In my humble opinion, Joe Clifford is the best storyteller working today. His third installment of the Jay Porter series ratchets up the heat on Jay and the reader and what follows is a fast-paced ride beginning with his boss's beating and doesn't stop until a very satisying conclusion.

I love Clifford's quick and crisp dialog and the intricately plotted story line. Bravo and kudos to this author.

Good read. Lots of twists and turns. Liked the characters. Would recommend.

I really like this series and love reluctant hero Jay Porter. Life has handed him a lot of grief some of it due to his struggles with his own inadequacies. Still he always attempts to persevere and right the wrongs he sees amidst mystery and danger to himself and those around him. Trouble just seems to find him a at every turn. This is another great chapter in his life story and I can't wait for the next.One!

Give Up the Dead by Riley Sager

The first thing I should point out that this is the third book in the Jay Porter series, but the first one I have read. This quickly became obvious as the narrative outlined Jay’s troubled past, referring to a serious injury he had sustained and the loss of his family and thereby explaining his current position. So we are presented with our hero, a hard-working, honest, ethical man, plagued by doubts and pretty much a loner – the good guy, illustrated by his clearing snow from his elderly landlord’s parking lot.

Jay gets involved, almost by default, in investigating the abduction of the son of a wealthy businessman, not a kidnapping, but an intervention and then it becomes complicated.

I cannot say that I found this to be an exciting, thrilling book. It is well-written and certainly invoked the inhospitable climate of the Lamentation Mountains and I could not but like Jay and his friends. However, this reminded me of the hard-bitten detective novels where the hero is always a loner, always honest, always misunderstood and more importantly, always manipulated by local police, the woman and his past.

My description would be ‘more of a slow-burn than fast paced’. Is it worth a read? Yes, but don’t expect to be enthralled if you are looking for a more involved thriller – like ‘Silence of the Lambs’.

I was given a copy of this to read by NetGalley via my kindle in return for an honest review.

Well written and we'll developed characters. Could not put the book down!!!! 100 percent respect and support for Mr. Clifford and his personal struggle with his past drug uaafe. I am tremendously impressed with him and his story, kudos to him and his little family. Thanks for your hard work, and I hope the whole universe supports him!!!

We catch up with Jay Porter 3 years after the events of "December Boys" and once again, Jay finds himself on the wrong end of, well, everything. First he is offered a boatload of cash (from a stranger) to find and retrieve a rich mans son from (maybe) a cult of some sort, and then his boss at the estate clearing company is beaten into a coma and yup, Jay is the prime suspect. As before, you find yourself cheering for Jay even as you cringe over some of his choices.

A well constructed plot delivered at a slowly unfolding pace made this another absorbing "everyman" story from Joe Clifford. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC. Highly recommended series.

Reluctant detective Jay Porter is back and as misanthropic as ever in Joe Clifford’s latest novel, Give Up the Dead. That’s good news for anyone who likes their mysteries darker than a cup of three-year-old motor oil, because like Clifford’s earlier efforts (Lamentation and December Boys), this book is bleak – in the best way possible. This ain’t your grandma’s favorite cozy mystery, that’s for sure.

It’s been three years since Porter’s last case left his life in shambles, and he appears content to give up the wannabe detective life for good – until a strange man shows up on his doorstep with an offer almost impossible to refuse: find a missing kid who’s been taken to a shady drug rehab somewhere in the wilderness and haul in a score that could change his life. Unfortunately, nothing’s ever simple for Porter (always at least partially because of his own stubborn obstinance…) – and things only get more complicated when his boss is attacked and left in a coma and Jay is the prime suspect. Now, with his freedom on the line, Porter once again finds himself working a case when he’d rather hole up in his dingy one-room apartment and be pissed at the world.

One of the most common criticisms lobbed at the Jay Porter books is that Porter is an unlikeable protagonist. There’s at least a grain of truth to the criticism, because Jay is prickly even by the standards of hard-boiled detective fiction. However, I’d argue that this prickly disposition is what makes Jay so compelling in many ways – his self-destructive tendencies can be aggravating (I like to think of him in the same vein as Californication’s Hank Moody – another deeply flawed character we come to love despite the fact that he’s often his own worst enemy), but it’s also easy to see they’re a defense mechanism. Porter is a damaged character – and that’s never more apparent than in this book. He’s a man on the verge of hitting rock bottom, wracked by guilt over his inability to help his junkie brother, to be a good husband and father, and to fit into the role society has set aside for him. He lashes out at the world in frustration because of it – mostly because he doesn’t feel the world’s punished him enough for his own failings yet. This occasionally makes Jay a tough character to like, but he’s the ultimate underdog – which keeps you rooting for him as he goes up against characters with seemingly insurmountable resources and power. At the very least, Jay Porter is a welcome break from the sea of cookie-cutter protagonists populating modern crime fiction. The character is deeper than he appears to be at first glance.

