‘The Big Exit’ by David Carnoy

Published by The Overlook Press,
1 December 2012.
ISBN: 978-1-59020-515-0

 

An excellent, intricately plotted, well-written second book by an author I must confess I had not heard of.  Now that I've read The Big Exit, I shall definitely be looking out for Knife Music, his first.

 

This novel involves Richie Forman, a Frank Sinatra impersonator, recently released from prison after serving time for a crime he swears he did not commit.  Fitting, then, that he finds a job with a law firm which aims to gain justice for innocent men wrongly incarcerated.  Then he becomes the Number 1 suspect in the gruesome murder of his former best friend, who was with him on the night of the crime he was sent down for.  Not only that, but this best friend also ends up with Richie's girl. So, he has the strongest possible motives for this killing.  Frankie himself, coolest dude in town, provides a suitable role-model, and through multiple plot-twists, Richie manages to hang on to his determination to find the real killer and to stay alive, despite increasingly unpleasant threats from the victim's business associates.

 

Unlike many Stateside thrillers, the characters in The Big Exit are totally believable and so is the dramatic plot.  Very much recommended.
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Reviewer: Susan Moody

David Carnoy grew up and went to high school where his novels take place in Silicon Valley (Palo Alto). His debut novel,  Knife Music (2010), was a Top-10 bestseller on the Kindle and also a bestseller on the Nook. More medical thriller than high-tech thriller, to research the novel Carnoy spent a lot of time talking with doctors, visiting trauma centres, and trailed a surgeon at a hospital in Northern California to help create the book's protagonist, Dr. Ted Cogan. His second novel The Big Exit isn’t a sequel to Knife Music it has more of a high-tech slant. David Carnoy lives in New York City with his wife and children.

 

Susan Moody  was born in Oxford is the principal nom de plume  of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels. She is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer's Association, served as World President of the International Association of Crime Writers, and was elected to the prestigious Detection Club. Susan Moody has given numerous courses on writing crime fiction and continues to teach creative writing in England, France, Australia, the USA and Denmark.  In addition to her many stand alone books, Susan has written two series, on featuring PI Penny Wanawake (seven books) and a series of six books featuring bridge player Cassie Swan.