Jim Nisbet's cult classic Lethal Injection, one of the first Black Lizard Books originals, has been out of print in the United States for an unforgivably long time—but now it's back, and on audio.
It's about as noir as you can get. In a bleak Texas prison, Franklin Royce, an alcoholic doctor, is given the odious task of administering inmate Bobby Mencken's last "high." The young black man on the other end of the needle seems remarkably indifferent to his fate—but Royce is convinced that the convicted killer was innocent. When Royce's marriage crumbles, he takes off for Dallas to search for the real killer.
Of Nisbet, Germany's Die Welt wrote, "Neither Norman Mailer nor Truman Capote has in their writing been able to produce such an intensity as Nisbet has achieved." With sharp humor and a poet's ear for language, Nisbet has created a world that is assuredly bleak—but frighteningly real.
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“Jim Nisbet is a lot more than just good…Powerful,provocative…remains in the mind long after the novel is finished. Nisbet’sstyle has overtones of Walker Percy’s smooth southern satin, but his characters—losers,grifters, con men—hark back to the days of James M. Cain’s twisted images ofmorality.”
— Globe and Mail (Toronto)
“Lethal Injection is an unheralded masterpiece of the noir genre. Everyone who loves noir should read this brilliant book.”
— James Ellroy“Truly, hellishly gritty.”
— Los Angeles Times“Horrifying, riveting…A book worth reading.”
— United Press International“A novel of rare ferocity... a veritable nightmare. A great and terrifying roman noir!”
— Le Figaro“About as noir as you can get.”
— Publishers WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Jim Nisbet is the author of a dozen novels and five books of poetry. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize three times, short-listed for the Hammett Prize, and published in ten languages. He lives in San Francisco, California.
John McLain is an actor, professional voice talent, and Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. On stage, he has appeared in The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Amahl & the Night Visitors, and The Music Man.