“BLIND MAN’S ALLEY is cunningly plotted and utterly true to contemporary New York life. It covers every level of the city, from the penthouses to the projects, with total authenticity. And its characters are finely drawn – the good ones are never boring in their goodness, while the bad ones are as horrifying as New York produces.” Edward Hayes
“Dense, enthralling, complex, and extremely satisfying, Justin Peacock’s BLIND MAN’S ALLEY is an absolutely captivating read from an exceptionally talented writer who knows his stuff inside out.” John Lescroart
Praise
Washington Post:
"When the prizes are awarded for this year's best first novel, 'A Cure for Night' will be competing for the gold."
The New York Times Book Review:
"Peacock … heads toward Scott Turow country, where characters get enmeshed in the murky, moral corners of the actual law… He’s all about the law, and based on his work here, he’s got a good chance to make partner."
USA Today:
"This is a lively, dialogue-driven story of life on the streets and in the courtroom, and in both arenas, anything goes."
Nashville Tennessean:
"'A Cure for Night' compares favorably with such works as Robert Traver's 'Anatomy of a Murder' and Scott Turow's 'Presumed Innocent'. The courtroom exchanges are scintillating, the action away from the bench is suspenseful, and the conclusion is surprising."
Entertainment Weekly:
"Peacock blends taut courtroom drama with The Wire’s gritty urban realism in this razor-sharp debut." Grade: A.
Florida Sun-Sentinel:
"In his debut, lawyer turned author Justin Peacock delivers a fresh view of the legal system, the drug trade and an insider's view of Brooklyn.... The riveting 'A Cure for Night' should be the beginning of a long career for Peacock."
Library Journal:
"A smart, fast, and thoroughly entertaining debut from Brooklyn-based lawyer Peacock."
NPR:
"Peacock's gritty look at the bowels of the legal system is informed by his legal training, and he paints a complicated, engaging portrait of a city where it's a five-minute walk from high rises to low life."
Booklist:
"'A Cure for Night' is a truly compelling first novel... By any measure, this one’s a winner."
Washington Lawyer:
"'A Cure For Night' is a remarkable debut novel by Justin Peacock… He is a gem of a writer, storyteller, and moralist."
Publishers Weekly:
"Peacock's intimate knowledge of the courtroom and carefully crafted prose aside, the gritty realism, intense emotional intimacy and socially relevant subject matter—racism, America's war on drugs, the ‘corporate culture’ of drug dealers—make this a deeply thought-provoking read in a genre that can be anything but."
Mark Costello:
"Haunting, seductive and dead-on-the-mark, 'A Cure for Night' is the best courtroom novel in a generation."
Bloomberg (the publication, not the Mayor) has weighed in on Blind Man's Alley, calling it "an ambitious thriller that delves into the interlocking worlds of real estate, law, journalism, and politics."
Blind Man's Alley is now for sale in a bookstore near you. Or at least it should be. Assuming there are still bookstores open where you live. But you get the idea. More news coming soon.
There's still a week before Blind Man's Alley is officially published, but to my (delighted) surprise, it turned out to be an eventful weekend for the novel. First, mystery maven Sarah Weinman reviewed the book in the Los Angeles Times. Patrick Anderson also weighed in at the Washington Post, calling the novel "a superior legal thriller by a writer with talent to burn." Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the early responses to the novel; keep 'em coming!
There also a profile of me in the latest issue of The Big Thrill, and a radio interview I did for the Lewis Burke Frumkes show. Lewis has a great archive of interviews with a diverse group of talented writers; its a fun site to explore.