of the bad guys a “pass.”

This was a selection for my F2F book club, and Petrie joined us for the discussion. I think I’ll read more from this series.

Stephen Mendel does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. He has clear diction and sets a good pace. show less

Meet Lieutenant Peter Ash, who has just been added to my Read Everything About This Hero list. A Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Peter has been home for a year and still can't spend more than twenty minutes inside due to acute claustrophobia he describes as "white static." He's been living in his truck all this time, only able to sleep if he can see the sky. But all that is backstory: when we meet Peter in Chapter 1, he's wrestling a feral dog out from underneath the show more collapsing porch of a widow whose home he's repairing. He wouldn't be there in the first place if said widow's husband wasn't a close friend, a fellow veteran. Turns out it's a good thing he shows up, and it's a good thing that dog took up residence under the porch--or Peter might not have found the money-stuffed suitcase hidden near the dog. Might not have been ready for the people who come after it ... and after anyone they think might know where it is.

The whose money is it? setup is familiar to the suspense genre, but I wasn't halfway through that first chapter before I knew I was committed to this book. The prose is economical and artful, and the sometimes-distant narrative voice usually sticks to Peter's perspective, showing us not only his vigilant view of the world and his competence to deal with danger, but also his conflicting pride and shame, his struggle with the white static, and his desire to protect those who can't protect themselves. In short, I love this character.

The last quarter of the book wobbles a bit, as the villains' motives are revealed to be typical of the genre, and the point of view suddenly veers into several different heads (fortunately in jumps that are separated by chapter breaks; no head hopping here). But these elements are forgivable when measured against the richness of Peter's character and the promise of further books exploring him (and, I hope, moving him toward healing).

It's a great novel, especially for a debut. I'm so glad I discovered this author early, and I'm looking forward to seeing Peter again in the sequel, [b:Burning Bright|29995903|Burning Bright|Nicholas Petrie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465649836s/29995903.jpg|50402192]. show less

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Outside, the air was thick and threatening rain. Spring in Tennessee. Peter strode across the wide concrete apron toward the road.

Go to Memphis, June had said. Eat some barbecue, listen to music, have some fun.

So far there had been no barbecue and no music.

Was it wrong that he might be having fun?

WHAT'S TEAR IT DOWN ABOUT?
Peter's been recuperating and rehabbing from his injuries from Light It Up at June's—he's about as recovered show more as he can be and is spending his time doing some upkeep and repairs on some of the buildings. But being in one place for so long is getting to him. He doesn't see it, but June does.

June has a friend, Nadine, in Memphis. She's a photographer who's done a few tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, embedded with various groups. She's back home in Memphis and has recently purchased a house at auction. Since then, she's been harassed and could use some help. So June sends Peter off to lend a hand.

The morning before he arrives at Nadine's, someone had driven a dump truck through the front of her house and then ran off. The truck is still there, which is what's keeping some of the walls from falling. Clearly, he's got his work cut out for him.

The work gets complicated the next day when Peter's carjacked. No, really. A teenager with a pistol sticks Peter up, stealing his truck (with all his tools, food, and weapons) in the back. Peter likely could've stopped him, but chooses to let the kid get away with it for some pretty good reasons.

So now, he has to try to stop further attacks on Nadine, help her rebuild the house that she's determined not to leave, and get his truck back. Oh, and immediately following the carjacking, Peter offended the drug lord who runs most of the crime in that part of Memphis—but you'll want to read all that for yourself.

A MAN CALLED LEWIS
Lewis decides that Peter needs help (with a little input from June) and shows up just when things are getting hairy.

If I've noticed it before, I don't remember—but Lewis here is essentially Robert B. Parker's Hawk. There's one conversation between Lewis and Peter that could've been lifted straight from a Hawk and Spenser conversation by Parker/Atkins, too.

It works, too, don't get me wrong. I am kicking myself a little for not having seen it before, but I don't think it was as strong—maybe that's because of the themes/circumstances in this book that it stands out so much.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TEAR IT DOWN?
There's a significant racial component to the events and circumstances of this book. This added a little depth to the novel, it's about more than people trying to get money and power, as is usual for these books. Sure, there's money and power at the root of a lot of what's going on here—but there's a degree of hate that wasn't around either.

There are also two characters who are just trying to survive in a world that seems hostile—and increasingly so—to them. They just need a break, a chance to do something, but it's taken from them at every turn. The question for them is what they do in these circumstances—and what the results of their choices will be for those around them.

There is a significant toll on those who just happen to be near Peter and Lewis when things get ugly between them and those who are harassing Nadine. Peter notices this and it bothers him—it's one thing in war for there to be collateral damage, but there was no reason for anyone injured (or worse) here to be in danger. It will be interesting to see if this experience has an impact on how he deals with things in the future.

This one had it all—great action, a compelling story, some good social commentary, and some time with characters I'm really growing attached to. Nick Petrie and Peter Ash continue to be a winning combination. show less

This was an excellent thriller starring Peter Ash. Peter served as a Marine officer in Iraq and Afghanistan and mustered out with something he calls his "white static." He has a major case of claustrophobia so severe that he can't spend time indoors.

After a year on his own in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, he learns of the death of his best friend, his sergeant, in Milwaukee. He decides to go there to help out Jimmy Johnson's widow and kids. He's told Dinah Johnson that he is there show more as a part of some VA program to fix up houses.

Peter's first problem when repairing a damaged porch is the large, angry dog who has made his home under the porch. His second problem is the suitcase the dog was guarding which contains $400,000 in neatly banded bundles and four block of plastic explosives.

Enemies want their explosives back and are willing to kill Peter and Johnson's family to get it back. As Peter tries to find out who left the money and explosives under the deck, we also follow along as another military vet is traveling around the country gathering fertilizer and fuel oil to make some sort of major bomb.

This was a fascinating story which wove the plight of returning veterans with a financial collapse that is wrecking the housing market into a coherent, exciting, and thrilling whole. Peter is an interesting character who has been damaged by his service but who hasn't lost his honor or his intelligence. His new partner Lewis is also a very intriguing character that I want to know more about.

This is a great start to a series and I can't wait to read more books about Peter Ash. show less