This is, of course, a credit to Clifford as an author. The beauty of Joe Clifford’s work is the way he so competently crafts a well-structured mystery plot, then couples it with prose that sings on the page. Clifford reminds me of Ken Bruen and Joe R. Lansdale in this regard: the writing can be funny, maudlin, and poetic – often all at once -- but it’s always beautiful. Give Up the Dead may be his finest effort to date as far as the quality of the writing is concerned – which is no small feat, since both previous books featured some really striking passages.

With Give Up the Dead, Joe Clifford once again proves his work deserves a wider audience. This is a top-notch novel from a writer who’s just hitting his stride. Hop on bandwagon now, so you can tell all your friends you were reading his work before it was the hip thing to do.

GIVE UP THE DEAD, is a fast moving dark mystery thriller full of twists and turns from the very beginning. Joe Clifford introduces protagonists Jay Porter. Clifford’s main character, Jay Porter, is an abrasive loner who is dealing issues from his past. The author share details of Jay’s backstory including details of his recovery from a serious injury, his messy divorce, and the death of his parents and brother. Clifford builds on Jay’s character allowing him to grow and become a more likable person.

The storyline follows Jay as he deals with an offer to find a missing teenager whose abduction is move than is seems. Readers sit on Jay’s shoulder as he reluctantly accepts the job to get a nest egg that will allow him to purchase his bosses estate liquidation business. The investigation leads Jay to uncover a shady drug rehab program somewhere in New Hampshire wilderness close to the Lamentation Mountains. The storyline increases in intensity and intrigue when Jay’s boss is attached and beaten unconscious, and the sheriff considers Jay the prime suspect.

Clifford adds interesting support characters are providing each characters history and the roles they play when they enter the storyline. The author creates subplots changing the storyline direction adding to the suspense and mystery and as each event unfolds Clifford’s readers ending up holding their breath wondering what will happen next. GIVE UP THE DEAD’s momentum never slows down and Jay’s investigation leads him to uncover a dangerous antagonist who adds to a riveting ending setting the stages for Clifford’s next Jay Porter novel a must read.

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

Give Up the Dead, Joe Clifford’s third book in this terrific and excellent written series takes place 3 years from the last book, December Boys. Although in this book, Jay Porter still deals with family issues, they are not as prevalent as the first two books in the series and this book is closer to a traditional crime novel.

Porter is back working for Tom Gable buying and selling furniture and other home items mostly from estate sales. He’s also still recovering from the leg injury he suffered 3 years ago and adjusting to his new life.

Soon after helping his boss buy from Thanksgiving Day estate sale in New Hampshire, Porter is visited by Vin Buscoglio, a strange man that asks him to help find a missing teenage boy. Despite the high offer, Porter is not interested. He reconsiders the offer somewhat the next day when Tom talks about getting out of the business and selling to Porter, who feels he’s unlikely to have enough money.

Later that night Porter finds out from Sheriff Turley that someone attached Gable and he is severely injured, landing in the hospital in a coma. Jay is the main suspect especially when a note is found willing the business to him in the event of Gable’s death. Porter’s love for Gable and his desire to find the true attacker gives all the incentive he needs to begin his own investigation. Porter also realizes he needs money and he also tries to find Vin Buscoglio and the missing teenage boy. Porter enlists the help of his friends and tries to stay out of the way of Sheriff Turley.

Give Up the Dead is another terrific addition to this series. I’ve read them all and each one provides an exceptional story with realistic and interesting characters. Jay Porter is a flawed and emotionally damaged person but he has grown throughout the series and I’m really looking forward to reading more of his adventures.

Joe Clifford manages to get better with each outing in the series, and that's saying something considering how good the first two were. Jay’s self-reflection has taken on a new, more mature depth, and the mystery this go ‘round is exquisitely layered.

Different kind of read, but enjoyable.. Nice interaction between characters..

Give up the Dead by Joe Clifford

4 stars

In the shadow of Lamentation Mountain

Jay Porter returns in the third story of this series and remains a sympathetic character despite his many flaws. Since the death of his parents in a road accident he has tried and failed to look after his junkie brother Chris who died at the end of the first book. He is now facing life separated from his wife and his much-loved son Aiden who is being brought up by another man. His best friend Charlie has lost his way and drinks to excess, to the extent that his health is in real danger. Despite all of this Jay seems to drift through life employed by Tom Gable in his estate clearing business. He has the opportunity to buy the business but lacks the drive to raise the necessary funds.

However, Jay has a good heart and a conscience and is prepared to stand up for those in trouble. He is not prepared, however, for the consequences of a visit from a strange man calling himself Buscogli who asks Jay to try to find a sixteen-year-old boy who has been spirited away from his father. Jay initially refuses, but then his employer Tom is beaten up and left for dead and suspicion falls on Jay. As he tries to clear his name it becomes clear that the missing boy and the attack on Tom are connected.

