Rag and Bone

by Joe Clifford

Overview

Nominated BEST NOVEL by International Thriller Writers

One Man’s Personal Crusade Against Corporate Greed

Having spent ten months on the run after he was framed for the murder of an estate-clearing associate, handyman Jay Porter returns to his hometown of Ashton, New Hampshire. During his time as a fugitive, he searched for a hard drive―evidence that would put his longtime nemeses Adam and Michael Lombardi behind bars. But he came up empty handed.

He has nothing. No hard drive, no hope. He hasn’t spoken to his ex-wife and son in almost a year and he’s broke. With his reputation tarnished and employment opportunities nonexistent, Jay takes a charity assignment from old friend/flame Alison Rodgers and learns of a fire at Alison’s former rehab farm. Jay is convinced that the Lombardis started a fire as a scare tactic to pressure Alison to sell.

As Jay begins to look into the origins of the fire, he hopes he will finally be able to put away his enemies. But he soon discovers that evil isn’t so easy to define, and that sometimes we need to take the law into our own hands if we want justice.

Perfect for Fans of Dennis Lehane

While all of the novels in the Jay Porter Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:

Lamentation
December Boys
Give Up the Dead
Broken Ground
Rag and Bone

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608093267
Publisher:	Oceanview Publishing
Publication date:	06/04/2019
Series:	The Jay Porter Series , #5
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Award-winning author Joe Clifford was a homeless junkie living on the street—until he turned his life around. Now, he uses the backdrop of his experience with addiction to shine a light on the misunderstood and marginalized. No one can write with the authority of Joe Clifford when describing the reality of alcohol and drug abuse. Rag and Bone is the fifth novel in his award-winning Jay Porter series, following Lamentation, December Boys, Give Up the Dead, and Broken Ground. Joe lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Justine, and two sons.

Editorial Reviews

The writing snaps. The story crackles. The characters are achingly real. I tore through Rag and Bone in a single session. What else can I say? Read Joe Clifford.” —Meg Gardiner, Edgar Award-winning and best-selling author

“Gritty and gripping, with prose that cuts to the bone. Joe Clifford has crafted a modern noir that pulls no punches.” —Riley Sager, New York Times best-selling author

“Joe Clifford’s Rag and Bone is tough, tight, and engrossing, filled with genuine emotion and unsparing authenticity.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author

“Clifford is one fine writer . . . for those who eat, drink, and sleep noir, this one's for you.” —Booklist

“As often happens in life for those with addiction issues, Clifford’s [Rag and Bone] doesn’t portray a fairy tale happy-ever-after ending. The author strives to depict through his characters the dangers of drug addiction. In that, he succeeds. Brilliantly!” —Bookreporter

Praise for the Jay Porter Series

“The depth of the characters. The vividness of the New Hampshire winter setting. The importance of the novel's theme. Joe Clifford’s a crime writer to pay attention to.” —David Morrell, New York Times best-selling author

“Joe Clifford writes the kind of books that I love to read, mysteries that not only make you think, but make you feel. He is a master at creating characters that bind to your DNA and stay with you long after the last page is turned.” —Allen Eskens, USA Today best-selling author​

From the Publisher

06/01/2019

Ten months ago, Jay Porter disappeared because he was wanted for murder in his hometown of Ashton, NH. Now that two men were arrested, he's back, but he's lost everything. His ex-wife is remarried with a baby. The antiques he'd stored in a warehouse have been sold for rent. No one will hire him except for a friend who gives him a few handyman jobs. However, Jay is still on a seven-year mission to bring down two brothers, Adam and Michael Lombardi. He blames his addict brother's death on them. Jay is convinced the brothers have poisoned soil and are behind the fire that destroyed a farm. He's so obsessed with the Lombardis that he alienates everyone in his life with his search for revenge. When he can't find proof of the brothers' crimes, Jay crosses the line to set them up. The gritty, painful story features a cast of authentic characters struggling to survive in a depressing world. VERDICT Jay is an obsessed, flawed character in the latest grim book by the Anthony Award-nominated author of Give Up the Dead. The bleak outlook, for the story and for Jay, will appeal to fans of noir fiction.—Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Library Journal