A rainy night . . . A stranded motorist . . . A Good Samaritan passerby … a Nobel Prize–winning professor . . . The setup for a shocking murder designed to cover up an even more sinister crime . . .
The Blackbird Papers marks the debut of Ian Smith, a major new talent in crime fiction, and of Sterling Bledsoe, his smart and occasionally combative sleuth.
World-renowned Dartmouth professor Wilson Bledsoe is returning from a party celebrating his latest honor when he encounters a broken-down pickup on the secluded country road to his home. The next day, the discovery of his body with a vicious racist epithet carved into his chest leads to the quick arrest of two loathsome white supremacists. The local authorities seem ready to accept the case at face value as a racial hate crime. But the murdered professor’s brother, FBI agent Sterling Bledsoe, has inserted himself into the investigation and isn’t ready to buy into this pat solution. A look around his brother’s lab and brief interviews with his students and colleagues pique Sterling’s curiosity about Wilson’s pet project: a nearly completed paper on the mysterious deaths of hundreds of local blackbirds.
Fast-paced and cleverly constructed, The Blackbird Papers introduces a major new talent in mystery and crime fiction.
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"This was a very good book! Before this I only knew of Ian Smith as Dr. Ian Smith on Celebrity Fit Club but he took this book to a new level. I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a good exciting read."
— Kanesha (4 out of 5 stars)
Ian Smith’s debut novel, The Blackbird Papers, is exceptional on all levels: the characters and setting are fresh, the plot is riveting, and you feel like you are in totally new territory. Take note of a career about to soar.
— Harlan Coben, author of No Second Chance" Loved it; page turner. The characters are so fresh and vivid. I enjoyed this debut novel and hoping Ian Smith writes another follow up one. It was refreshing to see a well written, thought out plot. "
— Michelle, 1/10/2014" Kept my interest to the very end "
— Teresa, 12/25/2013" An entertaining "whodunit" with elements of corporate conspiracy. This is author Ian Smith's debut novel and that showed at times in that plot movement and character development was occasionally clunky, but I would definitely be interested in more novels from this author like "The Blackbird Papers." "
— Ben, 12/23/2013" Really good book worth reading. Highly recommend. "
— Sam, 12/10/2013" Read this book in one weekend. Very good book, although the ending kind of sucks. Would recommend to anyone. "
— Erik, 11/9/2013" what a great book...lot of intrigue around campus and real world "
— Markw, 11/8/2013" this was ok to good. had your murder, rogue fbi agent, chases, etc "
— Cindy, 11/5/2013" good 1st. some typos in arc, some dangling scenarios, but overall good popcorn. wonder about some of the factual info re redwing blackbirds, sunflower oil corps, etc. "
— K, 9/28/2013" Excellent murder suspense! Definitely did not expect the ending and hate there has not been a follow up to this book. "
— Eboni, 9/16/2013" Good debut mystery,worth a read. "
— Jay, 12/30/2012" Great thriller from a new writer "
— Heather, 8/5/2009" Excellent murder mystery; a page turner. "
— Eddie, 8/2/2006" I wish the author would try his hand at another work of fictionl I really enjoyed this story. "
— Melina, 4/25/2006" Nice read, some unusual, unexpexted turns in a classical "whodunnit". Really nice setting. "
— Tom, 2/19/2006" Come on Dr. Smith! This was a phenomenal read! Where's the next book???? "
— Daphne, 11/14/2005" Seems the only draw is the descriptions of the Upper Valley, and those don't really ring true from my experience. I think I made it to page 15 or something. Life is short and there are tons of great books out there.... "
— Sholeen, 5/8/2005" This book was a well written and exciting mystery with lots of twists and turns. "
— June, 9/20/2004" I didn't want to put this book down! A well-written story with very believable characters. "
— Kate, 9/19/2004