Jay Porter isn't the brightest star in the galaxy, but he is straightforward and never shies away from difficult situations. Despite never coming out on top, he is a fighter and none more so than when he comes across injustice.

I have enjoyed all three books and each has proved to be well written and well-paced. The suspense is managed artfully and the characters are convincing.

A good old-fashioned crime thriller with a typical flawed hero, but none the worse for that.

Pashtpaws


Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

This is one of those gritty, atmospheric books, where the setting is a vital part of the story. In fact, the setting was probably my favorite aspect. The story takes place in a small mountain community in New Hampshire, right at the start of winter. The author perfectly captures the New England feel with both the area and the characters.

I immediately connected with Jay Porter, a man who has been kicked around one too many times and is struggling to get back on his feet. I felt the edge of depression creeping in for him. But, as the story progressed, Jay began getting on my nerves. He wallows in self-pity, which he often turns into anger, and he refuses to let go of the past. And, to make matters worse, he's a taker, happy to recruit his friends for help while treating them like crap. The book is written in first person, from Jay's perspective, so all the brooding and disrespect made it difficult for me to stick with him.

Addiction and recovery are at the forefront of the plot. I felt the sinking despair of the characters lost to addiction, and the struggle toward and with recovery for others.

The case Jay Porter investigates is interesting, if not a little convoluted. We go along as he unravels the details, and there are some good twists. My one problem here came with the cops' involvement (or lack thereof). We only really see one cop doing anything, and that's Jay's nemesis from a previous book. The cop comes off as completely inept. I found myself wondering how he managed to do his job without Jay steering him in the right direction. I also wondered where the other cops were and why certain events weren't being investigated with more concern.

Joe Clifford is certainly a gifted author and I enjoyed his writing style. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I liked Jay Porter enough to spend more time with him.

This is the first Jay Porter book I've read, and it works well as a stand-alone.

Give Up The Dead 💀 is a hard nasty taste of country blues. Jay Porter, the lead character, is perhaps no one's idea of a pulp hero. He is manifestly despondent over his failed marriage, his wife's new marriage, his lack of career prospects, his bachelor life in a sad little apartment, his drug addicted brother's death, his parents' demise, and more. His sad lot is defined by the location - a cold snowy winter in rural New Hampshire in the shadow of Lamentation Mountain. And yet it's an incredibly compelling read, most likely because of the narrative voice that comes at you just like a fella talking to you.

There are a lot of issues that stew about here from addiction to seduction to murder and the abuse of power. It ends up being a murder mystery, but the story is really about an ordinary guy struggling all alone against the tide of despair as those around him succumb to it.

This apparently is the third book in the trilogy, but can easily be read as a standalone novel. It's a really good book that I found really captivating but I am not sure if it will have wide appeal.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this amazing novel.

GIVE UP THE DEAD by Joe Clifford is the 3rd book in the "Jay Porter Series", and the first book that I've read by this author.

Jay Porter lives in a one room apartment as a divorced father who makes a living working for his friend Tom, somewhat of a father-figure that has a business buying and selling furniture collections to be sold as antiques.

Tom plans on eventually selling the business to Jay when he retires, but the 40K required for Jay to buy the business seems out of reach, and Tom's major competition is chomping at the bit to take the business over.

A well dressed and mysterious man named Vin shows up at Jay's door one evening in an attempt to get him to look into the disappearance of the son of a rich and powerful man named Crowder.
Sensing that there is much more involved than what he's been told, he still decides to take on the case to come up with the capital needed to buy the antique business.

Joe Clifford does a great job of presenting Jay as a smart and street-wise albeit cynical individual well suited to persevere in the face of danger, who's not afraid to dig deep into the lives of the rich and famous; as he despises what the privileged can get away with in legal matters.

Possibly suffering the effects of PTS from what he's experienced as a result of the loss of his brother, and having previously squared off with a rich family protected by crooked cops, he's left physically and mentally damaged with a dim outlook on life; yet still has the support of his two closest friends, even though he treats them shabbily.

I found this book very enjoyable in spite of the bleak picture painted of Jay's life at this point, as the author shows traces of hope in him as he meets a woman involved in the case that awakens long lost feelings of interest, while he searches deeply within himself to evaluate his dealings with those closest to him.

As much as this book succeeds on the story involving the investigation, it provides a look into the life of a man who's almost lost hope; yet might be able to recover from loss enough to see the potential for the possibility of love and happiness to be found in the future.

4 stars.

Compelling, dark mystery. Jay Porter is a study in complex personalities and for that, Joe Clifford creates a raw, real protagonist that you will be drawn to and keep you asking for more.

Enjoyed the story although I was surprised that I did not warm to the main character. Good read.