A special thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Viking and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Neely Tucker draws heavily on his two decades reporting on crime and conflict from around the globe to create Sully Carter, and this exciting new crime thriller series from Washington DC reporter. THE WAYS OF THE DEAD, is a wickedly entertaining, fast-paced, and suspenseful debut novel of— race, crime, corrupt law, and the power of the media.

Sarah Reese, is the white teenage daughter of a prominent and powerful judge, and is found murdered behind a convenience store in Washington, DC. Three young black guys are fingered for the murder; however, as it goes, not the real murders.

Sully, Mississippi southern veteran reporter, is covering the case. He is also former Bosnian war correspondent and suffers from PTSD, alcoholism, and rage— an investigative reporter, he still knows how to go behind enemy lines. From shady backstreets, Sully pursues the truth about the murders, against all odds and pressure from officials, his boss at the paper, the editors, cops and locals.

I loved this tough street smart journalist on his motorcycle, as he uncovers this mystery where violence and corruption lives on the back dark streets of Washington, DC.

Inspired by the real life 1990’s Princeton Place murders, THE WAYS OF THE DEAD, is a novel and series all crime enthusiasts and investigative reporters will devour!

Tucker’s passion and knowledge of the storyline and his journalism career of twenty-five years, with fourteen spent at The Washington Post-- reflective throughout the pages for a kick-ass novel, and will have readers anxiously awaiting the next book in this suspense series!

Well done. Can’t wait for the next installment!

This is a hard hitting, well written start to a new crime series. Investigative reporter Sully, is battle scared in body and soul, he is the stereotypical type of the old school journalists, who believed that getting the right story is all that matters. He does not smoke incessantly, but boy does he drink. The crime takes place in the underbelly of Washington D.C., not in the part that the tourists see, not the area around the capitol building. This is only a few blocks away but it is in an area where white is not the prevalent color, where crack is king and prostitutes are available for little money.

The investigation starts here after a young, white girl is killed. That it is a judges daughter, maybe the next supreme court appointee, makes this a very hot case. Sully, does not look for easy answers, he is in your face and questioning whomever he needs to, often in the past this has caused him problems. Of course when rocks are overturned often snakes slither out and so it goes......

I loved this character, one can tell that the author has made good use of his background in writing this novel. The atmosphere is pervasive, the writing amazing. From the beginning I knew I was in good hands with this author and that this is his first novel is unbelievable. So glad this will be a series and can't wait for the next one.